Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Black.
Hi Chad, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into the nonprofit world was an unexpected one—I quite literally Forrest Gump’d my way into it. After spending my entire post–high school life in various sales roles, I assumed that’s where I’d stay forever, or at least for the foreseeable future. But then one day, in the middle of an incredibly dull sales meeting, I found myself asking the all-too-common question people tend to face as they edge toward thirty: Is this really all there is?
A self-described late bloomer, I decided to go back to school later in life, aiming to become a Registered Nurse—much to the shock of everyone who knew me. Their surprise was fair. I hadn’t exactly built a reputation for being nurturing, and the thought of me as a caregiver in that capacity was, honestly, a little laughable.
After my first Anatomy & Physiology quiz, my very kind (and impressively patient) professor pulled me aside and asked the question I’d been quietly dreading: “Um…are you sure this is the profession you want to go into?” Without hesitation, I confidently replied, “No.” He nodded—relieved, I think—and, in the name of hemoglobin, sent me right back to my guidance counselor which resulted in me redirecting my focus towards sociology.
What I didn’t notice at the time was that I’d already dipped a toe into the nonprofit world by helping to Co-Chair an annual Christmas Toy Giveaway for two straight years. Back then, it felt like just another thing someone asked me to do because I’m bossy and make things happen. But really, it was the universe giving me a little nudge—an answer to that question I’d asked myself in the sales meeting that absolutely refused to end.
What began as volunteer work slowly and unexpectedly reshaped the direction of my career. That experience opened the door to my first nonprofit role with 2-1-1 Texas Panhandle, where I stepped into the position of Outreach Manager, one of my favorite roles of all time! From there, I was drawn deeper into mission-driven work, which led me to Amarillo Area CASA as the Training and Recruitment Director—an opportunity that strengthened my voice as an advocate and deepened my commitment to service. Each step along the way quietly prepared me for my transition into nonprofit development with the Alzheimer’s Association – West Texas Chapter.
After careful thought, my family and I made the decision to relocate to the DFW area, a move that marked another meaningful turning point in my journey. Soon after, an opportunity presented itself with a local Dallas nonprofit dedicated to child abuse prevention. Over the next six years, I immersed myself fully in the world of development—learning the work from every angle and taking on whatever was needed to move the mission forward.
Last year, I chose to step into the role of Development Director with Cancer Support Community North Texas. This mission speaks especially close to my heart, as I lost both of my grandparents to cancer, and it has given deeper purpose to the work I do each day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know that any road worth traveling in life is ever smooth. If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that the bumps along the way are often the very things that teach us the most. I can’t imagine drifting through life untouched by obstacles or challenge; growth lives in the moments that ask something of us. In the end, I’ve come to believe it’s all a matter of perception—how we choose to see the road in front of us or even look behind us on the path we’ve traveled.
The most challenging part of my journey has been learning to let go of the things I cannot control. That’s no small task for someone who thrives on structure and certainty, yet works in a role where success—and more importantly, the success of an organization—depends entirely on the goodwill of others. Still, it’s the mission that carries me forward, along with the understanding that my success is inseparable from the success of the organization. When one thrives, so does the other, and in that space, we are able to reach and serve more people.
It must also be stated that nonprofit work is not for the faint of heart. Even before COVID, this profession carried an inherent level of uncertainty—along with the weight of knowing that you are directly responsible for keeping the lights on, the doors open, and the work moving forward. The responsibility for ensuring that services continue for those who depend on them is no small thing to carry.
What keeps me grounded, even in the hardest moments, is the mission. When the mission remains at the forefront of everything we do, it becomes both a compass and an anchor. With that clarity of purpose, I truly believe we can’t go wrong.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As Development Director, I am responsible for leading CSCNT toward meeting—and exceeding—its high-growth objectives and annual fundraising goals. Serving as the organization’s lead fundraiser and strategist, I help design and implement initiatives that grow and diversify our funding base while intentionally building the sustainable infrastructure needed for long-term support.
At its core, this work is about far more than numbers or strategy—it is about stability, longevity, and the ability to show up fully for those who depend on us. Just as importantly, it’s about relationships: the community partnerships that help us grow and ensure our future. These relationships take many forms, including individual donors, foundation funders, corporate partners, and fellow organizations.
What makes these partnerships vital is trust—the essential ingredient in any healthy relationship. CSCNT thrives because our donors, funders, and stakeholders trust that we are thoughtful, responsible stewards of their support, whether that support is financial or takes other meaningful forms. That trust is something we work every day to earn, protect, and honor.
What’s next?
By nature, I am always drawn to what comes next, constantly asking myself what more? Whether I’ve always welcomed it or not, leadership has been a steady pull throughout my life. Even in childhood, I was often the one taking charge—deciding what game we would play, which movie we would watch, or organizing neighborhood productions where I inevitably found myself as the writer, producer, and director – the one pushing or pulling the process. Looking back, those moments feel less like coincidence and more like early signs of a path I would continue to follow.
The next natural step in my career is to move into an Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer role. I’m driven by a deep passion for leadership, and the opportunity to one day lead an organization of my own feels not only exciting, but almost an inevitable responsibility. When I reflect on my path, it’s clear that each experience has been preparing me for that responsibility. Still, I am mindful that meaningful leadership is built over time. While I can see the light on the horizon, I remind myself that small, intentional steps often lead to the greatest long-term impact.
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