Dwayne Ashley, CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC) –The Powerhouse Behind the Largest African American Owned Fundraising Firm, Raising $800 Million!
Dwayne Ashley, founder and CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC) is the man who thinks big and bold, coupled with strategic thinking and wise council in the philanthropic world. Ashley has raised over $800 Million for his past employers and happy client roster which includes, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund, 100 Black Men of America, Louis Armstrong Foundation, Usher New Look, Steve Harvey Foundation, Madonna and the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast, to name a few.
What makes him a successful black entrepreneur? It’s his fearless and authentic manner of being a solicitor. Ashley embraces his commitment to social justice and helping organizations of color maximize their fundraising success. He’s a powerhouse of energy and possesses a passion for fundraising.
Ashley is a thought-leader in the field and he has shared his valuable concepts in numerous articles, and books. They include; Eight Steps to Raising Money: Measuring Your Fundraising Impact, 8 Winning Steps to Creating a Successful Special Event with Carol Campbell, Director of Events at Prairie View A&M University, I’ll Find A Way or Make One: A Tribute to HBCUs with noted journalist Juan Williams, and Dream Internships: It’s Not Who You Know, But What You Know!
“Yes, we are good at what we do because it’s our passion, but BPC is a social movement——a community of caring and dedicated philanthropy executives from diverse backgrounds serving communities who need fundraising expertise the most.” Says, Dwayne Ashley, CEO and President, Bridge Philanthropic Consulting
Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC) the nation’s only full-service Black Owned fundraising firm. The company has a proven track record of extraordinary success helping philanthropic organizations and institutions to realize their dreams, accomplish their missions and grow their aspirations. With more than 120 years of combined experience, BPC’s leadership team, have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for clients throughout the world. BPC provides counsel to plan or enhance capital campaigns, annual giving, major gift programs, special events, program development, conference management, organizational development, team building, board training, planned giving and strategic communications, among other services.
About Dwayne Ashley
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dwayne Ashley, is an alumnus of Wiley College and the University of Pennsylvania’s Fel’s School of Government. He is very proud of his great-grand mother’s contribution of land to establish one of the oldest schools to educate blacks in Heflin, Louisiana. The school is now one of the oldest black churches in the state of Louisiana. Dwayne dedicates his work in philanthropy in memory of his late two older brothers, Ronald and Howard Ashley and his childhood friend, Late Houston City Councilman, Larry Green. Dwayne is a member of The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 1991.He has served as a member of the Boards of Association of Fundraising Professionals in Philadelphia and New York Chapters. He is one of the Co-Founders of Jazz Houston, a performing arts organization dedicated to Jazz in Houston.
About Bridge Philanthropic Consulting
Since 2016, Bridge Philanthropic Consulting’s (BPC) mission has been to bridge relationships and resources to impact social change. BPC is the nation’s largest full-service African-American owned fundraising firm. BPC is one of the most experienced fundraising firms in the country and provides counsel in capital campaigns, annual giving, major gifts programs, special events, corporate and government program development, conference management, organizational development, board training, planned giving and strategic communications. For more information visit the website and social media networks at: http://bridgephilanthropicconsulting.com/about/
Make More Money with Your Business: Time to stop the Struggle
Make More Money – One of the greatest complaints and challenges in business is almost always finding ways to make more money. We rarely consider the REAL reasons we don’t make money but it goes BEYOND “the Economy” or “Budgets” truth be told clients will always FIND money for services they believe in AND THAT THEY VALUE! In addition, consider that there are small businesses who absolutely do NO selling and make all the money they need and more because they are doing one or all of the things below. First and foremost, this article is for people who DO the work, not those who look for the easy way out by copying from others or who are looking to make a lot of money quickly. If you are doing what someone else has already done you and you are not MUCH better at doing it, you won’t last and you won’t grow. (click Next above or below to see the and next segment)
Look at what you are producing. Are you up to date?
