Ten years into building Krochet Kids intl., Kohl Crecelius hit a wall. Revenue plateaued. Donors said the self-sustaining model didn't need their money. And the thing that made the brand special was the thing holding it back.

So he rebuilt from the ground up. The result: KNOWN SUPPLY, a certified B Corp that helps nonprofits, brands, and companies make ethically produced merch, supporting thousands of makers worldwide.

Guest co-host Jason Locy of Whiteboard joins Jon for this one.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why your org's "unique differentiator" might be the very thing limiting your impact
How to know when it's time to partner instead of doing it all yourself
The surprisingly human metric Kohl trusts most to measure impact
Why ditching scale as your definition of success is the key to long-term sustainability

You'll walk away with permission to loosen your grip, and a clearer path to doing what you do best. 🩵

Episode Highlights:

(0:45) Meet guest co-host Jason Locy
(4:33) Kohl's story: crochet hooks, Uganda, and a human story
(8:20) The 80/20 model and the 10-year plateau
(12:52) Rebuilding from the ground up: the birth of KNOWN SUPPLY
(17:35) The "man in the mirror" question: what are we actually good at?
(19:20) Keeping your soul while letting go of control
(24:35) How to measure impact: jobs and thank-you notes
(31:40) A moment of generosity: mentors who believed early
(35:13) One good thing: ditch scale for the sake of scale

Episode Show Notes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/752

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752. When Your Model Stops Working: How to Evolve and Multiply Your Impact - Kohl Crecelius

We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

752. When Your Model Stops Working: How to Evolve and Multiply Your Impact - Kohl Crecelius