Semi-finalist Q&A: YORR Consulting Group

YORR Consulting Group staff has extensive working knowledge of nonprofit management, prospect research, and major gift solicitation. We have the ability to implement creative ideas that bring an organization's mission and vision to fruition.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

Also, don't forget to cast your vote! YOUR vote will determine which entrepreneurs most deserve to be amongst the finalists.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 1993, I assisted a doctoral student with his dissertation by coming up with an incubator project to aid African-American ministers in obtaining their degrees to better serve their communities. His dissertation caught the eye of the Seminary’s President, who passed it along to a colleague at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A few short months later, we received word that the MacArthur Foundation was going to present a grant award of $600K over a three year period to implement this program at the Seminary. Once I discovered that my penchant for writing could yield monetary award to better the community, I dived into the development field faster than Michael Phelps. Since formally starting YORR Consulting Group, I’m regularly rewarded through the varying nonprofits and future small business owners that we assist in bringing their mission to the forefront by providing services and programs for the disadvantaged.

What do you love most about running your own business?
I thoroughly enjoy being a part of helping visions come to fruition for organizations. From the smiles of clients to the actual properties and facilities that I know YORR Consulting’s grants aided in coming to life, I have constant reminders that I have done a good deed to help transform communities and empower individuals. And, of course, the flexibility of managing my own schedule doesn’t hurt. J

What makes your business unique?
Dynamic, creative energy coupled with well researched strategies gives YORR Consulting the ability to bring fresh ideas to the table consistently. We have a high rate of return on the grants we submit on behalf of nonprofits and have a fast response from the IRS on 501(c)(3) applications to start nonprofits. Why? Because we do quality, thorough work that adheres to grant guidelines and formalities without being stiff. YORR Consulting Group finishes a job with each client feeling as though they’ve hired their own personal consulting firm to help their vision come to life.

What are some of your top business-related accomplishments, or business lessons learned?
YORR Consulting Group has had a hand in some of the top national and global historical events by writing grants and garnering sponsorships to create change in our communities. We have worked with the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions 100 year Anniversary featuring the Dalai Lama, helped organize communities during Nelson Mandela’s first and second presidential runs, and have helped nonprofits raise millions of dollars to fund programs, build housing, and bring about change in communities.

Lessons learned have been fast and furious at times over the years. It’s one thing to run a sole-proprietorship and an entire different ballgame to run an operation. The funny thing is…our business to advise others on running effective organizations to better serve their clients and, yet, we have only just begun to apply the same acumen that we provide to others for ourselves. Additionally, it has become quite clear that while a small business owner has control over his/her schedule, in order to flourish and remain competitive the business owner has to be several employees in one and work countless hours to ensure longevity in this economic climate.

Why should the Idea Cafe regulars vote for you?
Idea Café regulars should vote for YORR Consulting Group because a spirit of personalized, quality service flourishes at the core of the YORR Consulting Group team. Our business is the business of assisting others with starting and effectively operating their nonprofits and/or small businesses. Because we have always received clients by referrals, we strive to treat our clients as we want to be treated, creating a vortex of positive energy that fuels the desired results! From beginning to end, we embrace a client’s mission as our own towards achieving win-win victories! We are a champion of nonprofits and small businesses because of the human connections they foster between individuals. In this technological day and age, it’s Important to maintain as much humanity as possible and we provide individualize services that make the client feel empowered to succeed. Plus, there is nothing like the rush of receiving a grant award or small business loan letter of approval and nothing better than the challenge of getting past a decline to progress towards helping another’s dreams come to fruition.