We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chase Clark a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chase, thanks for joining us today. Early in your career, how did you think through the decision of whether to start your own firm or join an established firm?

My experiences as the founder of Chase’s Chance, Inc. has certainly left a profound impact on the way that I live my life. Chase’s Chance, Inc is a 501c3 nonprofit was founded because I saw a need and I wanted to do something about it. Since 2013, I have been blessed to do just that. Let’s journey back and imagine a seven, almost eight-year-old who was in a perfectly positioned in science class. We were all assigned with doing a report on the “grossest” part of the body- I came up with doing a report on the mouth. While nudged by my mom to get extra credit, I asked church members who happen to be dentist to provide toothbrushes and paste to ensure everyone had one to take at the end of my report.

What became clear over the next few days, the students, my classmates continued to come back and ask for another, and another. This peeked my curiosity and I asked my mom why, she reached out to my teacher, who researched and later found that my classmates were inquiring for other family members who couldn’t afford to go to the dentist. At that point, at that young age I knew that I wanted to do something about it. At the ripe age of 7, I had very little idea of what this commitment meant. All I knew was that I wanted to do what I could to ensure that students had the resources they need to feel proud and ensure that resources were available to help them in moving the needle forward. At this point, Chase’s Chance, Inc. was born. Our motto is to “serve with heart”. We serve to ensure that students never have to feel less than, and to ensure that we are in position to fill in the gap by providing funding, scholarships and opportunities to our next generation.

Chase, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Chase Clark is a woman who wears many hats. I am a 19year old, college student who attends Wake Forest University. I am the founder of several businesses, Chase’s Chance, Inc (a 501c-3 nonprofit organization), creator of 2 podcasts, “The Renaissance Project: a black girl’s movement” and recently added “Chase at Wake” that both serve as a safe space for young voices & conversations to be heard and celebrated. I am a double major Communications and Spanish with a minor in African American Studies. While on campus you will find me serving as a student advocate (self-given title), newly elected Black Student Alliance secretary, a tour guide for Wake Forest University, I have a pt job on campus as a student engagement fund ambassador. I excitedly will add Wake Forest TEDX Event Marketing Coordinator to my leadership roles on campus beginning this fall.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Since the establishment of my nonprofit, I have been witness to it all; Students who thrive in warm settings, and those who don’t always have this luxury. What I have found is that many lose hope and move in a direction of what is most available to them which in most cases have negative consequences. I find also that many of our young adults, want to move forward but often hindered by lack. I am committed whole-heartedly to seeing this narrative change and while at the intersection of understanding the role and commitment that I hold to these students; I am quickly reminded that this could easily be me. While this article is primarily centered around me, it is important to note that none of this is possible without God, my team and our donors who give year-round to ensure that resources are available to fill in the gap for students. The team is key, ones who will not always agree but those who support the mission whole heartedly and those who you can trust. I have been blessed to have been surrounded by some of the best. I am a 19-year-old college student, who against all odds continue to thrive for more. I truly understand that my education is a gateway. Although narrowly, my intentions are to support the masses, we understand that effective change happens with one person at a time.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

You may not believe this but funding for Chase’s Chance, Inc. began by my saving aluminum cans. I would ask family and community for donations of their unwanted recyclables. I would cash those items in for cash and I would save the funds to ensure that I had the resources to support students by providing funding for field trips, and paying off school lunch debts to ensure that all students felt a sense of pride and self-worth. As I began to grow so did my mission and the opportunities to gain clarity about the needs of our students who in many cases were my classmates. In 2018 we were fortunate to raise funds to become a 501c3. Since that time, we have raised and donated $200,000.00 from our donors, community partners who believe in our mission and who see our results. Our nonprofit has been defined as untraditional, grassroots and organic and I would agree with it all. We walk to our own beat and are tone deaf to those who say that we are only enablers. What I have come to realize is that people are sometimes limited in their views, simply because of where they are seated. Since 2013, we have built a framework for leveling the field for many students who want to move forward but simply do not have the resources. We are going to pursue these students to remind them that they have someone in their corner.

Contact Info:

• Website: chaseschance13@gmail.com
• Instagram: chaseschance
• Facebook: chaseschance
• Other: chase@wake (IG) therenassianceproject (IG)

Image Credits
nature photographs: Sunset Studios in black tee: David Spencer of Emageworks