Recently we had the absolute joy of sitting down with a group of bright, curious young Girl Scouts to talk about Control Alt Delete — who we are, why we exist, and how we help Survivors escape abuse and rebuild their lives.

What unfolded was one of the most powerful conversations about purpose, impact, and what it truly means to “earn” something.

What Is a Nonprofit?

One of the first questions asked was simple, yet profound:

“What is a nonprofit?”

It was the perfect opportunity to talk with our future change-makers about how the world works — and how they can shape it.

I asked each girl what she planned to study in college and what career she might pursue one day. The answers were ambitious and inspiring: doctors, veterinarians, engineers, business owners. We talked about earning a living, high-paying careers, and how businesses generate income so owners and employees can support themselves.

One Girl Scout proudly shared that her parent owned a business. That opened the door to talk about earning potential — how businesses make money by selling products or services, and how that income supports the people who run them.

Then we shifted the conversation.

Why Start a Nonprofit?

I explained that I started Control Alt Delete because I saw a gap in services for people trying to escape abuse. There were critical needs that weren’t being met — and I knew we could do something about it.

Instead of building a business to generate profit, we built a nonprofit to generate impact.

I asked the girls, “If you could change the world, how would you do it?”

Their answers were everything you would hope for:

• Rescue animals who don’t have homes.

• Feed people who are hungry.

• Help kids who can’t afford to go to camp.

• Make sure everyone feels safe.

The compassion in that room was overwhelming.

I told them something important: every one of those dreams could become a nonprofit. When you see a problem and feel called to fix it, you can build something that serves others. You can create change.

The Question That Stopped Me

Then came the question every nonprofit leader eventually hears:

“How much money do you earn?”

I shared our agency’s budget and explained how nonprofit funding works — donations, grants, and community support all coming together to help Survivors find safety and stability.

Then they asked a more personal question:

“How much do you make?”

I answered honestly.

I explained that I am in a season of my life where helping people escape abuse is my priority — and in this role, I do not earn an income.

There was a pause.

Then one little girl tilted her head and said something I will never forget:

“Oh… so your income is the change you’re making in the lives of the people you help?”

Yes.

Yes, it is.

Redefining “Income”

In that moment, a room full of young girls understood something many adults struggle to grasp: value is not always measured in dollars.

At Control Alt Delete, our return on investment looks like:

• A mother and her children sleeping safely for the first time in months.

• A Survivor who can cook a meal without fear.

• A family who doesn’t have to choose between safety and food.

• A child who gets to simply be a child again.

That is our profit.
That is our revenue.
That is our income.

Of course, nonprofits require funding. Impact requires resources. The work we do would not be possible without the generosity of donors who believe that freedom from abuse is worth investing in.

But the heart behind it? That’s something far more powerful.

Our Future Change-Makers

Those Girl Scouts reminded me why this work matters — not just for the Survivors we serve today, but for the leaders we are raising tomorrow.

They are already thinking about how to rescue, feed, protect, and uplift. They are already asking the right questions.

And one day, some of them may very well start nonprofits of their own.

If they do, I hope they remember this:

You can earn a paycheck.
You can earn a title.
You can earn success.

But there is something extraordinary about earning change.

And sometimes, the greatest income you’ll ever receive is knowing someone is safe because you chose to help.