Under the current administration, advocacy efforts have largely consisted of letters, emails and friendly meetings with executives at companies accused of mistreating NABJ members.

As president, I will implement a far more aggressive approach. We will establish a rapid-response team with NABJ’s legally trained members and external counsel to provide pro bono legal support and representation for mistreated members. This team will also organize targeted actions, including protests and digital campaigns, against companies with a history of mistreating our members. We’ll partner with civil rights groups and labor unions to hold bad actors accountable and demand real change, moving beyond the polite conversations of the past.

NABJ Ventures is an investment vehicle that will allocate $25,000 to local chapters and task forces to seed recurring events that each generate at least $50,000 in profit. This initiative, led by key executives in collaboration with the Executive Director, will create regional events that diversify NABJ’s revenue, strengthen local chapters and increase membership engagement. Our newly hired Chief Technology Officer will ensure the events are digitally optimized for maximum reach, while the incoming Development Director and Director of Philanthropic Partnerships will assist in securing necessary funding and sponsorships.

By purchasing larger hotel room blocks, we can negotiate better rates and prevent early sell-outs, ensuring that more members can access affordable accommodations. We will also subsidize convention registration for emerging journalists and scholarship recipients, making convention attendance more accessible. These efforts will attract more sponsors, increase membership and ultimately offset the cost of the subsidies.

NABJ has relied on volunteers and a small staff to manage a large, growing organization. It’s time to bring in experienced professionals to manage operations, fundraising and large-scale events. New hires like a Chief Technology Officer, Development Director and Chief Financial Officer will work collaboratively to build and refine NABJ’s infrastructure, drive new revenue streams and increase the impact and resources available for our members.

• Chief Technology Officer (CTO): The CTO will revamp NABJ’s website into a dynamic career hub with job boards, networking tools and exclusive resources. This will attract new sponsors, philanthropic partners and advertisers. The CTO will also drive revenue-generating digital partnerships, further expanding NABJ’s reach and impact.
• Development Director/Director of Philanthropic Partnerships: This role will focus on building relationships with donors, securing grants and leading fundraising events. The Development Director will ensure a cohesive fundraising strategy to support NABJ’s growth and programs.
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO): The CFO will be responsible for budgeting, cash flow management and implementing a revised investment strategy. By closely monitoring NABJ’s financial health, the CFO will work to ensure financial accountability and long-term sustainability, maximizing NABJ’s revenue and guiding decision-making.

These professionals will complement our existing staff and volunteer committees, working alongside them to alleviate workloads and drive NABJ’s growth.

Our new leadership team will revamp convention programming by securing new sponsors, partners and advertisers. They will drive the creation of innovative and future-focused panels and secure sponsors for member-suggested panels, workshops and networking opportunities. All of these efforts will be aimed at providing members with new career development pathways. With expertise in event management, sponsorship and revenue generation, this team will elevate the convention experience to new heights in every way.

The current website doesn’t serve the needs of our members. A revamped site will become a dynamic career hub with job boards, networking tools and exclusive resources. It will also generate new revenue opportunities through advertising and virtual events, while serving as a platform for members to showcase their work and connect with potential sponsors.

NABJ’s current investment strategy has underperformed badly. From 2019-2023, while the stock market averaged a 17.4% return, NABJ’s investments grew by less than 1.4%. Based on the investments detailed in NABJ’s tax filings, the organization missed out on over $5.3 million in potential returns during this five-year period. 

I will shift our investment strategy to low-cost index funds, which would have significantly outperformed our current approach. Additionally, I will move millions in cash currently earning no interest into high-yield accounts, generating up to $150,000 in the first year alone.

These new revenue streams will allow for the creation of new programs, support and improve current offerings and help NABJ grow to become a more powerful, more responsive and better organization.

A business line of credit is a flexible funding tool that allows NABJ to access a predetermined amount of money, as needed. It gives NABJ the right, but not the obligation to borrow capital. Unlike traditional loans, NABJ would only pay interest on the amount used. 

Securing a business line of credit will provide NABJ with financial flexibility to respond to short-term needs, support growth initiatives and strengthen reserves—without dipping into our existing assets.

NABJ is in a solid financial position, with over $8 million in assets, according to NABJ’s latest tax filing. However, around $2.5 million is sitting idle in a non-interest-bearing account. 

My plan includes revising our investment strategy to focus on index funds, which would generate 15 times higher returns than the current strategy, and redirecting idle cash into high-yield accounts. 

By investing in our executive team and programs like NABJ Ventures, we will open new revenue streams, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and future growth.

Our new leadership team, including a Chief Technology Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, will bring fresh expertise to fund growth and expand our impact.

• Chief Technology Officer (CTO): The CTO will improve our relationship with trillion-dollar tech companies and transform NABJ’s digital presence, increasing member engagement, expanding revenue-generating digital partnerships and driving new initiatives that directly benefit NABJ members.
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO): The CFO will connect us with well-funded financial institutions to create opportunities and ensure NABJ is on a path to financial sustainability.
• Director of Philanthropic Partnerships: The Development Director will drive fundraising efforts, strengthen relationships with current and future donors and lead efforts to diversify NABJ’s revenue base.

Importantly, these people will not replace our existing staff or volunteer committees. These hires will help us build NABJ’s infrastructure to support long-term financial success and greater member value.

They will help the organization grow and improve, not take anyone’s job.

We will strengthen our ties with affinity organizations like NAHJ, AAJA, NLGJA, IJA, the Black press and HBCUs by creating new revenue-generating events and convention opportunities. We will also direct NABJ’s new executives to focus their efforts on forging new relationships with tech companies, nonprofits and other journalism organizations and deepening our current relationships. We will form ad hoc committees to find innovative ways to work with other journalism affinity organizations.

Our executives will be seeking large, multi-year commitments from well-funded tech companies and philanthropic organizations that align with NABJ’s mission to help and protect Black journalists across the board.