One of the proudest moments for the founder of a dream, in the form of a 501(c)3 nonprofit, public benefit corporation, must be receiving the above letter from Charity Navigator (the respected national watchdog agency for nonprofit organizations). It was for me. Made even more special, as today, within weeks of receiving this letter, is the 23rd anniversary (the birthday) of and for the organization I dreamed up and gave life to on May 5th, 1992, immediately following the Rodney King Riots.
I founded Operation HOPE as an entrepreneur and businessman, wanting to give back, when I was 26 years old. No one took me seriously back then, and many said not so very nice things, about what we were up to. This, is vindication and confirmation, all in the same message.
A dream, made real, and now a national best practice for accountability and transparency, for all nonprofit organizations and corporations in the country. 81 cents of every dollar received at Operation HOPE, goes to the bottom line of helping to uplift and to empower people.
Okay, let's go. There's work left to do.
John Hope Bryant, Founder
Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Ventures