This is a HUGE mistake I have seen people make in the music industry and my business. The music industry is very fast paced and things can literally change from week-to-week. Many small businesses in the industry are not up to date. They are run by one person who doesn’t have a staff and who constantly uses excuses for not hiring anyone like they don’t have the extra money. You have to spend money to make more money. Most times we DO have the money even for assignment based jobs but we are often cheap and greedy and we don’t want to share our profits.
There are some people who legitimately need the money but most people I come across could cut out the cable they never watch at home and put that money into building their brands. You will NEVER have the extra money if you are not up to date and if you don’t spend some to make some (wisely of course). Hiring family is not a good idea because they may or may not want to do what YOU do and it creates problems. Hire someone even part-time or on assignment who is strong where you are weak. If you are not able to keep up with current trends in your industry it will be very obvious in what you produce. Don’t take that chance because once you are labeled “dated” you are just that and potential clients will lose interest in you.
Make More Money with Your Business:
Stop using your Tenure
People who use their tenure to bully clients into buying are mere crybabies. Your tenure is meaningless if you are dated and at times it can even work AGAINST you because you will appear OLD. Bullying someone with your tenure is not going to help you make more money when you are producing a crappy product. I have had this problem for years with competitors who ALWAYS call my clients whenever they see an ad on my site or my publications. They moan and groan like kids in a playground about being left out and how they have worked so many years in the industry and should have the same benefit as my brands do but they never do the work.
They copy and steal from others (including me) and want their own credit for it. They do that because their products suck and the clients often come back and tell me this. Focus on the product FIRST. What is it that you can do that nobody else, even competitors can’t do? If you can’t come up with anything, like my competitors can’t you will rely on whining and bellyaching about being left out like its a child’s baseball game and you were the last to be chosen. Clients are outrageously annoyed by business owners like this and if you have to struggle especially after your first year in business and you don’t have several steady clients… something is wrong.
Use Social Media
I am a HUGE social media person with my business and it works to my advantage because most if not all of my competitors have never taken the time to learn or understand how important social media is. Social media can certainly help you make more money if you know how to use it. Just because you are over 40 doesn’t mean we can’t be on top of the trends but some people are lazy. I will tell you if you want to earn more you have to be more and DO more and part of that is constantly branding your product. Social media doesn’t have to be a chore and it can actually be automated by using a few services while you work. There are also apps for retailers that can either film you working or help keep customer up to date to check out your services.
Stop comparing yourself to others
I had a boss that once told me that if you are in a race and you look to either side of you, you lose time… he said only focus on the finish line. I have to agree especially if you want to make more money. When you look at what someone else is doing AND you compare yourself to them, it speaks volumes about your services or what you lack. What can you do BETTER or how can you provide more appealing services to your clients? Stop copying and come up with your OWN way of promoting and succeeding with your brand.
Make More Money with Your Business:
Upsell Your Current Clients
Chasing dead clients is a waste of time. There are some clients who will NEVER support you. Stop calling them and asking them to support you and focus on your current clients who would probably be willing to spend even MORE money with you if you have something ELSE to offer of value. Don’t try to raise your rates on them, you may lose them if you do that.
How Can You Improve?
Having a business is not only about working, but it’s also about researching new trends and educating yourself. Are you doing that? Some black entrepreneurs work WAY too many hours a day, especially those with mobile businesses. Check out Groupon and Meet-ups for meetings that will help you network with other black entrepreneurs so that you can learn more about what’s going on in your industry.
Take your Clients to lunch
This is one of the most valuable things that MANY black entrepreneurs ignore today but it STILL works and helps you make more money. Take your clients to lunch (and please don’t expect them to pay, most of them will insist on paying anyway if they value YOU). They want to talk to you and get to know you better. Great clients will tell you things you need to hear about your industry when you spend just a small amount of personal time with them. You have to keep investing in your business by using your leverage
Send out an email blast
Do you have a new product? What’s the latest news with your business? I can’t tell you how many new clients I have gotten via email blasts that I do daily. People pass your email blasts around and it’s a great way to keep your brand in the minds of others and to make more revenue. Give your email blasts some added value talk about something of interest to your client base and industry. Give them some tips or news, they LOVE it.
