In Conversation with Ira Williams, III: Mission Capital’s New CEO

Today, we're excited to share an engaging Q&A conversation we had with our new CEO, Ira Williams, III. It’s been about three months since Ira joined our team and, during this time, he's had the pleasure of meeting some of you at various community events, including our recent Board Summit. However, for those who haven't had the chance to connect with him yet, this presents an excellent opportunity to get to know Ira better.

So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and join us as we delve into a candid conversation with Ira Williams, III, our dynamic leader dedicated to strengthening Central Texas nonprofits and fostering community growth.

Could you share a bit about your background, and what drew you to transition into the nonprofit sector as the CEO of Mission Capital, an organization focused on capacity-building that centers equity?

What appealed to me about the opportunity to join the team at Mission Capital was the chance to align several personal and professional objectives. I have always believed that to whom much has been given, much is required, and I have also tried to find opportunities to leverage my educational and experiential privileges to help others. Our family has a tradition of serving the community through our church, board roles, and in the public school system.

I’ve been on nonprofit boards and volunteered throughout my 23 years living in Austin, and I was looking for the chance to do more on a full-time basis. Mission Capital presented an unmatched track record of impacting nonprofit organizations in the Austin community, and I wanted to contribute to that legacy.

What do you perceive as the core strengths you bring from your background that will benefit Mission Capital's mission and goals?

Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to opportunities to start, restart, or turnaround new ventures. In the case of Mission Capital, I am so thankful to be joining a team with over 20 years of success in developing and deploying strategies to help nonprofits grow. Specifically, my hope is to continue to build on our history of success, while also helping to lead new initiatives to expand and deepen our relationships with nonprofits in this area.

I also believe that we have room to reach out to foundations, corporate funders, and philanthropy groups who may not be familiar with the full complement of Mission Capital's capabilities. I believe we can expand our role as an advocate for and convener of like-minded organizations in Central Texas.

As someone new to the nonprofit sector, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Mission Capital and similar organizations today?

Prior to my arrival at Mission Capital, I had been conducting some independent research around the similarities and differences between start-up companies and nonprofits. The similarities often include passionate founders, volunteers, and/or employees who are persuaded to join the organization because of a belief in the vision. And usually a huge dose of scrappiness. One of the notable differences, however, is that start-up companies are typically provided with a steady flow of funding, provided they continue to meet their investors' performance milestones. Most nonprofits, though, are in a constant cycle of having to submit grant requests over and over again, often to the same funding sources.

My belief is that organizations like Mission Capital can not only help nonprofits measure and articulate their “impact narratives” more effectively, but we can also provide systemic and sector level analysis for the various participants in our sector. What that might look like is, for example, the Sector Survey we shared with the community in May. Mission Capital, in collaboration with community members and researchers, conducted a sector-wide survey to identify the challenges facing nonprofits today. We were also able to convene an event to review the findings and address challenges revealed in the research. This is the kind of ambitious and far-reaching work I think Mission Capital is capable of.

What strategies do you intend to implement to ensure Mission Capital remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of the nonprofit community?

In my first few weeks in this role, I’ve shared with the team my belief that the lens through which we should assess every activity is whether those actions will help nonprofits (and their constituents) thrive. That’s our north star. With that kind of focus, we can be confident that we are responsive to the needs of our community, and it will minimize the chances that we get distracted.

As for agility, I have already been impressed by the bias toward action that our team demonstrates every day. I have tried to jump into the deep end and get involved with multiple projects and events that were already planned before I arrived. I am confident that Mission Capital will continue to demonstrate organizational agility and the ability to work at an accelerated operating tempo.

Community building and mentorship are crucial for nonprofit professionals. How do you envision supporting and engaging with your peers, especially BIPOC leaders and staff, in the sector?

I have advocated for –  and benefited from – mentorship over the course of my career. The research confirms what most of us know from our lived experience: Almost no one succeeds without the assistance of others.

I am particularly fond of a quote that I found from Thurgood Marshall years ago. It essentially says that no one pulls himself up by his bootstraps. Instead, there is almost always a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony, or a few nuns who are part of the story.

In the case of Mission Capital, I think we also have the opportunity – if not the mandate – to be thoughtful and intentional about helping to develop leaders from all cultural, demographic, and experiential backgrounds. To me, this is not a separate initiative, but rather what any healthy organization does to cultivate its team.

Work-life balance is important for everyone in our sector. What activities do you enjoy outside of work to relax and recharge?

I am a proponent of the proverbial “work hard, play hard” approach to my own life. But I also encourage everyone to find and protect the balance between work and their other priorities on an individual basis.

For me, recharging comes by getting outdoors and experiencing nature in any number of ways. I play golf with more passion than talent, and my wife and I also enjoy hiking locally and when we travel. Also, for reasons that I wish I could explain, during the pandemic I came to appreciate the joys of chopping wood and refurbishing axes. Trust me, there is no logical explanation for this!

Lastly, what message would you like to convey to the Mission Capital community and the broader nonprofit sector as you step into this leadership role?

Simply this: I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community. It is with both humility and optimism that I assume a position of leadership here at Mission Capital, and my overarching objective is for our organization to be a “tide-rising” influence in Central Texas. I will measure my own success in achieving this goal by the extent to which we reach and assist any organization that positively impact the lives of people in this community.

I am excited about the future.