Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanna Davis.
Hi Jeanna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts with a family that was rooted in faith and community. I’ve always served others in some way before I even realized the long-term impact it would have on my life. As the granddaughter of a preacher, our family at-large (aunts, uncles, cousins) were always supporting our neighbors, building businesses and the community. This passion followed me into college where I volunteered as part of my accounting major preparing tax returns for senior citizens who couldn’t understand what they needed to do or have the resources to pay someone to do it.
As a person of faith, I believe we each have a calling and I’ve met so many people who turned their personal pain into purpose by establishing organizations to help others navigate the space that they have mastered. It breaks my heart to see the statistics that a number of nonprofits close within the first 10 years because of a lack of funding, strategy and board transition. It’s not that these businesses aren’t committed to the mission. It’s that they don’t know what they don’t know about nonprofit management. While I am happy to help any nonprofit, my heart is drawn to the grassroots organizations and the organizations that are struggling and are in so deep over their head that they don’t know what to do next. Sometimes, the bigger the challenge, the more excited I get.
With over 25 years of volunteer nonprofit experience, I too accepted my calling and started my nonprofit consulting business. My mission is to use my business acumen to help nonprofit organizations learn their business from the ground up, build capacity and get to a place of sustainability to create a legacy of service and not just push paper.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With little advertising, I have received many referrals and clients who reach out to me because leaders are hungry for support. So, I know my business is needed. However, working with organizations that are already starting with little to no resources is challenging from a for-profit business perspective. It’s hard for them to invest in the professional services when they are still paying out of pocket for startup costs. I try to provide options for my clients. Some projects are high-touch from me while more affordable options may involve attending some of my free workshops or webinars to gain access to resources to understand nonprofit management. I’ve never turned away a client because of money, but I will turn away a client who is not 100% committed to the process. I should never work harder for anyone’s organization than they do. In the service industry it is easy to be pulled by heart strings and lose sight of business needs. Nonprofits are businesses. They are corporations and should be treated with all seriousness. I try to help leaders assess their level of commitment to the process and then guide them through the steps. Most grassroots organizations need someone guiding them through the first year, at the minimum, to gain the confidence they need to advance the work, but not all of them can afford it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about JMD Enterprises & Associates, LLC?
JMD Enterprises & Associates, LLC offers full-service nonprofit management resources. The mission of JMD is to help leaders build capacity and get to a place of sustainability by addressing the statistics that say 30% of nonprofits cease to exist within the first 10 years. The primary areas affecting sustainability are funding, board transitions and governance, and strategic planning. My niche is building strong systems and helping leaders understand the mechanics of them, starting with programming. My experience as a federal and local grant reviewer and grant writer enables me to provide unique insight to clients applying for grants. Additionally, my accounting background ignites my drive to help leaders understand their financial position and funding strategies and compliance requirements. If I could spend all of my time teaching nonprofit management, I would.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are all centered around activities with my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jmdenterprisesandassociates.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanna-davis-jmdenterprises
