5 Lessons Learned After Investing $100M in Community Building

After $100M in Community Building Investments, Here’s Just Five Things I’ve Learned About Community Leadership.

Twelve years ago, we set out to do something that felt impossible:

Build a movement of business leaders and residents working together to create generational cycles of prosperity in neighborhoods.

Fast forward more than a decade…
• Hundreds of safe, beautiful homes built.
• Jobs created.
• Children educated and scholarshiped.
• A proud community celebrated

It’s been an incredible journey—and one that’s taught me countless lessons about what it takes to make lasting difference.

But perhaps the most important realization?
The best way to multiply our impact is by helping others do the same.

If you’re a leader, a philanthropist, or someone passionate about aligning your purpose with community impact…

Here are just five of the lessons I’ve learned about leadership and building community:

1. Doing the Impossible Is Often Easier Than Doing the Reasonable

Big, bold visions are magnetic.

People want to believe in something transformative.

But trying to get buy-in for “good enough” ideas? That’s where the real resistance lies.


2. The World Is Malleable When You Have a Clear and Compelling Vision

People don’t follow spreadsheets—they follow stories.

Cast a vision so clear and hopeful that it feels inevitable, and back it up with the spreadsheets

You’ll find that moving mountains is easier than you thought, with the right partners.


3. Everyone Talks About Collaboration—But We Don’t All Mean the Same Thing

True collaboration requires shared sacrifice for there to be shared wins and shared credit.

The most successful partnerships come from clarity and humility-not convenience.


4. Caring More About Impact Than Credit Can Be a Superpower

The less you focus on getting the credit,

The more trust you’ll earn,

The more clearly you’ll see the path,

The more opportunities you’ll attract,

And the more lasting change you’ll create.


5. Your Greatest Influence Comes From Your Hardest Lessons

It’s the missteps, the failures, and the moments of doubt

That shape the wisdom others need most.

Don’t hide them—share them. That’s how we help others do more, better, faster.

We still have big adventures ahead at Lift,
But I believe we can go so much further, faster when we learn from each other.

So, if you’re a community-minded business leader, a strategic-thinking philanthropist,
Or just starting out in community leadership

Follow along.

I’ll be sharing more lessons, stories, and practical insights

To help you align your mission, multiply your impact, and make a difference.

For the glory of God and the good of other people.

Let’s LIFT communities—together.

Love is Local

"In my youth, I aspired to change the world but soon realized the challenge it posed. I shifted my focus to my nation, then to my town, and eventually to my family, only to discover that the real change begins within me. This epiphany taught me that personal transformation could indeed have a cascading effect on the world." - Anonymous Monk.

Welcome, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists,

My name is Eddy Moratin, and through this platform, I aim to ignite a movement of purpose-driven innovation led by businesses committed to social impact. At Lift Orlando, we dream of neighborhoods filled with hope, where every child's potential flourishes unimpeded by the shadows of underinvestment. For more than a decade, we've been at the forefront of empowering children and families, weaving the fabric of our community with threads of compassion, collaboration, and collective action.

Significant milestones have marked our journey at Lift Orlando: creating over 100 jobs, enriching the lives of over 1,000 children through education, and boosting family incomes by over $10,000, showcasing the profound impact of our community's generosity.

Yet, our mission extends beyond these achievements. As we unfold the "Love is Local" campaign this spring, I will use this blog to share ideas and invite others to join us in this transformative endeavor.

It is a thrill for me to collaborate with generous business leaders who understand the value of investing in their people and communities. My message of business-led social innovation aims to foster growth and giving back, connecting the hearts and minds of teams with a mission for local impact.

This blog is a resource for companies and communities aspiring to grow stronger together. We will delve into the synergy between businesses and communities in addressing complex social challenges and advocate for a shift toward more purpose-driven organizations. By engaging your team with a mission that transcends profit, we can collectively enhance the character of our work and, by extension, our communities.

Remember, a city is only as strong as its neighborhoods. It is incumbent upon each one of us, as neighbors, to contribute to the shared prosperity of the city we love. Here, we will seek to inspire and equip community business leaders to play a pivotal role in cultivating thriving communities for the benefit of all.

As we embark on this journey, I encourage you with something I believe to be true about you even though we've never met.

"You were created to make a difference. No matter what you do for a living. Every business has a purpose beyond profits, and its legacy is in the character of its people. Your work holds meaning beyond making money, for the character of your work reflects the image of your maker. So, leave your mark!"

Join me in this crusade of change, where together, we can transform all of our neighborhoods into beacons of love, opportunity, and joy.

Go to loveislocalorlando.com and Take the Pledge!

Joy of Justice Podcast - Coming Soon

Where companies and communities grow stronger together.

• Are you a leader exploring how to build your community while growing your business?

• Are you looking to stand up for others and make a difference in a world that's so divided?

• Or, are you a seasoned philanthropist concerned with how to stop the growing disparities in your community?

Our goal is to inspire and quip leaders to invest in their people and in their community

We help companies make an impact in their local community

We want to inspire and equip visionary leaders to stand for others and create positive change in a world that is broken and in need of bold leaders, purpose driven organizations to be caring and connected neighbors

Because building your community is good for building your business

Naming Inspiration: The Joy of Justice

If the joy of achievement is the product of our success, then the joy of generosity is the fruit of sharing the benefits of our success with those in need. The Joy of Justice is the reward of solving the problems that cause those needs.

Objective:

To inspire and equip leaders to make a difference through the biblical values of joy and justice. To add value to business and community leaders looking to make an impact in their local communities. To promote the work of Lift Orlando and raise enough unrestricted donations to support the long term work of the mission. To find and develop my tribe of fellow community builders with a heart for biblical justice in the world who would gladly buy and share my book, The Joy of Justice, when it comes out. To develop a following of people I serve generously by enriching their journey with inspiration, encouragement and humor.

Host:

Eddy Moratin is Co-Founder and President of Lift Orlando, a movement of business leaders working with residents and community partners to strengthen neighborhoods so people can thrive. He is a visionary leader and social entrepreneur who is passionate about creating positive community impact through business innovation. Throughout his career,  spanning inner-city ministry, workforce development, and social entrepreneurship, Eddy has been helping businesses strengthen communities for two decades. 

Eddy was awarded the CEO of the Year Award by the Orlando Business Journal and was listed as one of the 50 Most Powerful Philanthropy and Community Voices. In 2021 Lift Orlando was recognized as Florida Trend Magazine’s Floridian of the Year. As a keynote speaker and impact strategist he enjoys working with generous business leaders who care about investing in their people and their community. His message of business-led social innovation helps purpose driven organizations grow and give back by engaging the hearts and minds of their team with a mission for local impact.

Eddy as a thought leader in social impact, strategic philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility.

Target Audience:

Generous and community-minded business leaders aged 35-55, located in Central Florida. Individuals interested in balancing business success with holistic community wellbeing, faith-driven values, and balanced political perspectives.

Content Themes:

• Faith-Driven Leadership

• Business-Led Social Innovation

• Balanced Perspectives on Societal Challenges

• Holistic Child Wellbeing through Inner City Revitalization: The LIFT Method

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Explore visionary leadership, strategic philanthropy, and the transformative power of building community. Dive into neighborhood revitalization, mixed-income housing, and redemptive real estate, all while building cradle-to-career educational pathways and strengthening population health. Join us in this journey of creating positive local impact.