The Center for the Collaborative Classroom

This case examines how a mission-driven nonprofit navigated a near-collapse to become a financially stable, scalable educational organization. Despite strong impact and consistent sales, Collaborative Classroom faced structural and cultural barriers that undermined sustainability—including unclear revenue strategy, weak cost controls, and resistance to treating sales as a strategic function. Through bold leadership and cultural change, the organization restructured its sales model, embraced financial discipline, and prioritized alignment between revenue generation and impact. As growth accelerates, students confront complex questions: How should nonprofits fund innovation? What tradeoffs come with earned revenue models? And how can leaders preserve mission while building market-responsive systems, structures, and strategy?