Awareness: Action-Oriented Economic Re-Education that Prioritizes the Black Experience
Leveraging Alumni Feedback for Continuous Improvement
As DIFFvelopment celebrates its 10th year, our commitment to empowering Black visionaries through historically centered economic re-education remains stronger than ever. This milestone marks not just a decade of impact but also the beginning of a new phase focused on refining our programs to maximize long-term outcomes. One of our core 2025 strategic goals is Program Impact Refinement, ensuring our offerings continually evolve to meet the needs of the global Black community.
In Q1, we conducted a comprehensive review of our impact data to assess both our processes and results. This review led to the development of a final Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for collecting, analyzing, and translating this data into materials for public consumption. By establishing clear monthly milestones, we’ve ensured that impact measurement is both transparent and actionable.
To further enhance our impact, at the end of Q1, we invited alumni to participate in a focus group aimed at gathering direct feedback on how we are articulating their impact in comparison to their lived experiences and outcomes. The response was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the strength and engagement of our global alumni network. We look forward to sharing insights from this focus group in the next quarter, highlighting the tangible ways in which DIFFvelopment has empowered participants to develop their world differently.
As we scale our impact, individual donors play a critical role in sustaining and expanding our work. In honor of our 10th anniversary, we are seeking to grow our base of monthly donors. Research shows that individual donors are the backbone of nonprofit success, providing the consistent funding needed to maintain long-term sustainability. This support is especially vital during periods of economic uncertainty when traditional funding sources may fluctuate. By becoming a monthly donor, you help ensure that aspiring Black visionaries worldwide have access to the tools, resources, and community needed to drive generational wealth and systemic change.
Your monthly contributions directly support DIFFvelopment’s core programs, including the Consultrepreneurship, Black Generational Wealth Program, and Council on Global Black Development. Together, we can continue to challenge systemic disparities and empower the next generation of Black leaders to create solutions that uplift their communities.
Become a Monthly Donor Today →
Advancement: Activated & Hungry to Effect Change
Spotlight: Nateya Taylor, MS, ’20 Alumnus—A Multimedia Storyteller Challenging Anti-Blackness
At DIFFvelopment, we believe that empowering Black visionaries to lead with historical and cultural awareness is key to creating lasting change. We are therefore proud to spotlight Nateya Taylor, MS, a DIFFvelopment alum whose work exemplifies this mission. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Nateya is a multimedia storyteller dedicated to challenging anti-Blackness and revealing the multifacetedness of Blackness through her creative practice as a filmmaker, photographer, and writer.
Through her production company, Naesthetycs, Nateya documents the resilience of Black Midwesterners while shedding light on issues like residential segregation and health inequities. Her work serves as both a catalyst for empathy and a call to action, inspiring individuals and communities to address systemic injustices. Most recently, Nateya was named a 2025 Changewire Fellow, a testament to her growing influence and impact.
One of her most notable recent projects is the film Something in the Water, which explores Milwaukee’s lead crisis and its disproportionate impact on Black communities. Through powerful storytelling and compelling visuals, the film not only raises awareness of this critical issue but also advocates for systemic change to ensure equitable access to clean water and healthier living conditions. This passion for using media to uplift and empower Black communities is a driving force behind Nateya’s work, a journey that was deeply shaped by her experience with DIFFvelopment:
Being a part of DIFFvelopment’s 2020 Consutrepreneurship Program expanded my knowledge on how to use entrepreneurship to build Black generational wealth for myself and Black communities. Since participating in the program, I’ve been dedicated to using my multimedia production company Naesthetycs to better the quality of life and wellness of Black people through storytelling. Even more, I’ve been able to create a career path and income for myself. This spring, I will also launch a non-profit called Run, Black & Green. It is a walking/running collective centering Pan-Africanism, Afrofurturism, and Art to promote wellness and development in Black communities across the diaspora. With this non-profit, my vision is to host walks/runs in Black communities to promote physical activity. The walks/runs will be followed by fellowship and radical vision sessions where Black community members will discuss their vision for a better community and create a plan to execute their vision. As I continue my work with Naesthetycs and Run, Black & Green, the knowledge I gained from DIFFvelopment stays with me and guides me.
Nateya’s journey reflects the transformative impact of DIFFvelopment’s programs, which equip Black visionaries with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to drive meaningful change. Her success is a testament to the power of combining historical context with modern tools and platforms to amplify marginalized voices and address systemic disparities.
The strength of our alumni network is further demonstrated by Q1 engagement metrics:
- Over 80% opened newsletters
- 10% sought and received mentorship through our Lifelong Support Program
- 32% expressed interest in participating in the first DIFF Impact Outcomes Refinement Focus Group
This level of engagement reflects the lasting impact of our programs and the deep sense of community that continues to support alumni as they pursue their goals.
We’re excited to continue fostering this momentum through upcoming events like our April 19th Alumni Day, which offers a unique opportunity for alumni to reconnect, collaborate, and celebrate their achievements. As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting alumni like Nateya who are not only advancing their own careers but also contributing to the collective empowerment of the global Black community.
