Gloria Lawrence

My Story

At the age of 17, I already had a year of college under my belt and had achieved admission to a highly selective university in DC. I excelled academically during my freshman year, but encountered a setback when my FAFSA application, based on my families' financial information, was audited midway through the semester.

This led to me being denied financial aid, leaving me with a significant collection on my credit report, as I attended an expensive private university. Following my expulsion, I became pregnant, and by 19 I was a teenage mother living in poverty, trying to find my first apartment, surviving on SNAP and WIC, and struggling to find educational opportunities without financial aid. Determined to improve opportunities for my baby, Aaron, I took on two full-time jobs, saving $20,000, part of which I used to repair my credit and the rest for financial advisory services.

However, my trust was exploited by a financial advisor who scammed me out of over $30,000 in total, leaving me in a dire situation. Despite the scam, I persevered, took legal action, reclaimed my funds, and used them to purchase a home in a safe neighborhood for my son. I was given a 2nd chance by a local community college and then went on to pursue my bachelors degree in business administration at Morgan State University, while also seeking ways to assist girls facing similar challenges.

With guidance from my mentor, who founded CRAM Inc., a nonprofit for supporting ex-offenders and housing veterans, I founded my own nonprofit. My first project was a grant-funded joint venture with my mentor, offering free financial literacy classes and stipends to help individuals regain their footing. My mentor also conducted in-person nonprofit and funding development startup classes, and simply by my presence and involvement, I naturally evolved into a teacher herself. These in-person teachings transitioned to a Facebook group, which gained traction during COVID-19. While my mentor became busier with the release of minor offenders due to the pandemic, I independently expanded my offerings based on the group's growing interest. This gave rise to my consulting business, Nonprofit For Newbies, which experienced rapid success. Within six months I was able to leave my job, and notably achieve six-figure earnings in 2022.

“To whom much is given, much will be required” Luke 12:48

With my consulting business thriving, I am giving back to my community through my latest project, Esi’s House of Hope, a dream she has nurtured for five years.