CoStarters 2-Day Bootcamp for Nonprofits

A two-day collaborative intensive to help nonprofit organizations work to create a plan to drive transformational change in our community.

NOTE: Nonprofits are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to find a nonprofit partner to collaborate with for this bootcamp. Each (1) registration will cover (1) set of CoStarters materials for the event. If you plan to sign-up with a partner, we recommend contacting us to determine how to best proceed with registration: maggiesparks@uwchatt.org.

During this four-part bootcamp, you’ll (ideally collaboratively) work with other nonprofit peers to strategize, problem solve, and apply business basics to your idea. The goal of this intensive is to help you design (or redesign) a program or service and develop a plan of action to prepare you for an application to our 2025-26 Catalyst Fund Grant. We want to emphasize that we'll be looking favorably at grant applications with intentional collaboration in the 2025-26 cycle. Come ready for a challenge, stretch your thinking, and apply concrete tools to bring your services to life. This bootcamp is not about listening; it’s about doing.

This workshop will be hosted in the United Way of Greater Chattanooga Hub for Social Innovation and facilitated by Abby Garrison, VP of Community Investments at UWGC and Maggie Sparks, Community Investments Manager. Lunch and workshop materials will be provided.

Part 1: Discover - Understand your business model and how to refine it.

We’ll cover:

• Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset
• Building your business model using The CO.STARTERS Canvas
• Refining your model with customer discovery
• Refining your model through starting small

Part 2: Promote - Learn how to market your services.

We’ll cover:

• Building relationships through marketing
• Crafting your message
• Choosing your marketing channels
• Developing your “pitch”

Part 3: Build - Dive into the basic building blocks needed for your financial modeling.

We’ll cover:

• Distributing your product or service
• Knowing your value (before you set your price)
• Understanding your costs
• Calculating a break-even point

Part 4: Launch - Build momentum by goal setting.

We’ll cover:

• Setting priorities
• Identifying 30, 60, and 90-day milestones
• Getting SMART about tasks
• Creating a plan + staying on track

Host or Publisher United Way of Greater Chattanooga