What I've learned...and not learned about running a non profit

"See a problem? Find a way to fix it...or don't complain."

My poor sons have probably heard it a thousand times. My skating students have definitely heard it. I may or may not have repeated it enough that they can hear my voice in their heads.

So when I started seeing the cost of youth sports—especially figure skating—climbing higher and higher, while more and more families struggled to afford lessons, ice time, coaching, costumes, travel, and equipment, I had to look in the mirror.

I thought, Okay Amy...your turn. Time to practice what you've been preaching.

That's how the idea for Road to Gold Gives Back was born.

The goal seemed simple enough: create a nonprofit that could provide financial grants to young figure skaters who have the talent, the drive, and the work ethic, but whose families are stretched to the limit trying to keep them on the ice.

Then reality set in.

It turns out starting a nonprofit isn't nearly as simple as filling out a few forms and opening a bank account.

I was incredibly fortunate to find some amazing people who believed in the mission and helped get things moving. Without them, Road to Gold Gives Back wouldn't have made it off the ground. But once the paperwork was filed and the nonprofit officially existed, a whole new list of questions appeared.

Now what?

How do we market the organization? How do we build a website? How do we tell people what we're doing? How do we reach families who need help? And, of course, the biggest question of all...

How do we raise the money?

There is certainly no shortage of deserving skaters. Every season I meet incredible athletes whose dreams are limited not by talent, but by finances. They work hard, they show up, and they give everything they have. Sometimes what's standing between them and the next opportunity is simply the cost of getting there.

That's where Road to Gold Gives Back hopes to make a difference.

But grants don't magically appear. Every dollar we award has to be raised first.

That means we've had to start thinking creatively. Traditional fundraising is important, but we also need fresh ideas that get people excited about supporting young athletes. Whether it's community events, online campaigns, partnerships with local businesses, merchandise, raffles, auctions, or finding sponsors who believe in our mission, every idea is worth exploring.

Just as important is visibility.

People can't support a nonprofit they've never heard of.

Building awareness is almost as important as raising money. We want people to know who we are, why we exist, and whose lives we're trying to impact. Every social media post, every conversation at the rink, every shared story about a skater chasing a dream helps introduce someone new to Road to Gold Gives Back.

Growing a nonprofit is a lot like developing a figure skater. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes consistency, patience, determination, and a whole lot of people cheering you on along the way.

We're still at the beginning of this journey, but every new supporter, every volunteer, every donor, and every person who shares our story helps move us one step closer to giving another young skater the chance to stay on the ice.

Because sometimes all it takes is a little financial help to keep a dream alive.

And if I've spent years telling others to find a way to fix a problem instead of complaining about it, then how can I not find a way to do exactly that