Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrina Pelton-Smith.
Hi Patrina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am the Principal Consultant, CEO, and founder of The Business of Charity, LLC, a consultancy focused on formation, capacity building and strengthening, and grant writing for non-profit and small businesses. Our goal is for the organization to become both fundable and sustainable. However, before I became a business owner, I was a non-profit executive. I was the Executive Director for New Horizon Family Center, Director of Non-Residential Services for Bay Area Turning Point, and Program& Grant Manager for Fresh Spirit Wellness for Women. I launched my journey into entrepreneurship after being laid off following the 2008 economic downturn. I have 25+ years of experience in this space, and last year I obtained my Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential. The GPC exam is based upon a combination of education, skill, and experience, so there are less than 500 GPCs globally. I am proud to be a member of this group.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The have been several personal and professional challenges during my 10 years in business. When I launched as Trinity Consulting Services in 2013, my primary goal was to meet the needs of my son and myself. I focused on building the business by attracting paying clients. However, that focus changed in 2014 when I was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a rare, aggressive cancer. I was in treatment from September 2014 to February 2017. However, I was blessed that I could write grants during that time, so there were several infusion days where the nurse would start my chemo, and I would go to work writing grants. I think that is where my motto began: I can work anywhere with my laptop and Wi-Fi! During that time, I averaged 1 client a month, and it was the perfect pace for me. Once I completed treatment in 2017, my challenge was rebuilding my network. However, I was able to attend in-person events again, and that definitely helped me. I am now a member of the Grant Professional Association (GPA) and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), both whom have been extremely helpful in client referrals.
Of course, the largest challenge was the pandemic. In 2019, The Business of Charity was established and thriving. To support this growth, on December 31, 2019, I entered into an agreement with three consultants to launch expanded services, including printing, marketing, and fund development. We leased an office and purchased equipment and furniture to launch a training site when the pandemic forced everyone to quarantine at home. We immediately pivoted to not only provide virtual services, but to also learn all the information we could regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). It was an interesting and exhausting time because as soon as we learned information about our new products, it would be obsolete. In one instance, I literally appeared as guest speaker for a PPP/EIDL webinar on April 3rd, 2020, which was a Friday, and waited for the host to complete post-production editing so that I could upload it to my site. She did so three days later, on Monday afternoon (April 6th), but that morning the federal government changed the guidelines, rendering the information out of date, and I could not upload it. This occurred several more times, so we quickly learned not to invest a great deal of time or resources in marketing materials, and we began hosting weekly calls with potential clients to offset this issue. It was a hectic pace, and we often worked 12-hour days; BOC successfully assisted multiple clients, non-profits, and small businesses in applying for and receiving $500,000+ in PPP and EIDL funds. Our smallest clients received $4,000 in funds, while larger clients received $150,000 or more. This experience taught me that pivoting does not have to be perfect, but it must meet the client’s needs.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Business of Charity began in 2013 as Trinity Consulting Services. We changed our name our present name in 2018 to reflect our vision of assisting non-profits to reflect what they are– non-profit organizations in “the business of charity.” According to Texas law, and the laws of many other states, non-profits are considered corporations, and they are expected to behave like one. Just like major companies must develop products or services, so must a non-profit organization. The primary difference is that non-profits have donors, foundations, companies, or the government pay for their products and services so they can deliver them at reduced cost or free to their clients. Too often, founders or groups launch their non-profit organizations thinking they can immediately seek grants and donations without any structure to undergird it. This was never true, but even more so now. Funders and donors are now both cautious and savvy, seeking to give to organizations with a strong social media presence and tax returns, also known as 990s, that give the organization social and financial credibility, while foundations prefer to work with established organizations who have strong infrastructure and administrative processes in place. We work with organizations to assist them in establishing this foundation. It will not happen overnight, but we have been blessed to work with several organizations that have moved from zero dollars and no or little infrastructure to those same organizations managing millions in private foundation, government grants, and donations.
To do this, we assist organizations with direct services, such as launching their organization with the Secretary of State, drafting their bylaws, and obtaining their employer identification number (EIN); building their foundation through developing their programs, helping them to create a budget and identify an accounting system, manage their day-to-day services, leading up to grant and proposal writing services. We also provide executive coaching for those organizations that prefer to do the work themselves but want to work with a consultant to help them in the process; it all depends on the level of service the organization wants from us.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Many of my clients are faith-based organizations, and I am a licensed minister. This really shouldn’t surprise anyone though, because I am the daughter of a military veteran and a public-school educator, who were also both pastors. My father is still the Senior Pastor of Antioch-Asia Baptist Church located in Teague, Texas and my mother is a retired Itinerant Elder (the equivalent of a pastor) in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. My father’s side of the family is deeply rooted in social services (social workers and educators), while my mother’s side of the family are educators and entrepreneurs.
Why is this important as a grant consultant? There is the perception that faith-based organizations cannot receive grant funding, especially government grants, but that is not true. However, you must be very clear and concise in how you offer your services to your clients and address this in your grant applications. Through my experience in the field coupled with my background of faith, we have been successful in obtaining funding for faith-based organizations through local, state, and federal grants.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.businessofcharity.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizofcharity
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bizofcharity
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrina-pelton-smith
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NPBizCoach
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMMrHTi5dcZ6hftCBvBKqA
Image Credits
Ashley Lane
Elroy McDaniels
