Building for the Long Haul: How Andy Eaton Turned a Volunteer Project into Eight Years of Leadership
When Andy Eaton first connected with Coffee With A Cause (CWAC) through Jericho Road Pasadena in 2017, he expected to help the organization think through its long-term planning.
What he didn’t expect was that nearly a decade later, he would still be involved, serving as Board Chair and helping guide a nonprofit that now operates with a budget exceeding $1 million.
“When I took on helping CWAC in 2017 with long-term planning, little did I know that eight years later I’d still be involved as Board Chair of a nonprofit that now has a budget in excess of $1 million and keeps exceeding our strategic plan goals.”
For Andy, that journey perfectly illustrates the power of skilled volunteering. What begins as a single project can grow into a lasting partnership that helps strengthen organizations and communities for years to come.
After spending 40 years in multiple leadership roles at one of the nation’s premier water testing laboratories, Andy retired as Vice President and Technical Director. Throughout his career, he developed expertise in marketing, client relations, business development, strategic planning, and organizational management while helping organizations navigate growth and change.
Today, he brings those same skills to local nonprofits through Jericho Road Pasadena.
“I love being able to expand my professional skills to organizations that can benefit from them,” Andy explained.
As a volunteer, Andy has found that many of the principles that make businesses successful are equally valuable in the nonprofit world.
“Knowing how to grow and manage a business so it’s sustainable is important not only for traditional entities, but even more important for nonprofits where resources are typically limited.”
Whether supporting strategic planning, board development, fundraising, finance, or organizational growth, Andy believes that sustainability is one of the most important gifts skilled volunteers can provide.
One of the biggest rewards of volunteering, he says, is seeing firsthand how transferable professional expertise can be.
“What I enjoy most about skilled volunteering is knowing my skills are translatable.”
His experience with CWAC demonstrates exactly that. By sharing knowledge gained over decades of professional leadership, Andy helped an organization build a stronger foundation for growth while discovering a long-term commitment that continues to make an impact today.
Stories like Andy’s highlight how skilled volunteering goes far beyond donating time. By sharing specialized expertise, volunteers help nonprofits strengthen operations, build capacity, and create sustainable pathways for future success.
Learn more about Jericho Road Pasadena’s skilled volunteer opportunities and discover how your professional experience can help local nonprofits thrive.