I began my career in advertising, but my passion was writing. Soon after having my first and only child, I landed a job as a stringer for the Savannah News Press. I honed my skills in a rural South Georgia bureau where I fancied myself a 20-something version of Charles Kuralt — “on the road” to meet the people and tell the stories that made our community beautiful and interesting.

After moving back to Atlanta, where I was born and raised, I began writing and editing for business journals and trade magazines. I even did a brief and harrowing stint as a reporter for a public broadcasting news show. That’s when I learned I was more comfortable behind the byline than in front of the camera. As print journalism began its difficult transition to digital media, I founded a B2B PR and marketing communications agency that I led for nearly 15 years.

In 2017, I founded Nana Grants, a nonprofit that provides child care to low-income single mothers in college. Through building Nana Grants, I've worn every hat in nonprofit work — fundraising, operations, donor relations, case management, and everything in between. That experience made one thing clear to me: the way philanthropy works isn't working. Not for nonprofits, not for the communities they serve, and often not even for donors.

At first, this realization led to burnout, cynicism, and a personal crisis of purpose. Fortunately, I’ve also been on an inner journey for the last decade. My study of Buddhism, Taoism, mystical Christianity, and metaphysical spirituality has led me to believe that humanity is undergoing an exciting evolution, the cornerstone of which is our realization that we are All One. When I learned that the word philanthropy originates from the Ancient Greek word philanthrōpía, translating to “love of humanity” or “love of humankind,” I knew my professional and personal journeys were about to merge. Easy Money is the culmination of my desire to make our present world better and my belief that we are on an inevitable path to a world in which “love of humanity” will be our primary driving force.

Through Easy Money, I get to meet interesting people who share my desire to make the philanthropic sector better for donors, nonprofits, and those who benefit from our work.

I hope you’ll join us!

Peace be with you,

Erica Stephens