Collidescope.io’s 5 in 3 Nonprofit Leadership Series: Skyler Badenoch, Chief Executive Officer of Hope For Haiti
Welcome to Collidescope.io’s 5 in 3 nonprofit leadership series. We ask nonprofit leaders all over the world to answer 5 question about their nonprofit experience to create this 3-minute piece. Collidescope.io’s mission is to empower organizations to thrive, inspire, and serve the world. Though we primarily do this through technology, providing a platform to share the stories and experiences of leaders in the nonprofit space is also an important part of executing on that mission.
I am pleased to introduce Skyler Badenoch. Skyler is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope for Haiti, an organization that works to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children. Hope for Haiti currently serves thousands of children, parents, and grandparents in Southern Haiti through direct investments in education, healthcare, water, infrastructure, and the economy. Mr. Badenoch joined Hope for Haiti in 2017, and has been a supporter since 2008. Under his leadership, the organization hopes to double the number of children it reaches through its programming. With cash resources just under $5 million in 2016, Badenoch’s signature issues at Hope for Haiti will include education and learning outcomes, infrastructure development, social business investment, expansion of a clean water portfolio, and monitoring and evaluation. Prior to joining Hope for Haiti, Mr. Badenoch worked for buildOn, where he spent 10 years managing participatory school construction programs in Haiti, Nicaragua, and Malawi. During that time, he helped raise more than $10 million to support global education and the construction of more than 500 schools in rural villages in the developing world. Badenoch now serves as a global board member at buildOn, where he advises senior leadership on key partnerships and development. Badenoch was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cote d’Ivoire, and he received an undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Arizona, and a Master’s degree in International Development Studies at the George Washington University. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Sahar and his two daughters, Lillian and Layla.
How did you get your start in the nonprofit space?
After college, I joined the Peace Corps and was a volunteer in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa. That experience drove me into the the non-profit space. I returned home, worked for several locally focused non-profits while attending graduate school. After graduate school, I was hired by buildOn to help start up their Haiti program and build primary schools internationally.
What is one challenge you’ve encountered while working in leadership for a nonprofit?
Fundraising is ALWAYS a challenge. Each year our budget resets and we have to work strategically to raise the funds necessary to do the work. Inevitably, you hear “no” a lot, which make the times you hear “yes” that much more rewarding.
What is one opportunity you’ve identified because of the changes due to COVID-19?
We became hyper focused on diversification of revenue streams to help fund our work. Because in-person events weren’t an option, we spend time and resources building infrastructure and donor networks to help us receive cryptocurrency, engage with video game philanthropists, and hold online auctions. It’s paid off, and now we are much more diversified in our revenue streams.
What is your most effective nonprofit fundraising medium?
Website
What is one nonprofit fundraising rule you live by?
Build authentic relationships around meaningful work. I’ve met some lifelong friends doing very impactful work sticking to that principle.
Thank you for sharing your story Skyler.
You can learn more about Hope For Haiti and Skyler below.
Hope For Haiti: https://hopeforhaiti.com
Skyler Badenoch on LinkedIn: cio.ist/skyBA
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