CEO Conversation: Reconceptualizing Nonprofit Business Models

About CEO Conversations:

CNM’s CEO Conversations series is designed to provide learning and networking opportunities for Nonprofit Executive Directors and CEOs. With a mix of educational and social gatherings, CEO Conversation events allow space for Executives to share best practices while strengthening the whole nonprofit community.

Event Description:

Nonprofits are often viewed primarily as mission-driven organizations; however, in reality, nonprofits are business enterprises built on an underlying business model that makes the programs and organizations operate and succeed. Amidst the pandemic, nonprofits who primarily relied only on traditional revenue sources, such as dues and registrations, have had to rethink their revenue strategies to meet increasing budgetary demands and spread the downside risk of uncertain markets. As nonprofit CEOs carefully assess the effectiveness of their current structures, many feel unprepared at the thought of potentially adding or modifying different approaches in the future.

Join CNM for a unique CEO Conversation discussion, designed for Nonprofit CEOs and Senior Leadership, featuring Mario Avila, Director of Turner Family Center for Social Ventures and Adjunct Professor of Management at Vanderbilt University. Mario will be breaking down the Social Business Model Canvas, a framework for nonprofit leaders to assess their organization and opportunities for new revenue generation. Learn and grow with your peers as we break down two different case studies and walk away with a concrete structure to share with your leadership team and nonprofit board.

We will also be discussing CNM’s 15-year partnership with Vanderbilt University to support Vanderbilt University’s Executive MBA Nonprofit Scholarship. Learn more about this full-tuition scholarship opportunity, the EMBA program, and the application process. Applications are due March 31st, 2022.

About the Facilitator: 

Mario Avila serves as the founding Director of the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures (TFC) at Vanderbilt University, a center that serves as a resource and thought leader for people across the university interested in combining revenue-generating businesses with social impact objectives. Mario was selected to represent Nashville as one of Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders and most recently, he was honored as one of Nashville’s 40 Under 40 business leaders in 2020.

Before joining Vanderbilt University, Mario was the CEO of Emerge and founder of Contigo Financial, a socially responsible consumer lender headquartered in Nashville. His management experience includes finance, education, and consulting in three different countries. Mario serves on various boards, including Conéxion Americas, the Nashville Food Project, and serves as Chairman of Vanderbilt University’s Credit Union.

Structure: 

8:00am - 8:15am: Introductions
8:15am - 9:15am: Program/Discussion 

Special Needs, Accommodations, and Event Questions:

We strive to be open and inclusive with our special events. Please contact Kathryn Swanton (Manager of Marketing and Special Events) at 615.259.0100 x3130 or kathryn@cnm.org if you require any accommodations, special requests, or have additional questions.