Focus on the WHY!

I come across people all the time that say how do you run a not-for-profit organization?  Most days I think to myself how do we do it? Well after some deep thought I had to come up with the proper way of looking at the situation it is not how we do it that keeps it going, but the WHY we do it that propels us forward.

When you present the idea of running a NFP one of the first things you’re told is that it is going to be extremely hard to get funding because of all of the government budget cuts. Take this advice and run with it because believe it or not it is not hard, but it is hard work. You have to be willing to put in the man hours to write those grants, fill out those RFP’s, and solicit, in all forms or fashion.  Who would have thought that I can get someone to invest in nails, but not in providing a youth center for teens to grow?

True Story: One of my friends recently came to me and stated that he wanted to open a nail salon and would like my assistance. After about 2 days he came back to me and stated he needed the business plan completed as soon as possible because he had an investor lined up ready to sign. This instantly shook me not because I wasn't happy for my friend, but because it was that easy to get someone to believe in a profitable business vs. and non-profit designed to help the community.

When I think about the situation I analyze the meetings, the phone calls, and the overwhelming amount of opinions that people have about NFPs. In the beginning you have a lot of help and everyone is on your team, but by the 3^rd quarter you look around and your left with 1 or 2 franchise players and you’re wondering what happened.  This is when you have to take a step back and evaluate yourself and your program as a whole.  As an organization you wonder what you can do to keep yourself a float on a raft that it seems everyone is poking holes in.  What you do is focus on the WHY and realizes that the raft may have holes, but you still have your life vest and shore is right there. The next thing you know you have jumped out that raft and started to swim and with each stroke you gain hedge way.

It seems in today’s society it is not enough to want to help your community, but you have to beg for the funds and support to get it going. Even after you work through the frustration, paperwork, and setbacks you still have to keep the WHY present in your mind. The WHY is the most important part of opening a NFP because it is the part that will keep you motivated to succeed in what you’re trying to do?

Why do I continue to push for an all-girls community center in Chicago? It is because these young ladies need a place to call theirs.  They need a stable place that is not there for judgment, but guidance and growth.  A center where reality is there real life issues and not what the media or peer pressure tells them it should be. Mentors who listen, teach, and help cultivate dreams into obtainable goals. It is a place for them to vent and talk to someone who can give them sound advice when they feel alone in this world.  E.O.G. is not just for mentors building up mentees it is for girls growing to be women that build up their community.

You ask WHY? Well let’s see it is because instead of having baby showers I would rather see them having graduation parties. Or better yet instead of them having goals of being on World Star Hip Hop, Bossip, Twitter, and all other tabloids by creating demeaning videos, I would rather see them throwing trunk parties for college. Instead of purchasing the latest fashions, hair, or trends I would rather see them raising money for their school activities, tuition, and books.  Instead of being the school fun girl I would rather see them be the school Valedictorian.  Or giving hope to the teen moms so that they know life hasn't ended because of the decision they made. They can still go on to be good mom’s and successful in life.

To many people I am known as old fashion and at first I used to be like I am very in tune with today’s society, but then I had to stop and think I am not and yes I am old fashioned. I know that being old fashioned is what makes me push so hard for E.O.G.  A non-profit is not a business that is for everyone and that is extremely true in the case of someone looking for instant gratification or financial gain. My mentees ask me why I am so blunt and up front with them and I tell them because I have to be.   The world is not going to handle them with kid gloves and neither will I because that is giving them a false since of security.

Mentors are not here to replace parents, but help parents get their kids to open up and communicate with a level headed grownup that is able to guide some of the decisions they are making.  Do I see myself being a mentor years from now I say yes, absolutely, 100% because there will always be a young lady out there that just needs to talk. If they are not talking to parents then the question becomes who are they talking to?

By Monique Lloyd