We had the good fortune of connecting with Cheyanne Sauter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheyanne, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting a nonprofit organization is a lot like starting a business. You have to figure out what needs the community has, analyze the market to determine who is already offering these services, and develop a business plan that meets those needs. The only different in a for profit and nonprofit is that the organization does not belong to the Founder, Executive Director or President. It belongs to the community you serve.

The profit in nonprofit goes back into serving the community.

With Aha Projects, I recognized gaps in existing services and saw an opportunity to create sustainable solutions that could make a real difference. The “AHA” in the name seems to reflect those breakthrough moments when you identified how your unique perspective and skills could contribute to positive change. Nonprofit management is hard, isolating, and resource barren – I wanted AHA to provide guidance, coaching, and services to those change makers leading nonprofits.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have been a nonprofit practitioner and professional for over two decades. I’ve worked in environment, autism, gang intervention, and medical research, but I always seem to come back to arts and culture. It’s taken years to develop a sound vocabulary around nonprofits and that proficiency has allowed me to create and run AHA Projects.

Without all of that work I would not have noticed that there is a lack in collaborative support in the field.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Kevin McAvoy is the spouse I think everyone needs. He creates a foundational support that enables me to launch and always be there as I return. He is supportive and kind, but creates a checks and balance that (I secretly hate) is good for me.

Friends – the ones that have been here for decades and the ones that come in for a particular time/place. I rely on you, receive your pain, and share some laughs. Thank you!

Family – ugh, always a struggle but the return on investment is worth it.

Image Credits
Rick Mendoza

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.