How we work
At Access Ventures, we believe our impact will reach only as far as the stories we tell.
We view storytelling as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners, without which we cannot realize our mission.
Explore some of these stories below, and let us know what you think.
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We view storytelling as a powerful way to spark change, exchange ideas, and build empathy. We are currently producing two podcasts that serve as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners.
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We continually share learnings and best practices that advance our collective mission of human flourishing.
The Culture Is Upstream from Politics
Two hundred and twenty-five years ago, a small community in south London decided the brokenness of their city was theirs to carry. AV Senior Fellow Dr. Steve Garber spent a night and a day where they lived, and it sent him back to a question we keep returning to: what does it take to build a society where people actually flourish, and who is responsible for the parts that are breaking? A reflection on story, vocation, and the culture that runs upstream from politics.
Community Development Collaboration: Building Systems for Better Access
At Access Ventures, we've spent years learning that the framing matters as much as the funding.
Traditional problem-solving locks teams into a scarcity mindset that focuses on what's wrong, what's broken, and what's missing. But designing for change requires the opposite: an abundance mentality that assumes opportunity and builds from strength.
We call this appreciative inquiry and shifting the question from what's wrong to what's strong.
Beyond Transactions: Rethinking Funder–Nonprofit Partnerships Through Human Ecology
Drawing inspiration from Thriving Cities and Josh Yates’ human ecology framework, we can begin to see cities as more than economic engines or policy arenas. Cities are both beautiful and broken, made up of cultural, structural, and relational “endowments” that form the soil where civic life grows. Funders, then, are not just financiers - they are gardeners, co-stewards of these ecosystems.
Held Back By The Social Support System
Organizations like Leap Fund advocate for transparency and education, enabling workers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
Know Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex, community-wide issue requiring both emergency services and preventive measures, and Access Ventures' Know Homelessness campaign aims to change public perception and increase empathy in Louisville and Southern Indiana by sharing real stories and encouraging community involvement to address housing insecurity.