We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Whitney Frasier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Whitney below.
Whitney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?
Running a nonprofit you must have a Board of Directors. Starting my organization I decided to implement my friends in positions that I believed they would flourish in due to their day to day realm of work. After doing that I discovered that wasn’t the best direction to go. Although I provided the job description and went over responsibility of the position it was all YES until true expectations weren’t being met. My recruitment process was very unconventional as I thought I strategically picked and discussed the role with the best candidates. I had to ask myself do they truly believe and see my vision. A large amount of my board members did not work out as my friends did not understand the true duty of being a board member as almost none of them ever has been on a board. I understood it however, brought me to a place of questioning, what am I doing wrong here? I know my friends loved me, I know they support me, I know they want me to flourish and still lost as to why majority of my board members were not working out. If I started today I would totally have went another route with my recruitment process. I would start out with volunteers to sign on for a temporary/short term position, evaluate their capabilities and execution. At the end of the trial we will do a team evaluation, self evaluation and the CEO evaluation to see if you are a asset to the organization.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a black mother, a daughter, a sister, a creator, a leader, an executor, a project manager, a student, a partner, a orphan and most of all I Am Human. I was born and raised in New Jersey where we don’t pump our own gas, LOL! I had great relationships with both of my parents my dad I lost at the age of 8 and my mom I lost at the age of 29. I have an amazing talented,smart and beautiful 10 year old little girl Sydney who keeps me motivated. Losing my mom in 2020 to a long battle of cancer shook my world. I lost my best friend, my confidante, my biggest cheerleader, my protector, corrector and MOMMY! Learning life without either one of my parents and being a parent has been extremely challenging navigating life as a first time mom. I thought we had forever, as my mom was superwomen and a true earthly angel. I decided to turn my pain and trauma into purpose & resilience. 2021 I founded Helping Hearts Initiative Nonprofit Organization. My organization mission was fostered from my life experiences as a therapeutic tool.
Helping Hearts Initiative mission is to bring awareness, support and further hope to cancer fighters. As we are their cheering section to beat this plague. Our purpose for the teen community is to mentor and implement positive developmental resources. As we focus on self awareness, mental health, financial literacy, professionalism and a host of other life equipment to help them flourish in this evolving society.
Some of our initiatives are to raise funds for cancer fighters to assist financially. Offer experiences to our mentees that life may not afford them. We also host an annual back to school sneaker drive giveaway for kids less fortunate to help community families.
As there are many organizations out here and we have similar missions I can only be me and do my part. What sets me aside is that everyday I wake up I work on ways to help grow my organization. As a smaller organization I set out to help other grassroots organizations startup. I am an open book and operate with love for many. If I can’t help people through my organization resources, I am constantly working to create connections to other resources to help others. Sharing my experiences so the next up and coming entrepreneur can learn from my bumps in the road and I continue to grow by acknowledging my short comings and learn how to navigate and regroup.
I am most proud that it’s is going on 3 years I have been growing my organization and I am still here. Trying to figure it out and I CANT STOP WONT STOP! I want my followers and readers to know that this is my healing and therapy. This is my heart on my sleeve and I’m passionate. I may not do everything right but I am constantly learning, evolving,growing and getting better everyday. If anyone will like to volunteer I am open to building my support network because whether directly or indirectly almost all of us has lost someone to cancer. By allowing my pain to be my passion and purpose I challenge you to support! Check out our website and social media for more information on how to become involved. Everyone can use a Helping Heart!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn when people love and care for you does not mean they foster your vision. Building a team with friends has pushed me to do my due diligence and research even more. I assumed the people that love me would have my drive, passion and dedication to my dream. I started out with a team of 7. As I had to make so many transitions and still stay active in my goals shows that I CANT STOP WONT STOP! I understand somebody needs what was instilled in me from my parents. Loving people, caring for people, helping those in need stepping in and understanding the needs of the community. Working to be the help in the community that I live in and other’s. Working everyday to rebuild my team I am doing it. As I continue to operate I continue to regrow my team. Through networking and stepping out of my comfortable place to meet new people has been my smartest move. Unlocking resources to not only help me but to help others. Allowing myself to be a student and retain information for growth. Going to workshops and doing courses to expand my knowledge. As I love to say I like to know a little about a lot! You take my little and your little we have alot.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I started my organization I did not have a 501c3 status registration. Most business donations and grants require your nonprofit to hold that status to be considered for anything. I kept working and grinding to receive donations from people in my community and on social media. The startup cost also is a lot for any business as far as state filings, materials and operating space. I continued to pour into my business personally. Working with my team and the statement always came up “ We don’t have a 501c3 so we can’t do anything.” As that was mentioned so often it would make me question am I doing what I need to do. Do I truly need to wait on that status to do the work or should I give up? I continued pressing on having events to fundraise, doing my research on how to receive donations and how they can be retroactive once status is obtained. This hurdle added to my bulk of research already being completed. I found a way to accept donations without my status that was still pending in the State of New Jersey back log. I obtained a fiscal sponsor. By the time we arranged everything for the sponsorship our state status was released and approved. Even though I never got a chance to use the sponsorship I found out information for myself and other up and coming organizations that may not know where to begin!
Contact Info:
- Website: Helpingheartsofnj.org
- Instagram: Helpingheartsof_nj
- Facebook: Helping Hearts Initiative of New Jersey
Image Credits
Cory Ross-1985 Photos P Moore Photography Jaren Michele Photography