Ecosystem Resources for Purpose-Driven Leaders
Funding, training, and community tools for small business and nonprofit
This page curates resources helpful for small business and nonprofit leaders - funding opportunities, accelerators, nonprofit tools, local ecosystem partners, wellness, and learning that supports your journey.
Not every link will fit every organization, but we hope it gives you a starting point for building your own ecosystem of support.
How to Use This Page
Browse by what you’re trying to move forward right now —funding, starting or growing your organization, nonprofit excellence, or mental and physical wellness (often neglected by busy leaders).
Click the box to visit the provider (website opens in new tab or window).
Organizations with gold boxes have Black founders based in Durham, North Carolina.
Come back as you need to; we update this page periodically as new changes, opportunities and partners emerge.
Disclaimer: Inclusion on this page does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of services. By using this directory, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for any outcomes, issues, or disputes that may arise from interactions with listed providers. Users should exercise their own judgement and due diligence when hiring or working with any providers listed here.
Funding & Capital
These links are a starting point for exploring grants, growth programs, office space, and capital opportunities. Always check each site for current eligibility and deadlines.
Triangle Community Foundation – Grants
Triangle Community Foundation offers grant opportunities for nonprofits in the Triangle region, with a focus on community-led impact.
NC IDEA – For Entrepreneurs
NC IDEA supports North Carolina-based founders with grants and programs designed to help early-stage businesses grow.
The Institute
Focus on expanding economic opportunity for diverse businesses (including those owned by women, veterans, and rural) nationwide. Celebrating 40 years of hosting the Executive Networking Conference in Pinehurst, NC.
Carolina Small Business Development Fund
Funding, technical assistance, advocacy for underresourced business owners in North Carolina.
Kapor Capital
Venture capital firm that invests in industry-transforming companies prioritizing a more fair, just, and equitable society for low income communities and underrepresented communities of color. Based in Oakland, California.
Black Ambition
Competition for high-growth, under-served entrepreneurs to be eligible for mentorship and win up to $1 million in funding
Entrepreneurial Support Hub
Directory of grants, accelerators, fellowships, and more opportunities for social impact entrepreneurs. There are also several training resources and opportunities from ideation to scaling stages. Curated by 4.0, Camelback Ventures, Echoing Green, Moonshot, and NewSchools.
Provident 1898
Co-working space and community hub with day pass to office suite access. Housed in the historic Mutual Tower in Durham, NC (once home of the NC Mutual Life Insurance Company).
ReCity Network
Co-working space prioritizing social impact businesses and nonprofits with collaboration and capacity-building activities in downtown Durham, NC.
Starting & Growing a Business or Organization
These resources support founders and leaders at the early and growth stages—especially those in North Carolina.
Illumined Leadership Solutions
Guides people, organizations, and businesses nationwide towards transformative leadership with a holistic approach.
The Katalyst HQ
Strategy and development for companies ready to launch new software.
Infinity Bridges
Training and strategic support for entrepreneurs looking to launch, grow, and scale their businesses in North Carolina.
T'Farri Solutions
Mindset coaching and motivational speaking for entrepreneurs seeking clarity in their vision.
Sunflower Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping for small business and nonprofit.
Current Praxis
Co-create restorative coaching with people and teams navigating identity-aware culture change worldwide.
Give It To The People
Ecosystem builder focused on driving economic mobility of business, workforce, and community through multi-entity collaborations in North Carolina and beyond.
echo
Hands-on entrepreneurial programming for youth and adults in Durham, NC.
Knox St. Studios
Education, mentorship, and resources in tech, business, and real estate for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and underserved communities in the Triangle.
Database for Diverse Startup Consultant Network
Directory of experts who provide strategic support as consultants, fractional executives and other professional service providers. Curated by Khadijah Robinson, J.D.
Durham Business 360
Directory of advisory, planning, and technical assistance resources for small businesses in Durham. Organizations include Small Business Center at Durham Tech, SCORE Chapel Hill-Durham, SBTDC at NCCU, Women's Business Center of NC.
WRAL Startup Guide
Comprehensive directory of resources to launch and grow businesses for early-stage entrepreneurs in the Triangle.
EDPNC – Start a Business
State-level guidance and resources for starting and growing a business in North Carolina.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
A growth program combining education, capital, and business support for small business owners across the U.S.
Tory Burch Foundation – Business Plan Builder
A guided business plan tool designed to help women entrepreneurs clarify their business model and growth plans.
Find and track more opportunities to grow your NC-based small business or nonprofit with our 2026 Opportunity Tracker.
Nonprofit Excellence & Governance
These resources support nonprofit leaders with board development, training, and operational tools.
BoardSource
Governance and board development resources for nonprofit boards and executives.
Director Development Initiative (DDI)
Identify potential board members with the help of this UNC School of Law initiative. Candidates are open to nonprofit and for-profit board seats.
NonprofitReady.org
Free online courses covering fundraising, operations, HR, and leadership for nonprofit professionals.
