Van Coney Business Strategies LLC

04/03/2026

I see questions constantly across social media and even get asked them myself about wanting to start a nonprofit business and that the potential founder doesn't like the advice they've been given so I thought I might briefly talk about this subject.

After more than three decades of nonprofit business experience I understand why people get told what they get told to start one or not.

Here is what I usually tell people who are thinking about starting one:

Look around your community and see who is doing something the same or similar to what you want to do in the nonprofit world. Find out what programs they are running. Ask, is what I want to do filling a gap that an existing organization(s) are not filing in our community that is a need?

As far as business running, it is different than a for-profit because of how revenue can come in but no less tough to run one as nonprofit is just a tax status at the end of the day. It is still a business with all of the same business needs and has to make a profit to stay in business ultimately. The big profit difference is the profit does not get distributed to owners, investors, or others it must stay in the company unlike a for-profit company.

Another thing to think about is two myths.

The first is a huge myth in the nonprofit world that donors, corporate, government and foundation funders will give a nonprofit money just because of the mission. This is not true. There is so much nonprofit business competition now than when I started that competition for funding is fierce. Donors usually give not because of mission but because they either support the person asking or want a tax write off. Corporations give because they want the marketing exposure to the nonprofits donors and the community. Foundations give because they feel the nonprofit program that is being funded will increase their (the foundation's) impact in the community. Governments give because they use nonprofits to run community based programming and services to accomplish community determined goals.

The other myth is that the nonprofit business founder is in control of the business. Also, not true. A nonprofit business is a full-blown corporation governed by a board of directors as soon as it is formed. The founder (usually also doubles as the board chair and first ED) does not have control. They only have the authority that the board as a whole delegates to them. The board is the entity legally responsible in a nonprofit for its governance, policies and ultimately the operations. The board as a whole can decide that the founder, even though they started it and put their heart and resources into it, needs to go and vote them off the board and out of ED role or any role if they want too at the end of the day within the by-laws of course.

Many times it is better to either form a for profit business that can accomplish what one wants to do and give back into the community or to volunteer with an organization that is already doing what one is thinking about as a mission.

Send a message to learn more

03/01/2026

Over the years I've found that mentors are important to have for life and business. Sometimes we find them through books or podcasts. At times we get to meet them and interact with them on a weekly basis. This photo is a few years old; however, I get to learn from each one of these mentors every week along with others. The impact for me has been life changing. My hope for you is that you find mentors who help you become who you want to be.

01/24/2026

A good portion of those of you who see this are in the path of this massive storm.
Stay Warm and Be Safe to all of you.

01/01/2026

10/15/2025

Our Maxwell DISC Method training can help your team to bond and collaborate by learning more about the team’s communication style! Learn more in this short video.

Want to join us for an in-person live training?

Next Wednesday, October 22, 2025 you can find me at the NES Co****le Lounge Williamsburg, VA where I will be facilitating a DISC Method Workshop as part of their Co****le & Professional Development Series.

Details and Registration are here: https://www.gameonva.com/event-list

10/02/2025

We are so excited to bring the Mastermind book study on Chasing Failure by Ryan Leak to you for our first fall 2025 study. The registration links are in the comments or you can scan the QR codes.

You are going to acquire the mindsets to

👉"Set yourself up" for failure
👉Build resisilience
👉Develop a winning mindset to achieve ultimate success

Have you ever thought about failure as a positive productive tool? We sure didn't until now.

This will be facilitated by Jocelyn A. Van Coney who is a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member among other credentials.

Join us starting October 15th (virtual) or October 17th (in-person) for a 6 week deep dive into, well, failure.

09/20/2025

Many things in life are hard.

You may have heard or read from others that business is hard.

There is truth to that statement.

Business is hard and so are all kinds of things like going after a dream or a goal that relates to any area of your life.

This is simply because you are human.

What is important to you and what you consider hard may be different from others you know. That is alright.

Don't ever let someone convince you that what is hard for them should be hard for you if you don't agree it is.

Be you not anyone else.

Even when you feel like you are stuck in a bottle and trying to navigate through the smaller bottle opening to move through to your next step.

That challenge is just your next step on your growth.

08/14/2025

You've heard the saying, "Start before you are ready."

It is a good thing to embody when you are running a business. "Why?" you might be asking. Truth be told most of the time you are not starting because often times the reality versus the vision in the head doesn't match.

Years ago the training pictured here was a redesigned course that didn't feel ready to go. The workbooks didn't come out exactly like envisioned and a pivot had to happen with the printer to get them in the room. The subject wasn't new but the order was and more material had been incorporated so no matter the practice it felt off. Did it get cancelled? No!

It would have been easy to listen to the voice that said, "Not yet ready!" and let those who had set aside their time down by cancelling. The emotions were falsely screaming do it, cancel it. And it was exactly that emotion untruth of why it was not cancelled.

The fun of starting before you feel ready is you get to (a) learn what works and does not work; (b) stretch your wings and realize it is not bad as your "feelings" told you it was going to be; and (c) take that step of growth for the day into who you really are born to be.

08/09/2025

New reading material has arrived from some of my favorite authors. What are you reading?
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07/25/2025

This is what everyone should be aiming for if they are building a business.

Great businesses aren’t built on products alone; they’re built on people.
Invest in your team, empower their growth, and watch your business thrive. 🤝🌱

07/25/2025

Thought for the Day!

What would happen if you let yourself stop living up to everyone's expectations of you?

Send a message to learn more