Make More Money with Your Business:
Consider Google Adwords
Want to draw more people to your business? Google Adwords is excellent but it takes a little bit of time to understand. It’s not quick and easy to understand but it works. You can target your campaigns to a specific demo, city and zip code and use specific keywords to generate your ads. There are always free $100.00 coupons online to promote your brand. Check www.google.com/adwords for more info
There are literally hundreds of conferences every year. I go to a few very important ones to meet potential clients face to face. I like to meet marketing people at various corporations. This is not always an easy process to earn money right off, it takes a while to develop relationships to make more money but I don’t like gatekeepers and middlemen and at these events, you can meet people face to face. People will do business with you because they like you and believe in you. They can’t do that if they don’t KNOW you
Get a feature in a POPULAR Blog in your field
Write press releases about your business or new products. There are services like PRWeb that will put your press release in front of thousands of bloggers, websites, magazines, and newspapers. Are you using them?
Make More Money with Your Business:
Get Testimonials from Satisfied customers
This is a great way to garner MORE interest in your product. Use this at all times and make sure you rotate especially from well-known people
(Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Culture Creators)
[penci_blockquote style=”style-3″ align=”none” author=”Byron Allen “]”I don’t want to play in the Negro League I want to play in the Global League. I’m chasing Trillions Not Millions.” [/penci_blockquote]
The industry is paying a lot more attention to Byron Allen these days and that’s no surprise. It’s the way black entrepreneurs are often treated. If your name is not attached to a corporation your PERCIEVED value is often limited. SURPRISE! But it’s just like wearing expensive designer clothes or driving luxury cars, MOST wealthy smart money managers LOOK average.
Every time I bring up Byron’s name to other black entrepreneurs he is like a rock star and we discuss MANY successful black entrepreneurs but Byron Allen always gets the most respect and I cannot deny … I feel the same way. I really don’t think the community gets how brilliant this man is.
I’ve never seen Byron Allen brag or boast about his achievements. While I’ve never personally met him, I know I’ve been in the same room with him over the years and I know several people who work for him. His business savvy, knowledge and style even from a distance is second to none. He is confident and well aware of what his value is and I know several successful black entrepreneurs, from all walks of life, that are greatly inspired by him.
Byron comes off as a very laid back even-tempered nice guy but he also takes command when he has to, like his massive 20 billion dollar lawsuit against the FCC and Charter Communications a few years ago. This lawsuit benefited the ENTIRE black community especially when it comes to business and inclusion but for the most part … from the press, or so it seemed … crickets. It was evident at that time that he was in it to win it … at all costs. The FCC? Here are a few tips that we can all learn from Byron about doing business.
No Excuses … Because A Black Man CAN!!!
I would never say that racism does not exist nor would I dare to say that a black man is not at a disadvantage from birth in this country. I KNOW this to be true. Racism, conditioning, no fathers in the home and poverty exists … but so does opportunity.
In the early 80s, a very young Byron Allen was a comedian on a show called Real People. He was the only Black comedian… doing the same job as his white counterparts but they were making a lot more money. He let it slide for a couple of seasons then finally went and asked for a pay increase from the powers that be and instead of giving him the money that he deserved … they fired him. The experience could have crushed him and he could have relegated himself to the sidelines of life consistently rehearsing the experience for decades after giving up. Instead, he states, it was at that moment that he wanted to be in control of his OWN destiny.
There is Greater Value in Promoting Your Achievements over Desires
Have you ever noticed that most of Byron’s press comes AFTER he has made an acquisition? That’s pretty savvy considering 99.999% of black entrepreneurs promote future events. It makes sense, we need to garner capital and pay expenses and bills BUT, as legitimate Black black entrepreneurs, we also limit ourselves because we often only aim for just enough to get by instead of honoring our value and focusing on building generational legacy and wealth. Many of us with valuable brands are always struggling because we are chasing money instead of making it. Perhaps we feel as though we don’t deserve wealth. As Byron stated in an interview with Black Enterprise “I’ don’t want to play in the Negro League I want to play in the Global League. I’m chasing Trillions … Not Millions.” What a powerful affirmation. How many of us say that to ourselves repeatedly … every day or have it hanging on our mirror?
