How to Start a Nonprofit

The purpose of a nonprofit organization is to provide a service to the public that addresses a specific environmental, political or social issue. If you are looking for a career that will help improve the world, then you may want to start a non profit. These steps will show you how it's done.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Evaluate your options. There are hundreds of issues that your nonprofit organization can work with. There are children's issues, environmental issues, local social issues, national issues and international issues. Before you can start a non profit you need to focus on a specific issue.
2. Create a mission statement. Your mission statement is the backbone of your nonprofit organization. It is going to determine what your organization does, where you will be able to find money to support your organization and it will also influence who will support your organization. When drafting your mission statement include what issue you will address, how you will address it and what your ultimate goal is.
3. Research funding sources. Visit "Grants.gov" to search through all of the federal grant programs available. Identify grants that your non-profit will be able to qualify for once you start it.
4. Accumulate your start up capital. This money will be used to cover your start up legal, accounting and research costs.
5. Recruit board members. Your nonprofit is going to need a governing board. Look for people in your community who are interested in your cause and who are willing to help you with the shaping and governing of your organization.
6. Seek legal help for the incorporation of your nonprofit organization. While you can do this yourself, it is much easier to hire an attorney to draft your organization's Certificate of Incorporation.
7. Work with your board members to draft your corporate bylaws. These bylaws need to address how board members will be selected, what is required of board members and how the organization will make decisions.
8. Initiate your non profit. To officially open your nonprofit organization you need to have an organizational meeting. During this meeting you will officially elect board members, adopt governing bylaws and address other start up issues.
9. File the correct forms with the IRS to set your company up as a tax exempt organization.