Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Four Steps towards Starting a Nonprofit

There are many articles, workshops and services that will suggest you start a nonprofit by filing Articles of Incorporation with your state and applying for 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service, but there are several key steps you should take first.
STEP ONE

In a sentence or two, formalize your reason for starting a nonprofit.

STEP TWO

In a sentence or two, describe what your nonprofit would aim to do.

STEP THREE

Imagine that your nonprofit has accomplished what it set out to do. In a sentence or two, describe what the would look like as it relates to your cause.

STEP FOUR

To launch a sustainable and impactful nonprofit requires help. You may already have volunteers who help you deliver programs and services, but your nonprofit will also needs volunteers who support you by providing support and oversight. You will need a board of directors. You need at least five people who will support your vision by give their TIME (attend meetings), TALENT (volunteer their expertise and skills), and TREASURE (donate generously to your cause).

  
Want more support in taking the steps toward starting a nonprofit?
Send an email to info@thewordwomanllc.com for a FREE copy of
Four Steps Towards Starting a Nonprofit, an exercise for future founders.

2 comments:

  1. People who want to start a non-profit are usually very passionate about the cause and the problems they want to solve. So they do jump right in with good intentions but with limited information. Thank you for breaking really important concepts down into usable, doable steps. You are providing a much needed service and you do it with such grace and compassion.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Ginny. Over the course of nearly 20 years in the nonprofit sector, I have seen many passionate people invest their heart, mind, time and treasure into a worthy cause that never fully launched or ultimately stalled because as you put it, they "jump right in". I am committed to helping as people as I can to put their passion into strategic action that allows them to achieve their goals to do good.

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