When your press is about what you have already DONE, you separate yourself from the masses because it makes you more intriguing, eloquent and powerful. You are not asking for anything, you’ve already acquired what you want, you’re simply letting people in on the news. Instead of going to the press this is when the press comes to YOU. And that’s a very powerful position to be in. People want to know ‘How did he do it?’ ‘What makes him different?’ and ‘Who is he?’
Byron has become an expert at this. You rarely see him on social media saying “look at me, look what I’ve done, love me, please accept me, please believe in me, tell me how good I look.” I’m not even sure if Byron has a personal Instagram or Twitter account. There are a few fake ones that others have set up in his name.
He’s a quiet riot who is constantly making great deals and letting his business acumen and achievement speak FOR him but he is not just doing it for himself.
Acquisition Trumps Partnerships
This is one of Byron’s strongest points, why partner with someone who has added control over your business decisions who is there to look over your shoulder when you can do it yourself by owning it and hiring people to do the needed work instead? Why incorporate someone else in on your idea? Everyone that I know of who has done partnerships describes it as a disaster. That’s not always the case but the best way to do it is to be the sole owner.
Once you establish enough capital, of course, acquisitions can more easily be done. Business is very similar to real estate but can be even more profitable more quickly. You would be amazed at how acquisitions can be done on any level with or without a lot of capital and the benefit, of course, is the blood, sweat, and tears are already invested. Who has time to continue to establish businesses when you can buy, hold or sell what someone else has started but doesn’t want to finish?
What black man do you know of that would have thought about buying the Weather Channel? Probably none. Byron is a businessman. He saw the opportunity. The huge platform was not owned by a major media corporation and he was aware that there is actually a large audience that wants to watch the weather all day and if you have had a chance to see it recently, it’s very interesting to watch with all the added digital effects.
Serve the Greater Audience
When I say “greater” it’s not as in “better” but as in LARGER. The black community holds the key to trends, culture, music and so many other avenues, yet as a community, unfortunately, we still don’t respect black-owned businesses as much as we should. Entrepreneurs are not able to change the mindset of their teams, but they can change their teams and they simply have to put the best people in place if they are to grow.
I know a restauranteur who makes great soul food and while most black black entrepreneurs would think they could make the most money positioning that restaurant in a black neighborhood, he is in a very affluent white part of town where there are luxury cars parked on every street and expensive homes. He makes a killing because he’s the only game in that area. Byron thinks about the widest possible audience he can attract instead of limiting himself and his business.
Make Your Presence Known!!!
Byron’s position on this is evident by his lawsuits, hanging all the dirty laundry of major corporations who make a killing off of black people but fail to spend or return any of that profit in advertising or support. I have heard black radio owners complain about this for decades, usually behind closed doors but I have never seen anyone go public and sue the FCC. Byron even exposed the beloved Al Sharpton and Comcast for sham diversity deals. These are often “hush money” deals designed to line the advocate’s pockets instead of fixing the racist policies.
Don’t Acquiesce, Stand Up For Yourself
As stated, most people would not even think of suing an organization like the FCC but Byron did. I implore you to research what that suit was about and you will see how it actually benefited the entire black community. There is not enough room to talk about it here.
Ask for, Acquire or Get What YOU Want, Not What Others Think You Deserve
Your ability to achieve is none of anybody’s business except your own. Byron is still relatively young and he has achieved more than most people could ever dream of. I’m sure that he has been discouraged in some of his deals but that doesn’t stop him from aiming for his trillions.
Navigate in Silence
This goes back to Byron not revealing his plans until they are done. When you tell the wrong people your plans they WILL discourage you. If it’s not with their words it might be with their energy. This also lends itself to surrounding yourself with the right people. If you are in a room with the same people you were in the room with five years ago, you’re not growing.
