How to Start a Charity

To establish a successful charity, you must start with a good foundation. You can take a small step towards starting a charity by learning about the basics of non-profit foundation and management.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Legal documents
• Funding
• Volunteers

Change the World With Your Charity

1. Determine what the needs are in your community. Before you start a charity, it is essential that you map out who you will be helping and how you will accomplish this. These ideas will form the basis of any grant proposals you may wish to draw up in your fund raising efforts and may be best expressed in the form of a mission statement.

2. Pick the organizational structure for your charity. You might start by soliciting the support of like-minded friends or related organizations. Most non-profit charities possess some kind of executive structure based on the legal aspects of incorporation including an president, vice president and secretary as well as other positions.

3. Comply with your state's regulations regarding charitable organizations. This may involved filing paperwork outlining the purpose of your charity as well as paying an application fee.

4. File the appropriate forms to receive an employer identification number for your charity. This will be necessary for filing taxes and is required if you plan on hiring additional staff to support your endeavor.

5. Request recognition from the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit charitable organization. Read all the information regarding the requirements of the IRS when you start a charity in the United States to confirm that your charity will comply with their regulations (see Resources below).

6. Get active in your community. Once you have completed the necessary paperwork and set in place a board of officers to oversee your charity, put your mission statement into action by organizing charitable events. The needs you choose to address in your community will guide you in your actions.

Tips & Warnings

• Enlist the support of other successful charities in your area. Remember you are all working towards a common goal of making your community a better place. Most organizations will happily offer advice and instruction along the road to forming a charity.
• Properly maintained records are at the core of a successful charity. In order to comply with state and federal regulations, enlist the support of an accountant who specializes in accounts for charities and non-profits.

Resources

• Tax information for charities from the IRS

[dkrepa]

on 10/1/2009 I would like to start a charity for the children with anxiety in the vancouver canada area, if you have any suggestions how I could raise money for the needs and privileges of children with these mental health issues which are ever so prominent in todays raging society, please email damian at, [e-mail]

[dkrepa]

on 10/1/2009 I would like to start a charity for the children with anxiety in the vancouver canada area, if you have any suggestions how I could raise money for the needs and privileges of children with these mental health issues which are ever so prominent in todays raging society, please email damian at, [e-mail]

[nfamara]

on 8/17/2009 I started a charity call National Foundation for Children in The Gambia (NFC The Gambia). I would like support, advice of any kind to ensure that all what the Foundation plans is on target. Remember together we can make it for children. For details contact [e-mail]. Thanks

[freefundraisers]

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[SWAY]

on 1/8/2009 I WOULD LIKE TO START A CHARITY FOR LUNG CANCER AWARNESS. MY MOTHER RECENTLY PASSED AT A YOUNG AGE DUE TO CANCER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.