Kat Ling on helping scale Moonshot edVentures

Over the past six years, Kat Ling (wearing green suit in photo) has worked her way up at Moonshot edVentures from chief of staff to chief program officer to CEO. At Teach for America, she did the same thing, rising over eight years, from a corps member to managing director of alumni affairs and public partnerships. Michelle Morgridge and Nate Angell have been supporting the nonprofit since 2022, after Nate and Kat participated in the same Leadership Denver cohort. With Michelle and Nate’s latest investment of $50,000, MFF will be supporting two new cohorts of fellows and helping Moonshot scale their alumni outreach.

What first drew you to Moonshot edVentures? 

I met the founder, Christine DeLeon, at the recommendation of a close friend and was immediately inspired by Moonshot’s bold vision of self-actualization for leaders—especially those with brilliant ideas who often face systemic barriers to bringing them to life. The organization’s early-stage, start-up nature was also deeply appealing to me. It felt like an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working in a nimble, entrepreneurial environment.

We look at nonprofits at three stages of their growth: seed, when there's just an idea; scale, when an organization has proved some success and needs help growing; and sustain, when we can help them reach new levels of success. Now that Moonshot is in the scale phase, what challenges and opportunities do you have?

On the opportunity side, we’re expanding our reach and deepening our impact by launching new initiatives, like launching The Station, our new coworking space that offers affordable office and community space to small and start-up nonprofits. It is also helping us build a small operating reserve so we can move toward greater financial sustainability and reduce our long-term reliance on philanthropy. We’re also investing in earned-revenue pilots and refining our alumni strategy to ensure long-term impact beyond the fellowship year.

At the same time, scaling presents real challenges in terms of capacity and sustainability. We’re focused on building the infrastructure, staffing, and systems needed to deliver at a higher level without compromising the depth and quality of our work. Like many organizations at this stage, we’re also navigating how to diversify revenue beyond philanthropy while staying aligned with our mission.

How did Mackenzie Scott's one-time Yield Grant of $1 million change things for you and Moonshot edVentures? 

It was a transformative moment for Moonshot, the largest one-time grant we’ve ever received. We were honored to be one of only eight organizations in Colorado, and 361 nationally, selected for this award. The grant allowed us to build our staff’s capacity and provided much needed stability in preparation for a more uncertain funding landscape this year.  

What tips do you have for rising nonprofit leaders who are looking to grow in their careers? 

I’m deeply grateful to the organizations I’ve worked for and volunteered with over the years. They’ve played a significant role in helping me grow my skills and deepen my understanding of education and the nonprofit sector. I recommend that rising leaders seek out meaningful volunteer experiences, including unpaid board service. While it can be challenging to commit to unpaid labor, in my case, those opportunities opened doors that might not have been accessible to me otherwise.

I’ve also been fortunate to have many mentors and advisors throughout my journey, some who have generously shared their wisdom and guidance with me for over 15 years. When I was younger, I felt guilty asking for help, but I’ve learned through the years that it benefits others to pay it forward just as much as it does those on the receiving end. So don’t be afraid to ask for help! 

Moonshot edVentures is such a great name for a nonprofit in the education innovation space! Where did it come from? 

The name “Moonshot edVentures” comes from the concept of moonshot thinking—the idea of dreaming big and pursuing bold, transformative solutions rather than settling for small, incremental improvements. It’s about aiming for 10x change, not just 10%. That mindset reflects our belief that creating an equitable and effective education system requires audacious thinking and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

If you’re curious to learn more, this short video offers a great explanation: Moonshot Thinking – YouTube.

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