Entrepreneurship is Key
The BEST way to do it is on your own. This is not to say that everybody can do it but true wealth is available to the man or woman who builds their own structures where the sky is the limit. A corporation can instantly lambaste your influence and power with a pink slip but an black entrepreneur is not likely to look in the mirror and say to himself … “You know, we’ve decided to make some changes and we’re gonna have to let you go.” That is unless he has lost it. Even if you are not an black entrepreneur these same rules apply to brand building.
Congratulations to Byron Allen for being an amazing businessman. More to come.
How do you go from managing hip hop stars to making mac and cheese a star? Meet Derrick Turton, aka Chef Teach of World Famous House of Mac. Since inception in 2015, Chef Teach could be spotted in his mobile food truck bearing his trademark logo, delivering his irresistible dishes at the Wynwood Yard in South Florida. The mac and cheese-centric eatery took Miami’s food scene to exciting new heights as fans lined around for blocks to sample the mouthwatering mixed-style Caribbean soul-food. His elaborate Caribbean flair has enticed locals and celebrities alike to claim Chef Teach as their “go-to guy” for catering events. Teach attended culinary school in 1998, but began his professional career in the music industry instead of heading right into the culinary world.
There he managed Pitbull for more than 15 years while working alongside other hip-hop royalty such as A$AP Rocky and Yo Gotti. During his time in the music industry, Teach developed friendships with artists such as N.O.R.E. and Fat Joe in and out of the studio. Next thing you know, he often found himself cooking amazing dishes for his friends.
After devouring Teach’s decadent variations of mac and cheese and discovering his unsurpassed culinary talent, friends like Bun B encouraged Teach to “take the cooking thing more seriously.” Bun B convinced Teach to prepare some of his signature dishes for his guests and observe their reactions, just to show Teach how good he really was. The crowd went wild! Then after his father’s passing in 2013, Teach felt an immense urge to do something meaningful with his life, inspiring him to take his friends’ advice, circle back to his culinary roots, and build his legacy as “Chef Teach.” In honor of his beloved father, Teach designed a caricature of his father’s face, which is now the renowned World Famous Mac and Cheese logo.
Celebrities like Rick Ross, Fat Joe and A$AP Mob are huge fans of Chef Teach’s scrumptious dishes. The coolest recognition yet? According to Teach himself, the Venus and Serena Williams Invitational were amongst his biggest and most prestigious events that he has catered thus far. Recent celebrity fans include Anthony Hamilton, Pitbull, Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Nate Robinson, Daymond John, ASAP Ferg, Fab 5 Freddy, Miami’s own Trick Daddy, Christian Combs, Charles Oakley, Uncle Luke, and more.
Now, with his third brick and mortar location, Chef Teach opened his World Famous House of Mac at Central Fare, Downtown Miami’s newest food hub, with former Carolina Panthers’ defensive end, Charles Johnson. There, he’s whipping up food phenoms like jerk salmon pasta, fried chicken and French vanilla waffles, and of course his signature mac and cheese dishes (like his World Famous Five Cheese Truffle Mac, Pizza Mac & Cheese, and Seafood Mac & Cheese).
With three locations under his belt, Chef Teach has his eyes set towards a nationwide expansion and his future is blazing bright with packed out locations and major social media buzz. See Instagram
Torrel Harris is immune to easy description. A former college player, he worked as an estate planner before he became an agent.
Torrel Harris recently negotiated the most significant contract in Philadelphia 76ers history with Tobias Harris signing a max contract for $180 million this past free agency period. On Saturday, October 19, Terry Harris signed with the Philadelphia 76ers (exhibit 9), and on Sunday, October 20, Tyler Harris signed to play with the Canton Charges, the Cleveland Cavs G-League team.
Wall Street Journal writer Scott Cacciola had this to say about Harris: “Torrel Harris is immune to easy description. A former college player, he worked as an estate planner before he became an agent. His first client was George Gervin, the nine-time NBA All-Star, with whom he remains close. “As young as he was, he had a lot of confidence,” Mr. Gervin said.
“Mr. Harris said he left the agent game in 1994 to start his own sports apparel line, securing licensing agreements with the NBA and the NFL for a reversible warm-up suit. Not long after that, he embarked on another important venture—teaching his son how to play basketball.”
