Becoming a Strategic Braintrust: How Peer Specialists Can Drive Revenue and Influence in Nonprofits

Peer specialists bring unique lived experience to nonprofits, but to gain a seat at the strategic table, they must evolve from contributors to catalysts for sustainable change. By driving revenue, streamlining processes, and protecting their team’s mission, peer specialists can become indispensable to the organization’s braintrust.

From Grant-Funded to Billable: Lead the Charge

If your team relies on grants, don’t just ride the funding wave—be the impetus for financial independence. Advocate for integrating billable services to diversify revenue streams. Study Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, like H0038 for peer support, and explore adding staff or skill to utilize the new G-codes (2024) as an additional revenue stream. Research your state’s Medicaid policies or consult with billing experts to ensure compliance and maximize reimbursements. This is a long, complicated process, but by helping lead the way in transitioning grant-funded programs to self-sustaining models, you demonstrate strategic foresight and secure long-term impact.

Streamline Documentation for Quality and Sustainability

If your team struggles with documentation, take the lead in smoothing out the wrinkles. Develop clear, efficient processes—such as standardized templates or training on narrative-based charting—that reduce errors and meet billing requirements without medicalizing peer work. For instance, create guides that help staff document H-code services in ways that emphasize recovery-oriented outcomes while protecting the non-clinical essence of peer support. These improvements not only increase quality but also shield staff from overly clinical frameworks, preserving the peer model’s integrity.

Build Revenue, Gain Influence

By becoming a force for driving billable services and refining operations, you create a self-sustaining program that generates revenue and strengthens your voice. Present data to leadership showing how your initiatives will increase funding or reduce reliance on grants—metrics like billable hours or program outcomes speak loudly. Network internally with administrators and externally with funders or healthcare partners to position yourself as a strategic thinker. Join planning committees or propose pilot projects that showcase your ability to align peer support with organizational goals.

Becoming part of the braintrust means being proactive: turn grants into billables, add G-codes to H-codes, and fix documentation to protect your team’s mission while boosting revenue. By doing so, you’ll not only secure your program’s future, but also earn a powerful seat at the table, shaping the nonprofit’s strategy with your vision.