Transformation: Developing Their World DIFFerently
Scaling Impact While Preserving Authenticity
Scaling impact without compromising authenticity is at the heart of DIFFvelopment’s growth strategy. As we enter our 10th year, we are committed to expanding our reach while preserving the human touch that defines our programs. Our unique scaling model is built on three core elements: our Online Resource Center, Social Impact Partnerships, and Coaching for Good.
The Online Resource Center represents a transformative step forward, digitizing our curriculum to make it accessible to a global audience. By providing key learnings in a fully digitized format, we empower aspiring Black visionaries worldwide with the knowledge and tools needed to drive systemic change. As our in-house programs evolve, the resource center will continuously grow to include new and improved materials, ensuring that our impact scales without compromising quality. We are currently in the alpha testing phase—stay tuned for the opportunity to participate in beta testing before the platform’s official launch.
Through Social Impact Partnerships, we collaborate with corporations, foundations, and institutions to address critical needs in the global Black community. By aligning DIFFvelopment’s expertise with our partners’ goals, we create programs that deliver measurable social impact while expanding our reach. These partnerships not only extend our footprint but also strengthen the communities we serve, creating a ripple effect of empowerment that transcends borders. Stay tuned for upcoming impact reports highlighting the partnerships we’ve secured.
The Coaching for Good initiative builds on our Alternative Career Services Coaching program, guiding pioneering entrepreneurs to integrate philanthropy into their work. By developing and implementing hands-on practicum plans using DIFFvelopment as a case study, participants learn to leverage their platforms for social impact, inspiring others to follow their lead. This approach creates a multiplier effect, developing the entrepreneur and their business while amplifying DIFFvelopment’s impact across industries and communities. We aim to collaborate with one exceptional coachee each year—stay tuned for the reveal of our one-of-a-kind 2025 selection!
As we scale, we remain dedicated to maintaining the integrity and authenticity that define our programs. Our approach prioritizes smaller, high-impact cohorts, ensuring that each participant receives the personalized support needed to maximize their potential. Rigorous annual assessments provide actionable insights that continuously inform and refine our methods, both internally and externally.
A highlight of our 2025 growth plan is the DIFFvelopment Symposium, hosted in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. This milestone event, serving as the culminating activity of our Council on Global Black Development program, will bring together thought leaders, alumni, and partners to explore innovative solutions for advancing Black socioeconomic empowerment. It offers a unique opportunity to scale our impact, connect with changemakers from around the world, and gain insights into the future of Black leadership and community development.
Purchase Tickets for the Symposium →
Together, these initiatives represent a bold new chapter in DIFFvelopment’s journey. By scaling with intention and purpose, we are not only expanding our reach but also empowering a new generation of Black visionaries to develop their world differently.
Learn More About DIFFvelopment
Get an in-depth understanding of DIFFvelopment’s mission, programs, and impact by exploring our DIFFvelopment Organizational and Strategic Impact Overview (2025). This comprehensive document highlights our efforts to empower Black visionaries globally through innovative programs and strategic growth initiatives.
Organizational Updates
Discover DIFFvelopment’s 2024 Impact and What’s Next
In 2024, DIFFvelopment empowered over 700 global beneficiaries, expanded key initiatives, and strengthened strategic partnerships—all while maintaining financial resilience. Explore the milestones that are shaping the future of the global Black community:
- Global Reach: Expanded the Consultrepreneurship and Black Generational Wealth Program to support more aspiring leaders.
- New Initiatives: Launched the Council on Global Black Development and advanced the development of the Experian-supported online resource center.
- Financial Strength: Sustained operations with a positive net income despite raising 23% of our $1.2M goal.
- Community Engagement: Hosted a fully funded Alumni Day and partnered with an Ivorian fintech company.
- Key Supporters: Backed by Experian, Santander, Lennox Foundation, and others.
Looking Ahead: In 2025, we aim to refine our impact, secure $35,000 in monthly donations, and expand our team while showcasing our progress at Alumni Day and the Fall Symposium.
Explore the full 2024 Annual Report →
Fundraising Progress
Building Momentum for Greater Impact
We are excited to share key milestones in our fundraising journey, as we work toward our goal of raising $35,000 per month in individual donations to sustain and expand DIFFvelopment’s transformative programs.
- Individual Donations:
- We’ve raised $4,505.32 from individual supporters and are eager to grow this network of changemakers. Every contribution fuels our mission—Join Us in reaching our $35K monthly goal!
- Corporate Partnerships:
- Experian: Approved for a $100,000 investment to support our online resource center.
- Foundation Partnerships:
- Lennox Foundation: Invited to reapply for $50,000 in operational funding, continuing a valued partnership that began in 2017.
We are deeply grateful for the ongoing belief in our work. Together, we are paving the way for a more empowered global Black community!
How You Can Support Our Efforts
Does DIFFvelopment’s mission resonate with you? Join us in expanding our impact by empowering more aspiring Black visionaries to develop their world differently.
There are many ways to get involved:
- Invest in Our Growth: Your support helps us create sustainable personal, generational, and communal wealth-building opportunities.
- Professional Mentorship: Share your expertise to guide the next wave of Black leaders.
- Fundraising Collective: Partner with us to drive resources and grow our programs.
Fill out our Professional Mentorship & Fundraising Collective Enrollment Form and let us know how you’d like to contribute to DIFFvelopment’s mission. Together, we can shape a brighter future!