NC Center for Nonprofits
THE organization that educates, connects, and advocates for NC nonprofits for decades now. Many ways to benefit from the organization including nonprofit members having access to group healthcare insurance.
American Express Leadership Academy
Capacity-building program for senior leaders in the nonprofit sector.
Candid
Claiming your nonprofit profile in this database adds credibility when pursuing funding. Additionally, they have a grant database but it's available for a fee however you may be able access it through your local library at no cost.
Must-Have Nonprofit Tools
These are tools we regularly see nonprofits use to work more effectively and tell their story well.
Canva Pro
Design software for creating presentations, flyers, reports, and social content that looks polished without a full design team. (Complimentary for registered nonprofits)
Givebutter
Modern fundraising platform that supports events and peer-to-peer fundraising. It's been super convenient for managing silent auctions and other events I've helped organize.
TechSoup
Essential technology and software at nonprofit pricing, from productivity tools to security and design.
See more must-have tools for nonprofit and for-profit leaders in the curated Essential Tools Guide.
Mental & Physical Wellness
These organizations and leaders support mental and physical wellness crucial for business and nonprofit leaders.
NC Black Healthcare Provider List
Directory of healthcare providers for primary care, mental, eye, dental, and other specialities in North Carolina. Created by Dr. Lys @thepharmdfoodie
360 Approach
Personal fitness gym prioritizing holistic health, based in Durham's Central Park District.
Club Cardio Fitness Bar
Classes, personal training, and custom nutrious smoothies. Home of Step Reloaded (amazing hip hop step experience). Based in Raleigh, travels nationwide.
Learning & Inspiration
These podcasts, videos, books, and sounds have helped shape our thinking about leadership, entrepreneurship, and impact.
Podcasts & YouTube
Podcasts, featured talks, and journalistic shows have been amazing sources for personal and professional growth as well as entertainment.
See below for videos from some of our favorite channels for business inspiration and training:
These videos (and more) are all listed on the Learning & Inspiration playlist on YouTube
Channels featured above include:
- Aspire with Emma Grede
- Behind the Diary, Steven Bartlett (also Diary of a CEO)
- Tory Burch Foundation
- House Guest, Scott Evans
- Kenyetta Speaks, Kenyetta Hall
- IdeaCast, Harvard Business Review
- TEDx Talks
Pro tip: at the very least, subscribe to all channels for your software vendors, like Canva, Notion, Quickbooks and more, to quickly access training and support.
Check out more local inspiration and advice compiled and published by WRAL TechWire's Startup Guide.
Books & Focus Tools
Books are wonderful for continuous learning, entertainment, and all around mentorship by people who just said yes to their purpose. The following shelf (list) of books are curated for the purpose-driven business and nonprofit leader.
Over time, more bookshelves related to our pillars and values will be added to YNS Books.
If you prefer audiobooks, especially DRM-free and accessible on iOS and Android apps, try libro.fm (use the promo code SWITCH and get two free audiobooks with a new 1-credit monthly subscription, or click the ad below for an annual membership and receive a bonus credit).
Both companies support local, independent bookstores and are Certified B Corps.
Disclaimer: If you purchase books or gift cards through the links shown, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting values-aligned work!
lo-fi + pomodoro = focus
Sometimes it helps just to have a timer and the right background music to complete necessary tasks. This video helps with focus with soft jazz and 45/15 pomodoro sets over three hours. There are hundreds more with various music types (including '90s R&B and Afrobeats), timer or video lengths, backgrounds (cityscape scenes, animated or actual people, etc).
One search you could do to find your preference is "lo fi, [focus music type], pomodoro [work time in minutes/break time in minutes]"
Suggest a Resource
Know a funding opportunity, ecosystem partner, or learning resource that belongs here—especially something Black-led, locally owned, or community-rooted? We’re always open to learning about what’s working for you.
Disclaimer: We can’t feature every suggestion, but we review submissions periodically and add those that align with our mission and the leaders we serve.
Inclusion on this page does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of services. By using this directory, you acknowledge that we are not responsible for any outcomes, issues, or disputes that may arise from interactions with listed providers. Users should exercise their own judgement and due diligence when hiring or working with any providers listed here.
Want Help Making Sense of These Options?
Resources are helpful, but they’re not a strategy. If you’d like a thought partner to help you prioritize, plan, or implement, the next step is a conversation.
Yolanda Brown is an independent management consultant, nonprofit leader, and proud mom based in Durham, NC. For nearly 20 years, she has delivered value as a trusted ally, diligent solver of complex problems, and influential collaborator to managers and leaders within top organizations in the telecommunications, wireless, transportation, small business, and nonprofit industries.
She is the Founder and President of Yolanda Nichole Solutions, a management consulting firm that partners with mission-driven leaders fully build and execute strategies to solve their most urgent problems and move the needle forward on achieving their goals. Connect with her online to join in the fun!