Torrel Harris established Unique Sports Management International (USMI) in 1988, a company for NBA and international athletes. Mr. Harris is known for his unique style of managing athletes, contract negotiations, financial planning, investment strategies, counseling, brand endorsements, charity work, leadership, and marketing strategies for his clients that include Hall of Fame athletes like George “Iceman” Gervin (San Antonio Spurs), Lynette Woodard (Harlem Globetrotters and WNBA Cleveland Rockets), Cliff “Tree Top” Robertson (Philadelphia 76ers), Lewis Lloyd (Houston Rockets), (Mark Davis-Milwaukee Bucks) and many more.
Unique Sports Management International is a full service sports agency focusing primarily on athletes in the NBA . The organization is comprised of experienced and reputable sports leaders with a commitment to putting the athlete first. Unique Sports Management International’s mission is to help clients have a positive and meaningful impact on and off the court and playing fields, by addressing all aspects of the professional athletes’ development. The company seeks to empower clients so that both during, and when their professional careers are complete, they have firm financial, philanthropic and business foundations along with physical and mental health.
At the end of the year Harris is scheduled to be named Agent of the Year by the Black Sports Agents Association (BSAA).
The CEO of US Black Chambers Inc., Ron Busby, will be at Albany next week to deliver a keynote address at the Capital of New York State Black Expo, which will hold on Nov. 9 at the Albany Capital Center.
This is not Busby’s first visit to Albany; he had visited Albany on five or six previous occasions, including speaking during the legislative days hosted by State Senator James Sanders of Queens.
Busby started his first business with five employees and grew it into the largest black-owned Janitorial firm in the country with over 700 workers. Though he later sold the company and went on to develop other firms. He started the US Black Chambers Inc. in 2009; to give black business owners in Washington a platform to express themselves.
The US Black Chambers Inc. has it headquarter in Washington, D.C. – it has around 300,000 members and 145 member chambers, including The New York Black Chamber of Commerce.
Music magnate, businessman and rapper, Master P and radio host Mark Thompson wade-into numerous topic on “Fallback Friday”; a segment on “The Beat with Ari Melber” news show.
Master P joins his voice with Mark Thompson to roll drums of support and sympathy for the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. He also pushes for more black-owned businesses and the need to have a mix of persons from a diverse background in America’s board rooms. Master P, while inviting Thompson to taste popular snack, “Rap Snacks,” talks about his partnership with the company. watch video below
Collage dance Collective is a black-owned dance school that is based in Binghamton. Kelvin Thomas and Marcellus Harper own the company. The center trains about 500 children every week.
By the next year 2020, the company will move to a bigger space at Sam-cooper and Tillman. The property, which is about 22,000-square-foot unlike their present location, which is 2000-square-foot, was procured by collage dance collective. After this project is completed, College will become the largest black-owned ballet school in the south. Mr. Harper says the extra space will enable them to take in more students.
In an interview with MSNBC host, Ari Melber, Master P discloses the advice he gave to Snopp Dogg, his business collaboration with the creator of “Rap Snacks” James Lindsay, and why a black-owned business should be given the needed support. He also discusses the challenges that executives from the minority pass-through.
We also learned from the interview that Master P and James are expanding “Rap Snacks” and also working with black entrepreneurs and artists to promote financial success and educate community leaders on the need to own a stake in their contribution and culture. watch the full interview below.
The talented comedian took to social media to release a short video on his Instagram account. The video shows Steve hugging and congratulating Perry after finishing his secret shoot. You could also hear applauds from the crowd that were present at the studio.
Though he didn’t say anything about the new project in the video but the caption he placed on the video indicates that something is coming soon from the comedian. He said: “This brothers studios you have to see UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!, Just shot a special project there coming soon…… but y’all gotta go see it.”
It will be recalled that few months ago NBC had cancelled Harvey’s talk show “Steve” and also replaced him with Melissa McCarthy as the anchor of “Little Big Shots.” Despite all these, he still run his radio show and job on “Family Feud” and the Miss USA pageant. watch the short video below.
