We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deonica Sanders a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Deonica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
3 Stones Foundation was not an overnight success story or a viral moment. It was a thought that came to me after I withdrew from my second year in law school. I always knew I wanted to make a change in the world and become someone others could look up too. I decided to start my nonprofit, 3 Stones Foundation with no professional help or guidance just my faith! When I was a young child I had visions, of unity and communities working together to explore greater causes. Men, women, and children of all ages young and old were walking hand in hand in one community. Those visions always stuck with me. Throughout my childhood and growing up. I always made it an important part of my life to put Jesus first and to make sure I help my community. Significantly the city of Southeast Raleigh, North Carolina were I was born an raised. So I implemented a plan to start my own Nonprofit business. At first I thew myself into my work. I planned events, started a GoFundMe to raise awareness about my causes. I made connections within the city council and met other community leaders who had in interest in transforming the areas I e other professionals I know through the State
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Greetings!
Hello my name is De0nica Marquise’ Sanders. I am the Chief Executive Officer to 501c3 Non Profit 3 Stones Foundation. I made a commitment to my community at a young age to be daring and make bold changes others would not do. I started my Nonprofit to celebrate the life of my mother Phyllis McCullers who passed away in 2019. My siblings and I were called her 3 Stones. She meant everything to us and those around her and was a pivotal staple in the growing of my non profit to where it is today. Today, I have been asked by the city of Raleigh to be a community connector. This means I use my non profit business to outsource clients within the community I meet to new or old services that may have lapsed. Although I try to outsource more in Southeast Raleigh because it is a low income area. I cater my works to all counties and cities in the state of North Carolina. Doing nonprofit is not easy and takes a lot of strategy and community connections. I have used my outside resources to copartner without other businesses and non profits in the area for events. I have done things like an outdoor movie night, I’ve also had a dog pet clinic where we administered new shots to residents in Raleigh who could not afford shots for their pets. Seminar and sessions on different topics advocating for the less fortunate and even trying to push city council to help with sidewalks in the lower income communities. 3 Stones Foundation is right now accepting all new clients! We are looking to build a client list to help provide our grant writing services, community service opportunities as well as youth volunteers. We will have major incentives if you try to join my non profit as a NEW client. We are looking forward to expanding into product services as well. Creating eBooks for “How to start a non profit” guide and journals for creative writing and storage. I think my ability adapt to all walks of life and to non judge has given me a head start in my non profit journey. Most people are afraid to ask for help in whatever that may be going through. When I am out doing field work, speaking to people who I see are in need. I think about how serious it is to make a changes in areas you see are not growing. Since I am born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina this area is home. This is the environment I did all my firsts and it is very important to me leave a positive mark within this community and so forth. I want people in my community to know I have great plans in Southeast Raleigh and all other areas in the Triangle. It is my mission and goal to get as many citizens the services they need and to make a positive impact in my community!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Working in nonprofit in the beginning was something I felt was almost impossible. Not knowing about a lot of black owned non profits in my area, I assumed it would be hard to get the guidance or audience I needed. I was so wrong! Many people in non profit in Raleigh NC, work in a community network. I have joined the community network and made sure to follow up on meeting and seminars they have for us growing non profits and business. I also make sure I am getting all the proper points I need on a need base appointment time with the NC Grant Writing communities. As well as the NC grant opportunities that are all over the state of North Carolina. I think my reputation within my community has helped my market. I am a well known business professional within Raleigh. I have a lot of community ties from a few family members being successful in the city of Raleigh. I also think my authenticity has helped me very much is forming bonds with others professionals who want to be apart of Non profit. Since I have a public image and have been on the news in my areas for exceling in leadership as well as my younger brother being a professional football player. It has helped a lot of word of mouth to go around and a lot of indirect opportunities have happened because of this! Creating a reputation and keeping it is something I pride myself on!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One lesson that I had to unlearn is that everyone will not support you. I have always been a people person, social, and had a love of hearing other peoples stories and their reason on WHY! In non profit, I assumed because a lot of people knew me I would have that immediate community support. It did not work out that way and I really had to work hard at promoting my non profit to everyone not just the community I was brought up in. I had to unlearn that sometimes those you think will support you may not be as willing to help. I also learned a lot of people who decide to do you work like you randomly in most cases were inspired by something you did. Personally at first it bothered me a lot not getting that “love” and support back from my community. I have done so much to help those in my community it also felt like a jabbed to work ethic. I put things back in perspective and realized everyone is not going to support or even like you. I told myself that continuing on and not giving up on myself will eventually give me all the support I would need. When you have a dream or something you want to push past and make possible you have to unlearn the negative. I did not use the fact I was not receiving the community support I needed from outsiders. I made an effort to still get support from those around me that saw my vision and wanted to create new successful opportunities for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://3stonesfoundation.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: @3stonesfoundation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Queendxvii
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deonica-sanders-7309831a6/
- Twitter: 3 Stones Foundation
- Youtube: 3 Stones Foundation
