Theory of Change

Part AI-powered tool. Part human-centered cohort.

Leveraging artificial intelligence to support human growth and connectivity. The hub does the repetitive work. The Leadership Lab does the human work. Together they put the leaders closest to the problem in front of the people who decide.

The Problem

We say we fund the leaders closest to the problem. We don't fund them at the same rate.

Black-led50%of Black-led nonprofits get a foundation grant in a year. Other nonprofits: 70%.Candid and ABFE, 2026
Women and girls2%of US giving goes to organizations serving women and girls.Women's Philanthropy Institute
Disability2%of foundation giving goes to disability, though 1 in 4 Americans has one.Disability & Philanthropy Forum

Black-led, women-led, and neurodivergent-led organizations do the work closest to their communities. The support that closes the gap, a lobbyist, a grant writer, a coach, a seat in front of decision makers, is priced for large institutions.

"We are working for resources in a difficult time. Difficult, but not impossible."

Our Answer

Technology should serve people, not replace them.

The hub does the repetitive work: reading the RFP, drafting in the founder's own voice, preparing for the meeting. The Lab does the human work: coaching, peers, and a day in Annapolis in front of the people who decide.

Why a cohort: in a randomized trial of 1,500 firm owners, monthly peer meetings raised sales about 8% by the end of the program and 10% a year later.Cai and Szeidl, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2018

The human half

Leadership Lab

With Jacqueline Greer of The Greer Collective. You built the business. Now you are building the leader who runs it.

  1. Intake call30 minutes, one on one with Jacqueline. My Style set up in the hub.
  2. Kickoff brunchMission, vision, values, and a leadership rhythm.
  3. Session 1: TrustA trust and norms plan for your team.
  4. Session 2: TalentA talent map and a feedback structure.
  5. Session 3: TacticsA decision rhythm and a budget you can read.
  6. Session 4: PartnersA stakeholder map and your Story of Self.
  7. Advocacy Day in AnnapolisMeetings with officials, a reception, graduation, and your 90-day plan.

Plus three confidential one-on-one coaching sessions. The cohort runs as an incubator: shared grant opportunities, partnerships, referrals.

The Leadership Lab program page in the hub See the Leadership Lab

The AI half

The Good Gov AI Hub

One login per organization, prefilled with its documents before the founder ever opens it.

  • My Style and brand kitThe AI learns how each founder writes, what they would never say, their logo and colors.
  • Fit readsAny RFP or grant, scored against the organization in two minutes.
  • Drafts in their voiceProposals, grants, one-pagers, ready to edit in Google Docs.
  • Meeting prepWho has power over the goal, why, and a briefing for the room.
  • Policy toolsLegislator directory, testimony generator, a database of real testimony.
  • Pipeline and contractsOpportunities, deadlines, submission checklists, wins.

The coach and the founder work from the same page. Coaches see goals and commitments, never the founder's private notebook.

A founder's Leadership Lab page in the hub Visit the hub

How It Works

AI feeds a human relationship. It never replaces one.

Founder's recordDocuments, past wins, brand kit, and My Style.
The hubFit reads, drafts in their voice, briefings, feeds.
Coach + strategistJacqueline coaches. Our team runs stakeholder strategy and prep.
Decision makersFunders, agencies, and lawmakers. Advocacy Day.

Wins come back into the hub at 30, 90, and 180 days, so every next draft starts sharper.

Voice firstOnly facts from their recordA person edits every draftPrivacy by design

Shared Resources

Founders serving founders. Participants and providers at the same time.

New Take Films on set at Sennel Gardens
New Take Films (founder James Dann) on set with Sennel Gardens
New Take Films with Brian Thompson
New Take Films with Brian Thompson, Easel Outreach
WUSA9 story on Mentoring Through Athletics
Watts Media & Consulting (founder Lindsay Watts) placed Mentoring Through Athletics on WUSA9
Jacqueline Greer
The Greer Collective (founder Jacqueline Greer) coaches every founder
Johntel Greene at the Good Gov AI booth
Good Gov AI at the TEDCO Entrepreneur Expo
The Maryland seal at the Maryland State House
Where it leads: the Maryland State House

Founders in the cohort trade their own expertise: film, press, coaching, design, strategy. What we build between us is the case for funding each of us.

Founding Cohort

Eight founders, building alongside each other. Already beyond the DMV.

Eight24 Solutions
Eight24 SolutionsGeoff Crawford. XR skilled-trades training.
Mentoring Through Athletics
Mentoring Through AthleticsAshley Montgomery. Youth mentorship through sports.
Sennel Gardens
Sennel GardensEmmanuel McDaniel. Urban farms on vacant lots, Ward 7 DC.
The Mats Project
The Mats ProjectMerri Medley. Sleeping mats from plastic bags for unhoused neighbors, Las Vegas.
Easel Outreach
Easel OutreachBrian Thompson. 36 years designing US currency.
Watts Media and Consulting
Watts Media & ConsultingLindsay Watts. Emmy Award-winning communications.
New Take Films
New Take FilmsJames Dann. Documentary and branded film.
The Greer Collective
The Greer CollectiveJacqueline Greer. Executive coaching for every founder in the cohort.

Proof So Far

Live, in use, and already winning.

$96.8KDC Primary Care Association. Meeting the Moment, produced with New Take Films.
$96KSennel Gardens. NourishMD award from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
WonGerman Embassy. Shaping 250, produced with New Take Films.

The Team

Who does what.

Johntel GreeneJohntel GreeneFounder & CEOSteers external stakeholders, meeting prep, and events, including Advocacy Day. Sixteen years in Maryland, DC, and NYC government; former Chief of Staff, Maryland Senate.
Jacqueline GreerJacqueline Greer, MPPLab Director and CoachEvaluates the hub's programmatic features and runs the coaching. Two decades in DC schools and education nonprofits.
Minh MaiMinh MaiChief Data and Cloud OfficerTrains and evaluates the model. Data and AI through the GoodRx and CAVA IPOs; built a voter-modeling platform acquired by Dynata.
Rich Goldman, PhDRich Goldman, PhDChief Technology OfficerPhD in Information Systems for software that improves the lobbying and legislative process. Founder, LegIT Systems and AdvoKit.

You built the business. Now let's keep building.

The next Leadership Lab cohort is forming. If you lead a mission-driven organization and want a coach, a peer cohort, and a day in Annapolis, tell us about your work.

Email johntel@goodgov.ai See the Leadership Lab