BCFO’s long-term plan targets out-of-state markets

A year and half after taking over as CEO of Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, Joe Daues and his team have geographic expansion plans in the works.

Daues said one of his goals as CEO has been to replicate the nonprofit model in other markets. BCFO helps breast cancer survivors with household financial needs, such as rent, auto repairs and utilities, as well as free mammograms and emotional support programs, according to its website.

"The need is certainly everywhere," he said this morning during Springfield Business Journal's 12 People You Need to Know live interview series.

In his research, Daues said he discovered only one similar organization to BCFO – Gateway to Hope in St. Louis – in determining a need for the expansion. He said BCFO also is working on a partnership with Gateway to Hope.

BCFO's first territory expansion is in central Florida, where nonprofit founder Mary Beth O'Reilly five years ago transitioned a relationship with a friend into an opportunity after the friend’s daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Daues said the nonprofit this year hired its first employee – Mandy Middleton as outreach director – for what's dubbed Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida.

"Recognizing it's a great time for growth, I wanted to jump on that," he said. "We're really hoping that Central Florida expands, grows and helps more people."

BCFO is examining other areas in the country to expand, Daues said.

License to operate
Before expanding, Daues said BCFO must square away its finances locally. The nonprofit runs on a nearly $1.5 million operating budget annually.

Currently key to operations are state license offices it manages. However, Daues said the fate of the five Springfield-area offices under BCFO's management is up in the air amid a delay in the state bidding process.

The contracts were set to expire late last year, he said, and BCFO reapplied for its licenses. However, he said the process has been delayed and the nonprofit has not formally been given an explanation.

"We've been on the bubble for a year now," Daues said.

He said the state has granted temporary three-month extensions throughout the last year.

"I wouldn't even say we’re in the clear for one month," he said.

SBJ previously reported the license offices as 30%-40% of the nonprofit’s total annual revenue.

Daues said during this morning's interview that BCFO has another opportunity in the works that could replace the license office revenue, though he said he's hopeful about the nonprofit's chances with the state bidding process.

He declined to disclose details of the alternative, only calling it "a big one that we've been considering for a year now."