When most people get laid off, they wallow in their misfortune and hunt for a new position, all the while squandering their newly-liberated schedules. But when Connie Bobo lost her job, she got to work – working for herself.
With only $27 in her pocket, Ms Bobo set off on an entrepreneurial journey that would not only empower her to become her own boss, but empower churches, nonprofits, and entire communities to do the same.
Charting Her Course
Ms Bobo does it all – she’s a church consultant, professional development instructor, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit coach, and published author. She helps those in the business of helping others, and ensures that they have everything they need to care for those who need it most.
Connie Bobo found her purpose helping entrepreneurs, leaders, future leaders, and nonprofit organizations to move forward and flourish. Nonprofits and churches help to heal, feed and shelter millions. And much like they inspire the rest of the world, they inspired her too, and she knows just how important their role is in society.
“I believe I was chosen to carry out this mission,” she said. “I take that very seriously. I want to give to other people who are, in turn, giving to others. It’s all about paying it forward.”
Many things can keep nonprofits from reaching their full potential,” Ms Bobo said. “A lack of resources, an absence of mission clarity, and limited funding are the most common of problems,” she continued. Ms Bobo helps churches and nonprofits secure the resources and funding needed to increase their capacity, and ensures each organization and their mission remains deeply relevant to the communities they serve.
For those getting started, Ms Bobo helps them clarify their mission and vision and get the legal and foundational elements of their businesses in order. For established nonprofits, Ms Bobo guides them as they develop new programs.
“Thanks to my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve become an expert in program development, organizational development, leadership and revenue development, as well as community engagement,” she said. “It seems like a long laundry list, but each of these elements is important to building a successful nonprofit.”
Empowerment for All
As part of Ms Bobo’s efforts to help develop and restore struggling communities, she’s also providing programs, leadership, and community engagement through her own nonprofit, New Heights Community Resource Center. New Heights was named a Top Rated Nonprofit by Great Nonprofits two years in a row, based on numerous ratings and reviews from clients, volunteers, and donors in the community. It was also federally recognized by the US Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health for its outstanding nutrition initiative.
Ms Bobo developed New Heights using the same proven step-by-step framework she provides to the nonprofits with whom she works. No matter how charitable the mission, nonprofits need resources – and a mindset to maximize every opportunity. After realizing there was a lack of a standardized framework for nonprofit funding success, Ms Bobo set about creating one, and has been testing it and proving it ever since.
Ms Bobo also focuses on nonprofit leadership, one of her many areas of expertise. You can only take your business as far as you yourself can go, after all. She helps her clients learn how to structure their organizations to get the buy-in and support they need from donors and investors, and helps develop internal evaluations for programs and services past and present.
“I ask a lot of tough questions,” she said. “Especially when it comes to programs that were shut down. Were they inconsistent? Were they canceled due to funding? I use this method to help develop long-lasting programs that cannot only build community trust, but can be self-sustaining.”
At the end of the day, Ms Bobo said she’s grateful that she was laid off with only $27 in her pocket. It empowered her to do something much bigger than herself. “I now manage a $15,000,000 nonprofit that serves over 12,000 people monthly.”
“I don’t pretend to know everything, but I’m very blessed to be able to use what I do know to benefit other communities and my own,” she said.
About Connie Bobo
Connie Bobo, CEO of Mind Your Mission, has dedicated her life to helping others live a purpose-driven life. From founding and building a multi-million-dollar nonprofit organization, to equipping other nonprofits with the essential tools to become deeply relevant in their community- Ms Bobo is determined to build a successful “helping model” that can be replicated on a global scale. To learn more about how Ms Bobo is making her mark and transforming lives, visit https://infinitewisdombiz.com and follow New Heights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newheightscrc.
