EP 16 [Summer Spotlight] Innovating for Sustainability with Emily Ball Cicchini

What does it take to turn a lifelong love of storytelling into a mission that puts free books into the hands of the families who need them most? In this Force Multiplier episode, Tanja Horan sits down with Emily Ball Cicchini, PhD, Executive Director of BookSpring, to trace her path, from acting and playwriting to a PhD in research, that led her, in 2015, to lead the Austin-based nonprofit working to eliminate book deserts through free books, family reading support, and community partnerships. BookSpring recently marked 50 years of impact. Emily also founded the National Book Access Association to strengthen book-access work nationwide.  Tanja first connected with BookSpring years ago as a member of Impact Austin, when the organization received an Impact Austin grant. Through stories and real examples, you'll hear how BookSpring pushed through pandemic disruption by launching a digital library and a newsletter that now reaches nearly 20,000 families, how the organization built BookSpring Originals, a digital bilingual book line born out of a gap in diverse Spanish-language children's books and a perspective on leading with both data and heart . If you're thinking about book access, early literacy, or how to lead a nonprofit through funding disruption this episode offers practical insight into building something that lasts. Key Takeaways Outputs aren't outcomes. Collaboration needs structure, not just goodwill. Earned revenue should reinforce your mission, not distract from it. A crisis can be the excuse to build what you always wanted. Reframe "cuts" as "leverage" to protect impact through disruption. About Emily Ball Cicchini Emily Ball Cicchini is the Executive Director of BookSpring, an Austin-based nonprofit advancing early literacy through book access, family engagement, and community partnerships. She also founded the National Book Access Association, which connects and strengthens local book access organizations nationwide. Emily holds BFA, MFA, and PhD degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. Connect with Emily: linkedin.com/in/emilyballcicchini Emily's Website: www.emilybc.com About BookSpring BookSpring is an Austin-based nonprofit that helps children and families build lifelong reading habits through free books, family reading support, and community partnerships. Serving children from birth through age 12, BookSpring works with healthcare providers, schools, early childhood programs, and local organizations to create reading-rich homes and communities. Organization Website: www.BookSpring.org Websites & Social Company Website: www.tacosa360.com Impact Catapult: www.impactcatapult.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Tacosa360  Connect with Tanja Horan LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tanjahoran Topics book access, early literacy nonprofit, nonprofit collaboration, earned revenue for nonprofits, nonprofit data and outcomes, nonprofit leadership, nonprofit funding strategy, book deserts, nonprofit sustainability