How the Roux Institute Helped Twelve Nonprofits Develop Their “Intrapreneurial” Mindset

Through our Environment Program, we support nonprofits that work to increase equitable access to outdoor activities, offer nature-learning programs, and lead environmental advocacy.

But each nonprofit’s financial stability affects its ability to do this work effectively. As such, we’re committed not only to supporting grantees’ programming, but also to helping organizations build their capacity to effectively implement their activities.

To assist nonprofits interested in developing an earned-income stream to complement foundation grants and individual donations, we partnered with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute in 2023 to launch the Intrapreneurship for Nonprofits program. The program reimagines entrepreneurship within the structure of a nonprofit organization and helps nonprofits create earned-revenue streams to support their community-oriented work.

Sitting at the intersection of technology, data, research, and business, the Roux Institute was uniquely positioned to facilitate this program and help some of the Onion Foundation’s environment grantees bring their ideas to life.

Where Creative Ideas Meet Hands-on Experience

In April 2025, participating nonprofits, mentors, foundation leaders, and community members gathered at the Roux Institute to celebrate the culmination of the second iteration of the program.

As eight of the 12 nonprofits participating in the program’s second cohort presented their ideas, the audience was reminded of the overarching goals of the program: to provide nonprofit organizations an opportunity to work with business experts, explore ideas for generating earned income, and, ultimately, refine and craft a revenue-generating product or service that aligns with both their core values and their customers’ needs. Through numerous educational sessions and discussions, the environmental nonprofits also learned from each other.

To accomplish the program’s goals, the nonprofits participated in two key phases:

• Phase one: Over the course of eight weeks, at least one staff member and one board member from each nonprofit generated their initial ideas for building an earned-income stream and conducted interviews with potential customers.

• Phase two: Eight teams with the resources, capacity, and commitment moved on to participate in five additional weeks to craft a business plan, secure customers, and refine their pitch.

During the program, participating groups also met weekly with program facilitators, mentors, and peer organizations, while completing assignments after each session to advance their work.

The program required intensive participation, and the revenue-generating plans coming out of it will require sustained attention and commitment. With board and staff members invested in the ideas they developed, however, these nonprofits are positioned to make strides toward successful earned-income programs.

Pitching Projects to an Audience of Entrepreneurs

The culminating showcase in April highlighted the skills and ideas these nonprofits built throughout the Intrapreneurship program. Eight organizations — Hearty Roots, IFKA Community Services, Tree Street Youth, Pine Tree Camp, Maine Audubon, Main Street Skowhegan, Hurricane Island Outward Bound, and The Ecology School — pitched their ideas to a judging panel comprising:

• Fritz Onion, co-founder of the Onion Foundation and Pluralsight

• Sarah Guerette, Senior Program Director, Business Development Services at Coastal Enterprises, Inc.

• Rich Cantz, the President and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England

Innovative revenue-generating ideas ranged from IFKA’s language translation services and training certification program to Outward Bound’s high school study abroad program in Costa Rica. Many ideas focused on offering spaces for other organizations to network, learn, or rest. The Ecology School, for example, hopes to open its retreat and learning center to give nonprofit and other teams a place to restore and connect. Hearty Roots wants to train teachers and caregivers using its framework for supporting youth mental health in outdoor settings.

In the end, three organizations took the top prizes: Maine Audubon secured first place and $10,000 for its plan to create an educational ecommerce marketplace for selling native plants. Main Street Skowhegan earned a $5,000 second-place prize for its idea to launch a membership-based outdoor gear-lending subscription service for hotels and other lodges. Tree Street Youth took third place and $2,500 for its fee-for-service program that will help organizations, businesses, and government agencies design solutions to address key challenges.

While these three organizations earned top spots in the showcase, all eight nonprofits presented mission-aligned ideas that are grounded in their values and responsive to the needs of proposed customers.

Foundations for Program Success

Leading a nonprofit is demanding. Staff are tasked with running their programs while fundraising, deepening their own expertise, networking, generating innovative ideas, and more.

Yet, despite these demands, some nonprofits have the capacity, specialized expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit to grow earned-income programs that can reduce the burden of fundraising or provide the additional revenue needed for expanding their core programs. Organizations in this position can be successful by:

• Identifying a mission-aligned project and taking concrete steps to understand customer demand, market needs, and competitor offerings

• Being prepared to invest in their project in terms of staffing, time, and willingness to revise their ideas as needed

• Addressing the cultural tensions that might arise, including shifting staff responsibilities or developing new organizational goals, as they implement new strategies

The three top nonprofits in the Intrapreneurship program exemplify organizations with the right foundations for success. By investing their time and energy into the program, they’ve grown their ability to turn big dreams into concrete business plans.

Their success is just one example of what makes the Roux Institute such a special resource to have in Maine — and one we’re proud to partner with at the Onion Foundation. As it contemplates the next iteration of the Intrapreneurship program, the Roux Institute will use the nonprofits’ feedback to improve the course, ensuring participating organizations have the collaboration, mentorship, and education needed to jumpstart their revenue-generating ideas.