Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Social exclusion, poverty, and substantial levels of inequalities for Individuals in society that may not have equal access to economic opportunities (e.g.: employment), or resources. These problems prevent individuals from contributing to the economic and social life of their communities and results in underutilized resources for economic activities.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
How to Build a Growing and Profitable Business
WIBO conducts workshops in fall and spring of each year in seven locations: Midtown (two sessions), Harlem, downtown Brooklyn, central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and St. Albans, Queens. At each of these locations, we offer two 16-week terms annually, for a total of 256 class sessions, serving approximately 500 participants annually. We also provide follow-up services to graduates after completion of the workshop.
16-week workshop /continuing business education
16-week workshop, "How to Build a Growing Profitable Business"
The Gutenstein Family Foundation Entrepreneurial Reentry Program
We teach entrepreneurial skills to formerly incarcerated individuals with a focus on them starting a sustainable business.
Connect with Success Business seminars/Online directory
Connect with Success Business Seminars/online directory
Business Advisory/Networking/Outreach
Business Advisory/Networking/Outreach
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
WIBO’s goal is to create balanced and sustainable economic growth, jobs, a positive sense of ‘place’ and improved quality of life in the communities:
1) Provide an alternate route to gainful employment for economically disadvantaged individuals through the establishment of
sustainable businesses as a highly relevant source of income for families with low socioeconomic status.
2) Spur economic growth and enhance social inclusion, particularly among women entrepreneurs.
3) Reduce recidivism and help change an individual’s position in society and create positive role models.
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What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
WIBO enacts socio-economic strategies designed to advance small business and economic development interests in disadvantaged communities; The organization adopts a grassroots approach to the under-served population via strategic community partnership with state & federal agencies, and community stakeholders as well as increasing awareness through ongoing PR, social media, and community
involvement.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Strong leadership, for over 50 years, WIBO’s signature 16-week curriculum is delivered using best practices in adult participatory learning, tailored to the needs of start-up entrepreneurs with limited educational backgrounds. Taught by volunteer business professionals and experienced entrepreneurs, WIBO provides hands-on training in the basic concepts, tools, and skills needed to plan for and run a successful business. Students comment on their experience in WIBO as one that equipped them with heightened skills, networking opportunities, confidence, and an appreciation for their community.
WIBO has received many recognitions for the outstanding opportunities the program provides. Our economic growth organizations have all identified the WIBO program as a positive, impactful program that addresses a need in their communities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As of 2018, WIBO has graduated more than 18,000 people that have created more than 34,000 jobs across the country. The WIBO 16-week workshop is taught by our Affiliates in 4 other U.S. cities.
WIBO provides additional resources, connection opportunities, and unique learning experiences to our alumni. We have a vibrant alumni community that continues to carry the values of the WIBO program with them as they venture forward.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
We are implementing additional training for our volunteers as a few volunteers were practicing habits that were counterproductive to how we facilitate our workshops.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Workshop in Business Opportunities, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 12/03/2021
Mike Blumenfeld
Myron L. Blumenfeld & Associates
Term: 2014 - 2020
Dan Hoffman
M5 Networks
Term: 2014 - 2020
Mike Blumenfeld
Myron L. Blumenfeld & Associates
Dan Hoffman
M5 Networks
Andy Dillow
The Intern Group
Tatiana Nikitini
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/04/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.