Nonprofit Leadership Lessons Stand Out As Kaci Patterson Looks Back At 2025

Kaci Patterson stands as the founder and Chief Architect of the Black Equity Collective (BEC), a pivotal network dedicated to bolstering Black-led organizations' sustainability in Southern California. An alumna of Pepperdine University, Patterson earned her MBA in Organizational Management & Leadership from the University of La Verne. She boasts a profound dedication to advancing human and community development. Additionally, she helms Social Good Solutions (SGS), a boutique social impact consultancy owned by Black women, advocating for Black creatives to recognize and protect their intellectual property’s value. Reflecting on 2025, Patterson highlighted BEC's capacity to navigate external pressures including funding cuts and environmental crises while onboarding 20 new member organizations, conducting a symposium, and releasing a pivotal report on Black-led nonprofits’ economic contributions. While lamenting funders' retreat from equity issues, she draws inspiration from nature's resilience, emphasizing a focus on ancestral wisdom for future strategies. Moving forward, her mission centers on fostering enduring strength within organizations for continued impact.