Village Talks Ep. 2: Building Bridges Between Nonprofit & For-Profit with Vince Edwards

“It takes a village to raise a child.” That African proverb shaped this week’s conversation on Village Talks, where we explored what it means to mobilize the power of community—not just in words, but through strategic partnerships and innovative ideas.

I sat down with Vincent Edwards, a seasoned entrepreneur, consultant, and founder of the Empire Builders Foundation, to talk about innovation, synergy, and why the journey matters just as much as the destination. Vince has spent over a decade helping startups and small businesses raise more than $100 million in capital. He’s also worked with MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program and now focuses on building networks of investors to support entrepreneurs from marginalized communities.

The Nonprofit–For-Profit Connection

One of the most eye-opening moments in our conversation came when Vince broke down the misconception that nonprofits and businesses live in different worlds.

“A nonprofit is really a business—it just operates under a different set of rules. You’ve got boards, executive directors, KPIs, and goals. The mission may be different, but the structure is still business.”

Vince shared how nonprofits and for-profits can actually complement each other beautifully. For-profits can provide services that reduce overhead costs for nonprofits, freeing up more resources to go directly toward mission work. This kind of collaboration isn’t just efficient—it’s transformative.

The Village Concept: Power in Unity

When asked what “village” means to him, Vince painted a vivid picture:

“Five fingers apart aren’t that strong. But bring them together into a fist, and that’s real power.”

He reminded us that while we’ve seen historical examples of powerful collective action—Black Wall Street, the Civil Rights Movement—unity today is harder to come by. Generational setbacks, systemic barriers, and fragmentation have left many communities struggling to come together. Yet Vince remains clear: education, communication, and intentional mentorship are the pathways back to collective strength.

A Call to Build, Mentor, and Invest

Toward the end of our talk, I handed Vince the “magic wand” question: If you could change one thing in your business right now, what would it be?

His answer was simple and powerful:

“I’d keep building out my investor network—people willing to back entrepreneurs who didn’t grow up with money, who still deserve a shot to make their ideas real.”

For Vince, it’s about creating an ecosystem where dreams don’t die. He challenged us all:

“If every one of us brought just one person up with us, the whole landscape would change.”

Loving the Journey

What struck me most was Vince’s reminder to love the journey:

“When you actually get there and you’re sitting on top of the mountain—what do you really do then? The journey is the celebration. Every smile you put on someone’s face, every step in the right direction—that’s what it’s all about.”

This is the heartbeat of Village Talks: inspiring conversations that remind us to dream boldly, act collectively, and use whatever we have in our hands today to be a blessing to the village.

Final Word

If you’ve got a dream, don’t give up. As Vince said:

“Rome wasn’t built in a day—but it was worked on every day. Keep the dream alive.”

I’m grateful to Vince for sharing his wisdom and energy, and I hope this conversation pushes you to think about how your gifts, networks, and resources can strengthen the village.

✨ Stay tuned for more episodes of Village Talks—and if you think you’re one of the “dope folks” who should be on the show, reach out. Let’s keep building.

👉 What about you? How are you using your assets to be a blessing to the village? Email [email protected] with your replies to this question.