The mission-driven landscape is ever-changing, and one nonprofit is stepping up to lead the charge. Catalyst:Ed, previously known for its dedicated mission to enhance educational outcomes, has officially rebranded to Catalyst Exchange. This decision marks a pivotal shift for the organization, reflecting its commitment to the wider social sector beyond education. With the new name, Catalyst Exchange aims to act as a transformative connector and catalyst for capacity-building initiatives that influence both education and various community sectors.
Founded in 2017, Catalyst Exchange has built a reputation for being a trusted ally for over 1,500 organizations and has created a vetted network of more than 1,000 providers within the nonprofit space. The organization's previous focus was exclusively on education, but now it seeks to expand its impact to drive meaningful change across communities. According to Leona Christy, the Founder and CEO, "At a time when the social sector faces tremendous uncertainty and disruption, Catalyst Exchange is expanding our work to help leaders across the sector navigate complexity, co-create solutions and spark transformation."
The rebranding is not just a simple name change. It symbolizes a broader intention to enhance the organization’s offerings and leverage its digital platform, network, and a human-centered approach to advance the missions of various organizations. In 2024, with substantial investments from Blue Meridian Partners and Ballmer Group, the organization began serving place-based partnerships (PBPs) to tackle challenges that extend beyond educational institutions. This expansion aims to uplift the collective efforts of organizations driving transformational change in their respective communities.
Catalyst Exchange’s strategy includes a focus on three key areas:
1.
Strategic Funding for Capacity Building: Within the last year, Catalyst Exchange has successfully mobilized $4.97 million towards capacity-building projects. Notably, $1.41 million has come from co-investments, optimizing resource distribution among nonprofits.
2.
Timely Support for Emerging Challenges: The launch of the Resilience Hub has been a game changer, providing nonprofits with rapid, tailored responses to urgent challenges. With initial commitments of $3 million, this hub is designed to address real-time needs that organizations face.
3.
Strengthening Local Networks: The initiative engages various organizations to facilitate powerful place-based partnerships. So far, 173 projects have been completed with 100% satisfaction, and an impressive 83% of these initiatives have fully met their pre-defined goals.
Furthermore, the pandemic underscored the necessity of rapid support for school districts. Catalyst Exchange was pivotal during this turbulent time—offering real-time data and insights. Their proactive approach helped 178 school districts transition smoothly to remote and hybrid learning configurations, achieving success in 88% of their projects.
As Catalyst Exchange embraces this new identity, they continue to pursue their core mission: fueling learning, enhancing collaboration, and advancing impactful outcomes for the diverse communities they serve. Looking ahead, the organization plans to unveil new features on its platform that will further streamline and strengthen organizational connections and insights across its networks.
In essence, Catalyst Exchange is more than a rebranded name; it represents a revitalized commitment to building capacity and driving change in the nonprofit sector, fostering an ecosystem where collaboration, innovation, and sustainable progress can thrive.
To learn more about Catalyst Exchange and its new initiatives, visit
www.catalyst-exchange.org.