Today we’d like to introduce you to Charise Liburd.
Hi Charise, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I think about my story, it really starts when I was a teenager. I always knew I wanted to be in business for myself one day, even if I did not yet know what that would look like. At different points, I imagined owning a medical practice or building something that allowed me independence and impact. That entrepreneurial spirit was always there.
Life took some turns along the way. Due to burnout, I dropped out of college in my sophomore year, got married at 19, had 3 children, and later found myself divorced at the young age of 25, raising my children primarily on my own. Like many people in that season, stability mattered. I worked, I showed up, and I built a strong career. Along the way, entrepreneurship never fully left me. I sold Avon and Amway, did consulting work, and even helped run a trucking and logistics business with my former husband. Business was always around me and in me.
Professionally, I spent many years working with nonprofits and government. I started my nonprofit career at the Heart of Florida United Way and later spent ten years with Orange County Government as a funder. In that role, I trained organizations on how to apply for funding and helped design processes meant to support them. But what I kept seeing troubled me. Even organizations that received funding often struggled to sustain it. They were overwhelmed by compliance requirements, reporting expectations, and the operational demands that come with public funding.
I watched passionate leaders burn out. I watched organizations lose funding not because they lacked heart or impact, but because they lacked systems. I also experienced this personally earlier in my career while working in program management. I saw a strong youth program shut down when funding ran out, and I saw firsthand what that meant for the children who relied on that support. That moment stayed with me.
In 2021, I made the decision to leave my government role and step fully into entrepreneurship. I founded The 297 Group to fill a gap I knew existed. Not just helping organizations get funding, but helping them build the structure needed to keep it. My work focuses on systems, compliance, operations, and impact reporting so organizations can grow sustainably instead of constantly reacting.
Today, I work primarily with government-funded nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. I help them move from chaos to clarity by building the backbone their work needs to thrive. Over the years, I have helped organizations secure and sustain millions of dollars in funding, pass audits and monitoring visits, and operate with more confidence and less stress.
Looking back, the journey makes sense. Every role, every challenge, and every season prepared me for the work I do now. At this stage of my life, I see entrepreneurship not just as a career, but as a calling. I am building something meaningful, not only for my clients and communities, but for my children, my grandchildren, and the legacy I hope to leave behind.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and I think that is true for most entrepreneurs, even when it looks smooth from the outside.
One of the hardest parts was leaving the security of a steady paycheck. I had spent years building a solid career, and walking away from that kind of stability required a major mindset shift. When you work for yourself, you quickly learn that if you do not show up, the work does not happen, and the income does not come. That responsibility can feel heavy, especially in the early years.
Another challenge was learning to navigate the natural ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Early on, I secured a large multi year contract that gave me a sense of momentum and security. When that contract later ended due to changes outside of my control, I had to face the reality that no contract or client is guaranteed forever. That experience taught me how important resilience and diversification really are.
I also had to learn my own value. In the beginning, I undercharged for my services and poured far more into client work than I should have. I came from a background where service and helping others were emphasized, so advocating for my worth did not come naturally at first. Over time, I learned that honoring my value was not about ego. It was about sustainability and being able to serve well without burning out.
There were moments when I questioned whether continuing was the right decision. Last year in particular was a difficult season that required me to walk away from contracts that were no longer aligned, even though doing so affected my income. That was not easy, but it strengthened my sense of clarity and boundaries.
Perhaps one of the biggest internal struggles was comparison. Watching others in similar spaces on social media made it easy to doubt myself. When I stopped comparing my journey to someone else’s highlight reel and focused on what I uniquely bring to the table, everything shifted.
Those challenges shaped me. They taught me resilience, confidence, and trust in my own path. Looking back, I would not remove the struggles. They gave me the depth, perspective, and steadiness I now bring to my work and leadership.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The 297 Group exists to help organizations build what I often call their backbone.
At its core, my business helps nonprofits, government-funded organizations, and mission-driven businesses move from overwhelm to clarity. Many of the leaders I work with are passionate and deeply committed to their communities, but they are stretched thin by compliance requirements, reporting deadlines, audits, and operational demands. I help them put the right systems, processes, and accountability structures in place so their work is sustainable, and their mission can thrive. I do this through a structured approach I call Logic in Motion, which helps organizations clarify where they are, build what is missing, and operate with confidence as they grow.
What I specialize in is the space most people overlook. Not just how to get funding, but how to keep it. That includes compliance, operational systems, impact measurement, reporting, policies, procedures, and staff workflows. I help organizations align what they say they do with what they actually do, and then document it in a way funders and regulators understand.
What sets The 297 Group apart is my background. I have spent years on the funder side of the table as well as inside nonprofit and government spaces. I understand how funders think, what they look for, and where organizations tend to struggle after the funding is awarded. That dual perspective allows me to bridge the gap between mission and compliance in a way that feels practical and supportive rather than overwhelming.
I am most proud of the trust my brand represents. Clients come to me not just for advice, but for clarity and steadiness during high pressure moments. Whether it is preparing for an audit, responding to a monitoring visit, building internal systems, or strengthening reporting, my role is to help leaders feel confident instead of fearful.
What I want readers to know is that my work is about sustainability and dignity. Strong organizations create strong communities. When systems are in place behind the scenes, leaders can focus on serving people instead of constantly putting out fires. My goal is to help organizations do good work and do it well, for the long term.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to understand that entrepreneurship is not a sprint. It is a long term journey, and that perspective changes everything.
When I was starting out, I spent too much time looking at other people’s success and wondering if I was behind. Social media can make it seem like everyone else figured it out overnight, but what you do not see is the years of trial, mistakes, and quiet perseverance behind those moments. I wish I had known sooner that comparison will steal your confidence faster than almost anything else.
I would also tell people to value structure early. Passion and talent will only carry you so far. Systems, boundaries, and clear processes are what help you sustain growth. You do not need everything figured out at the beginning, but you do need to be intentional about how you build.
Another lesson I learned the hard way is to know your worth. In the beginning, it is easy to undercharge, overdeliver, and say yes to everything. While that may feel necessary at first, it is not sustainable. Honoring your value allows you to show up better and serve more effectively.
Finally, build community with people who understand the journey. The support system that carried you before entrepreneurship may not be the same one that sustains you through it. Surround yourself with other business owners, mentors, and peers who can offer perspective, encouragement, and accountability.
Most importantly, do not quit when things get hard. Hard seasons do not mean you are failing. They often mean you are growing. If you stay committed, stay teachable, and stay grounded in why you started, the journey will shape you in ways you cannot yet imagine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.the297group.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the297group
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the297group
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chariseliburd/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@The297Group
