From Consultant to Founder: What I’ve Learned Starting My Own Nonprofit

For more than six years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside nonprofit leaders through my work as a consultant—helping them clarify missions, strengthen operations, and secure funding. But this past year, I stepped into a completely new role: nonprofit founder.

I launched Rise SC, a community-driven initiative designed to increase access, awareness, and accessibility in the chronic-disease space across South Carolina. Our mission is to serve as a resource hub—connecting families, providers, and advocates to both current and emerging resources for minority communities across the state.

It’s been eye-opening, humbling, and deeply transformative to sit on the other side of the table.

Starting from Scratch

When I say Rise SC began from the ground up, I mean it in every sense.

No infrastructure. No funding. No existing partnerships.

Just a vision—and a deep conviction that something like this needed to exist.

I’ve experienced true bootstrapping, self-funding every step—from the website and filings to the first community outreach efforts. It’s daunting, yes, but it’s also incredibly grounding. Every decision becomes intentional when resources are limited, and every milestone—no matter how small—feels monumental.

A New Perspective on Nonprofit Consulting

As a consultant, I’ve guided organizations through strategy sessions, grant planning, and capacity-building. But becoming a founder has changed how I approach this work.

Now I understand, on a personal level, what it feels like to juggle compliance paperwork while designing programs, managing outreach, and trying to fundraise—all without a team or a roadmap.

This lived experience has reshaped how I serve my clients through J Creative Consulting. I see more clearly the importance of building systems early, developing sustainable funding streams, and creating boundaries that protect leaders from burnout. It’s no longer theory—it’s empathy in action.

The Power of Starting Anyway

Launching a nonprofit is not glamorous. It’s messy, exhausting, and often uncertain. But it’s also powerful. Every late night spent drafting bylaws or mapping out resources reminds me that impact begins with courage—the courage to start before you have it all figured out.

Rise SC is still in its early stages, but it’s already teaching me invaluable lessons about resilience, community, and purpose. And as both a founder and consultant, I’m more committed than ever to helping others build the structures and strategies that make meaningful missions sustainable.

Because now I know firsthand: it’s one thing to advise from the outside, and another entirely to live the startup journey yourself.

Learn more about Rise SC here: RiseSCHub