Mission Advancement Academy
Eligibility Requirements
The MAA is a serious investment in your team and your mission. Here is what it looks like to come ready to get the most out of it.
- You are a Christian nonprofit rooted in Central Texas. The MAA is built for GWC member organizations that are ready to grow in Kingdom impact alongside a cohort of peers who share that same calling.
- Your board is all in. The best MAA teams have the full backing of their boards. We ask that your organization receive formal board approval before joining the cohort so everyone is rowing in the same direction from day one.
- You bring your people. The magic of the MAA happens when whole teams learn together. We encourage at least 5 staff and board members to attend each session. Your Executive Director attends every session (including the opening retreat), and at least 2 board members join for the Good Governance session.
- You're willing to do the work. Participants complete assignments between sessions and finish the cohort with a brief implementation plan that your organization can actually use.
Duration
8 months (January 2027 through August 2027)
The cohort kicks off with a two-night retreat on January 26–28 and runs through five monthly sessions, culminating in the MAA Showcase on August 13, 2027. From the first gathering to the final presentation, teams invest roughly seven months in growing together in community and organizational excellence. Sessions follow a consistent monthly rhythm across the cohort:
- February 18
- March 25
- April 20
- May 18
- June 17
Location
Central Texas — in person
The program is fully in-person and rooted in the Central Texas nonprofit community. Monthly sessions are held at Concordia University (in northwest Austin), providing a consistent, distraction-free environment for your team to focus and learn. The cohort begins with an overnight kickoff retreat at Pine Cove, with dedicated time to connect with your team and fellow cohort members before work begins.
Schedule
5 monthly 4-hour sessions
Lunch will be provided for each session, with programming running approximately four hours. Our schedule is designed to fit into a workday without taking the full day.
Investment
$2,500 per team
Program tuition is $2,500 per participating organization, which covers all sessions, materials, coaching, and the opening retreat. Scholarships are available for organizations that need financial assistance, so don't let cost be the reason your team sits this one out! Every organization that completes the MAA receives a $10,000 graduation grant, made possible by our generous sponsors.
Six Pillars of Nonprofit Excellence
01
Good Strategy
Clarify your nonprofit's "why", build a strategy map, develop a growth plan, engage in meaningful goal-setting, strengthen your team, evaluate strategic partnerships, and go deeper spiritually.
02
Good Impact
Ensure you have the right programs and business model serving the right customers, that you are measuring the right impact metrics, and that your church and other partnerships are optimized.
03
Good Operations
Ensure your finances are strong, your systems and tools are optimized, and your policies and procedures are in place to equip your organization for success.
04
Good Governance
Ensure your board has the right members, focused on the right things, and playing the right roles to help lead your organization.
05
Good Stewardship
Transform your fundraising into an integral part of your work so you raise more money & build stronger donor stewardship & relationships.
06
Good Leadership
Develop a leadership team that manages people well, works collaboratively, and sticks around for the long term.
MAA Benefits
2-Night Strategy & Spiritual Retreat
A team getaway at Pine Cove Camps in January 2027 designed for strategic planning, spiritual renewal, and team alignment.
5 Half-Day Workshop intensives
Each session focuses on a core area of nonprofit excellence designed to strengthen and propel your organization and mission. Sessions will be led by Matt Kouri (Good Works) and Amber Fogarty (Stand Together Foundation, formerly President at Mobile Loaves & Fishes).
Dedicated Expert Coach
Each organization works with an experienced coach who provides personalized guidance and support throughout the program.
$10,000 Unrestricted Grant
Following full participation and successful program completion (including modest "homework" assignments between sessions), each organization will receive a $10,000 unrestricted grant.
XX tailored Resources
Teams use a practical, faith-rooted workbook to apply what they learn and develop clear, actionable tools and plans.
MAA Graduate seal
Organizations that complete the program receive a seal that affirms their commitment to growth, excellence, and lasting impact.
Hear from Our Graduates
"Before MAA, we were singing the same song but in different tunes. MAA allowed us to get on the same page strategically and vision-wise...I would highly recommend the MAA to growing nonprofits going through growing pains and needing...assistance and support from mentors and nonprofit peers."
Wes Fang, Kingdom Capital Network
"Before MAA, Cornerstone had pieces put together here and there, but nothing was really structured or organized. On the other end of MAA, we have a clear and defined strategy map, a path forward, and a method for sustainable impact."
"Not only has the MAA helped us improve our ministry, but it has also made our ministry, from clarifying mission and vision to strategic principles, practices, and operations, MAA has helped us build a program that will become sustainable to continue growing the Kingdom and helping people through Jesus Christ."
Apply to the MAA
Applications for the 2027 cohort open in July 2026. If your organization is ready to invest in your team and grow in organizational excellence, we would love to hear from you. Spots are limited, so get your application in early!
Sponsor the MAA
Every dollar given to the MAA goes directly toward equipping Christian nonprofit leaders to do more good in Central Texas. Your generosity funds scholarships, makes the program accessible to more organizations, and makes graduation grants possible.