Running a Nonprofit Like a Business | Laura Hope Whitaker, Extra Special People
- Apr 7
- 1 min read
Laura Hope Whitaker took over Extra Special People (ESP) as a college sophomore. The organization had a $125,000 budget, a $50,000 deficit, and a founder who had just passed away from pancreatic cancer. Twenty-one years later, ESP runs a $8 million budget across five communities in Georgia and North Carolina, employs 50 full-time and 200 part-time staff, and operates a social enterprise that employs 85 adults with developmental disabilities.
In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, host Stephen Garten sits down with Laura to talk through what it actually takes to scale a nonprofit, why "nonprofit is just a tax code," and the leadership principles she documents in her new book, The Joy Exchange.
Quick Summary
• ESP serves people with disabilities through afterschool programs, family support, and a social enterprise called JavaJoy
• Laura took over as a sophomore in college after the founder died, inheriting a deficit and four board members (one of whom was in jail).
• Her core growth framework: treat the nonprofit like a business, know the numbers, and be unapologetic about fundraising.
• Board management is a strategic function, not an obligation. Boards should evolve as the organization evolves.
• Mentorship and continuous learning have been the constant throughout 21 years of leadership.
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