Brad Otto – Acts of Wisdom

Nonprofit Therapy Podcast
Episode Title: Hope Through Education — with Brad Otto of Acts of Wisdom

Stephanie:
Okay. Hey Brad, how are you?

Brad:
Hey, good! How are you, Stephanie?

Stephanie:
Good! Thank you for being here—so excited to have you on Nonprofit Therapy.

Brad:
Great to be here. Excited!

Stephanie:
So for all of our listeners, here with us is Brad Otto, founder and president of Acts of Wisdom.
I’ll let you take it away—just tell us a little about yourself.

Brad:
Sure! My name is Brad Otto, I’m the founder and president of Acts of Wisdom.
I live in Houston, Texas, have been married for almost 20 years, and we have two kids—a 14-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.

This year, 2024, actually marks our 10-year anniversary at Acts of Wisdom.
It’s been rewarding, it’s been challenging—it’s been all the things—but it’s been a blast.

Stephanie:
Nonprofit leadership is messy, right? Welcome to Nonprofit Therapy! 😄

Brad:
Absolutely. I knew nothing about starting a nonprofit when I began.
I went to Ethiopia in 2013 with my church—we were doing water wells. One day, walking through an open-air market, a brother and sister came up to me tugging on my sleeve.

I asked our guide what they wanted. He asked them and said, “They’re asking for a pen.”
A pen! Not clothes or money—a writing pen to do their homework.

It blew my mind. Something so small for us, something we take for granted, was everything to them.

Stephanie:
That story gives me chills. That pen was a key.

Brad:
Exactly. That pen symbolized access.
Lack of education is one of the top three causes of poverty—alongside clean water and healthcare.

And I thought—this is solvable. We’re not trying to find a cure for cancer here. We’re talking about books. Pens. Notebooks. Basics.

Stephanie:
And you’re changing futures with those basics.

Tell us more about Acts of Wisdom—who you’re helping, and what the mission is.

Brad:
Absolutely. Our mission is to bring hope through education.
Nelson Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.

We’re focused on Africa—currently working in Ethiopia and Liberia.
About 50% of the continent is under 18. If we can educate this generation, we can transform the future.

Right now we serve about 6,000 students across five schools.
We’ve delivered over 60,000 books, backpacks, school supplies, teaching charts—you name it.

Stephanie:
You go there personally too, right?

Brad:
Yes, I do. Relationship is everything.
We believe in walking hand-in-hand. We listen first—what the kids, moms, teachers, and even officials need—and then we build strategy with them, not for them.

We always make sure schools have the supplies they need before we work on infrastructure.
At our first school, just adding materials dropped the dropout rate from 35% to 0.9%.

Stephanie:
Wow. That’s the impact of showing up and listening.

Let’s talk about the future. Where do you see Acts of Wisdom in five years?

Brad:
Big dreams! Last year was our first six-figure year.
In five years, I’d love to be a $500,000 nonprofit.

We’re currently launching a campaign to build a junior high in Liberia—a $300,000 project with 20 classrooms and a guest house to make mission trips more accessible.

It will serve hundreds of students who currently walk five miles to school—and help our elementary students move forward without interruption.

We’re also exploring expansion into Uganda and Kenya.
One dream? Opening a coffee shop that sources from local farmers, funds education, and provides sustainable income for their families.

Stephanie:
It’s amazing. And of course, nonprofit leadership comes with its own challenges.
What advice would you give other leaders out there?

Brad:
Three things:

1. Be flexible. Leadership is messy. Expect the ups and downs.

2. Don’t fear failure. Try, fail, learn, adjust. That’s how we grow.

3. Celebrate small wins. Share them. Be a storyteller. That next story could bring your next donor.

And lastly—build a support system. Talk to other nonprofit leaders. Share wins and struggles. You’re not alone.

Stephanie:
That’s so real. And I know you’re also an author?

Brad:
I am! I wrote Finding Myself Again—a book about my mental health journey.
I landed in a mental hospital after ignoring signs of burnout. I talk about healing and emotional health, which is vital for nonprofit leaders.

I’m also working on a second book, about this nonprofit journey and the lessons learned along the way.

Stephanie:
That’s beautiful. And we’re honoured to have you as one of our customers at Vee.

How has Vee been helpful for you?

Brad:
Vee has been a lifesaver.

Maggie takes care of our social media—she plans ahead, suggests content, even thinks of things I wouldn’t.
And Grant—he’s lining us up with great grant opportunities. It’s saved me time and money I don’t have to spend on a full-time staff.

I tell people Maggie and Grant are my team. They’ve helped us get more visibility and open up funding we wouldn’t have otherwise.

Stephanie:
That makes me so happy. That’s exactly why we built this—for leaders like you.

Before we wrap up, how can people get involved?

Brad:
Visit www.actsofwisdom.com.

Join a trip—Ethiopia in February, Liberia in November.
Sponsor a child—$35/month keeps a student in school.
Support our junior high project—we’re asking for two-year pledges to help build that school.

You can also make backpacks or teaching charts—there are instructions on our site. And follow us on Facebook: just search “Acts of Wisdom.”

If you’re in Houston, come to our events—we have a gala in February and a casino night next month.

Stephanie:
Amazing. Brad, thank you so much for your time, your heart, and your work.
Keep going—you’re changing lives.

Brad:
Thank you. I appreciate it so much.