Empowering Nonprofits With Affordable Resources: The April Willis Way

April Willis has made a name for herself as a leader in nonprofit and small business consulting, using her experience and expertise to help organizations operate more efficiently and scale their impact. As the founder of April Willis Consulting and the National Nonprofit Collaborative (NNC), she has dedicated her career to providing essential back-office support to organizations that need it most. From HR and strategic planning to grant writing and social media management, April offers a range of services that enable nonprofits and small businesses to focus on what they do best: making a difference.

April’s consulting firm began as a solo operation and has since grown into a collaborative team of professionals working remotely across the country. Recently, April Willis Consulting was named to the Longhorn 100—a list of the top 100 alumni-founded businesses recognized by the University of Texas. Additionally, she’s been involved with the Forbes Coaches Council for several years, contributing her insights to a network of high-level business coaches.

Despite the success of her consulting firm, April’s work in the nonprofit sector has been a central focus of her career. Her passion for nonprofit work has led her to launch a separate initiative aimed at empowering these organizations with affordable, high-quality resources. 

“At April Willis we were having calls with people who couldn’t afford our services,” April says. “I really wanted to bridge that gap.”

These barriers prompted April to create the NNC in January 2024. NNC offers nonprofits access to a wide range of resources—everything from templates and strategic guidance to customizable design tools—at a price that’s accessible to most organizations.

NNC’s extensive resource library is divided into a few core areas, including fund development, strategic partnerships, volunteer management, and board development. These categories represent some of the most common pain points that nonprofits face, and NNC aims to help them address these challenges without the need for expensive consulting services. The platform also features exclusive webinars, publishing opportunities for experts in the field, and even monthly drawings for free subscriptions or a portion of the proceeds.

April believes that by offering these resources at an affordable price, NNC can serve as a bridge for nonprofits that need help but lack the financial means to access traditional consulting services.

“We’re providing nonprofits with access to the tools and expertise they need to succeed, without the high cost,” April says.

While April supports a variety of businesses and organizations, she has a particular affinity for those focused on rare diseases, the unhoused community, food insecurity, and education. In her experience, these organizations are often doing some of the most transformative work in society. Many are tackling pressing issues such as child welfare, poverty, and community health, and they are often doing so with limited resources.

“Nonprofits in the rare disease sector, in particular, do life-changing work. The children served by these organizations wouldn’t survive without their support,” April says. “There’s something incredibly powerful about helping these organizations access the resources they need to continue their work.”

One of the central themes of April’s work is making essential resources more accessible. Many nonprofits, especially smaller ones, don’t have the budget for high-end consulting services or expensive tools. That’s where NNC stands apart—by offering high-quality resources at a fraction of the cost, it levels the playing field for organizations that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford expert help.

Through a subscription-based model, NNC allows organizations to share one login across their entire team—making it even more cost-effective. Additionally, April and her team are committed to constantly adding new resources based on feedback from members, ensuring that the platform stays relevant and responsive to the ever-changing needs of the nonprofit sector.

Despite the success of NNC, they struggle with getting the word out to nonprofits and convincing them that NNC is not “too good to be true.” Many are skeptical of the platform’s affordability and question whether it can truly offer high-quality resources for such a low price. For April, overcoming this skepticism is a constant effort.

“The feedback we often get is that people can’t believe the resources are so inexpensive,” April says. “Our challenge is ensuring that people understand we are truly here to help. We’re not a gimmick, we’re a dedicated team with a mission to support nonprofits.”

On the flip side, the most rewarding part of April’s work is seeing the real-world impact that the resources have on nonprofits. NNC adds five new resources each month, ensuring that the library remains fresh and up-to-date. Members can also request specific resources, which are typically developed within two weeks and made available to all users.

With a strong foundation and a growing user base, April is optimistic about the future of NNC and its ability to continue supporting nonprofits across the country. Her team is committed to expanding the platform, adding new resources, and continuing to listen to feedback from the organizations they serve.

“The beauty of NNC is that it’s a living, breathing resource. We’re always adapting to the changing needs of nonprofits,” April says. “We’ll continue to innovate and make sure our members have the tools they need to thrive.”