357: Rethinking How Organizations Are Built to Change Lives (Logan Herring)

Episode Summary

Five years after his first appearance on Episode #128, Logan Herring returns with a dramatically expanded vision and impact. What began as an ambitious community revitalization effort has evolved into a nationally recognized model for integrated, place-based change. As CEO of The WRK Group, Logan leads a vertically integrated set of tax-exempt businesses focused on housing, cradle-to-career education, workforce development, and community wellness in Riverside, Wilmington. In this conversation, he challenges leaders to rethink how organizations are structured, funded, measured, and branded. From rejecting the term nonprofit in favor of tax-exempt business, to treating those served as customers, to measuring Net Promoter Scores and social return on investment, Logan makes the case that lasting change requires business discipline, upstream strategy, and the courage to build institutions designed to solve problems permanently rather than manage them indefinitely.

About Logan

Logan Herring is the CEO of The WRK Group, a collective of tax-exempt businesses in Wilmington, Delaware focused on housing, education, workforce development, and community wellness. Under his leadership, the organization has evolved into a nationally recognized model for vertically integrated, place-based revitalization. Logan oversees the strategic direction of Kingswood Community Center, The Warehouse, and REACH Riverside, aligning infrastructure, programming, and capital investment to address intergenerational poverty through upstream, systemic solutions. He is a frequent national speaker on community development, impact measurement, and sustainable social enterprise models, and continues to advocate for business discipline and long-term accountability in the social sector.

Resources

• The WRK Group
• Purpose Built Communities
• Sharehouse (technical assistance initiative of REACH Riverside)
• Book Recommendation: Jump by Larry Miller
• Follow Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership
• Learn more about Armstrong McGuire