1How did you find out about Open Road, and what did you think when you first heard about our model?

Atlas Corps heard about Open Road through our Host Organizations, primarily Global Press Institute, as well as the NEXUS Community.

2How is your organization doing today?

Atlas Corps is developing leaders and strengthening organizations through our in-person and virtual leadership programs. At our heart, we are creating and strengthening a global community of talented professionals who celebrate the achievements and support during the challenges. Just last week, our Atlas Corps Leaders (Alumni, Fellows, and Scholars) organized a community poetry event online. It was amazing! They shared original works, listened to one another, and were present in that moment. The sense of rejuvenation was felt throughout the attendees. I am confident that after that event, our Leaders left ready to better engage with their communities, organizations, and families.

3What advice can you share with other impact organizations as they navigate social impact in an uncertain world?

Write it down. The written word is a helpful technique to create solid ground amidst so much uncertainty. It may be an implementation plan. It may be a run of show for an upcoming event. It may be as simple as the agenda for a weekly meeting. When organizations present a visual plan, your community can follow. Also, smile - celebrate the little wins - find joy in your work and be inspired!

4In your mind, what is something unique that Open Road offers to the social sector?

Open Road actively engages in the conversation related to what the organization needs and how Open Road can help achieve that goal. Over our collaboration with Open Road, we have appreciated these conversations. We have experienced some opportunities and unforeseen challenges. Open Road listened, advised, and helped us overcome these temporary roadblocks. We did not adapt to their set of criteria. Instead, we discussed impact and how to achieve it together.

5A source of inspiration and/or pride for you/your organization?

Our global community is a continued source of inspiration! We feature many of our stories on blog.atlascorps.org. On paper, Atlas Corps is a mid-size nonprofit organization. In practice, we are Sergio, an emerging professional from Colombia who is now leading entrepreneurship ventures throughout Latin America. Or Hira, a Pakistani professional who launched a women's leadership program in Pakistan to stimulate economic opportunity. Or Medha, a public health activist from Nepal who launched her own organization to enhance health services for youth. Atlas Corps believes that talent exists throughout the world, yet opportunity does not. We open the door of opportunity and inspire emerging leaders to share their talents and strengthen their own networks to achieve positive impact at home and abroad.

6Anything else you want to share?

Congratulations, Open Road! We are thrilled to be in your orbit. Much like you, Atlas Corps started as an idea 15 years ago. The involvement of innovative individuals and creative organizations has grown us to this global community of 1,200 professionals from 112 countries! In 2020, the pandemic hit and threatened our entire structure as an international exchange organization. We did not stop. We reached out, and we innovated. One of the first entities we contacted was Open Road because of our dynamic history and innovative thinking. Now, two years later, Atlas Corps is thriving! We continued to bring Fellows to the United States through our Blended Fellowship. We launched a new leadership program, Virtual Leadership Institute, that engaged about 300 participants in the first year. We even experienced the transition from a founder-led organization. We appreciate Open Road for walking with us through these highs and lows. We look forward to a bright future together!

1Take us back to your roadblock; how did you find out about Open Road, and what did you think when you first heard about our model?

Our CEO, Eric Stowe, met Maya through a mutual acquaintance (Mark Arnoldy @ Possible Health) in late 2013. Splash was excited about the focus on funding organizations to overcome unexpected roadblocks or take advantage of unexpected opportunities, which remains a unique philanthropic model today. At the time, Splash hit a significant roadblock in our work in China. We ultimately declined an offer from ORA to help us through it once we determined it was more complex than we originally anticipated. Though, it was that initial meeting and the subsequent negotiations that made it clear that ORA was acting wildly different than most funding partners. It was an exciting proposition they were endorsing, especially as we watched other funders try to reconcile the laser-focus that ORA publicly committed, combined with the reality that ORA wouldn’t exist if those same funders had built their grants and maintained their portfolios with the flexibility that any successful work in the development sector requires.

2How is your organization doing today?

Open Road’s support has been transformational to our organization. We started as a clean water organization and now implement a holistic water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health program thanks to Open Road’s support at pivotal moments along the way. Since 2007, we’ve served over 830,000 kids across 2,300 schools, orphanages, shelters, and pediatric hospitals. Today, we are mid-way through a $45M project to reach 800,000 kids across India and Ethiopia.

3What advice can you share with other impact organizations as they too address some of the most complex issues of our time?

Treat funders as people and not as ATMs. Develop deeper relationships by reaching out to share updates, successes, and, most especially, challenges along the way to help funders feel invested in your success. If a funding partner runs at the first hint of a challenge, they aren’t partners. Conversely, if an NGO shields the funder from a challenge, they aren’t partners, either. For organizations working in an international context, ensuring local ownership is key. This includes government co-funding and engagement of a wide range of stakeholders, from government to NGOs and civil society. Be laser-focused on what you do and do a few things exceptionally well. If your organization’s portfolio of work continually diversifies and expands, your impact likely dilutes in equal proportion. Only the monolithic INGOs can sustain wide-ranging interventions. Even then, that should be in question.

4In your mind, what is something unique that Open Road offers to the social sector?

Open Road treats grantees as true partners. They offer fast, flexible funding, a streamlined grant-making process, and a quick decision regarding grants. They tell you no clearly and compassionately, they ask really tough questions to ensure a good fit, and they move at a lightning pace -- all of which allows organizations to respond more quickly and effectively to address roadblocks and opportunities.