Starting a Nonprofit? These Tips and Resources Can Help
Image via Unsplash
Starting a Nonprofit? These Tips and Resources Can Help
For those who are passionate about changing the world and making our communities better places to live, nonprofit work is the perfect solution. And while there are approximately 1.6 million existing nonprofit organizations in the U.S., there’s always room for more. From education and healthcare to social services and international aid, nonprofit professionals can work in a variety of career fields to tackle major issues affecting people, the environment, animals, and our communities.
With the following tips and resources, you’ll learn how to start a successful nonprofit organization of your own and get one step closer to making a positive difference in your community. Now let’s dive in!
Learning Resources for Nonprofit Leaders
To become the best nonprofit leader you can possibly be, you may wish to further your education before launching your nonprofit organization.
- Use free online resources to learn as much as you can about social trends, marketing, fundraising, and technology.
- Learning about information technology will help you to lead your team, improve your business skills, and protect your organization’s tech devices from costly (and embarrassing) security threats.
- Join Facebook groups for nonprofit professionals to connect with and support other leaders in the nonprofit sector.
Nonprofit Startup Tips
Are you ready to launch your nonprofit organization? These tips will help to get your nonprofit off the ground.
- Work with The Virtual Consulting Firm for virtual consulting services like sales, marketing, and web design.
- Compare the different types of nonprofit organizations. These include charitable organizations, labor unions, chambers of commerce, recreational clubs, and childcare organizations.
- Gather everything you need to write your mission statement, assemble your Board of Directors, incorporate your organization, and apply for tax-exempt status.
- Look for funding opportunities. Several available options include government and foundation grants and funding from individual donors.
- Before hiring workers, make sure you’ve thought about employee benefits, sick leave, payroll taxes, annual salaries, and insurance.
Nonprofit Management and Compliance
Once you’ve launched your nonprofit organization, these resources will help you to manage your team and comply with IRS requirements.
- Take some time to understand nonprofit governance, risk, and compliance (also known as GRC).
- Keep good records and stay on top of all financial statements, tax returns, and board meeting minutes.
- To successfully manage and lead your nonprofit, be sure to set short- and long-term goals, collaborate with other community organizations, and share your impact stories with donors.
If you’re passionate about using your business skills and experiences to make a positive difference in the world, it may be time to launch your own nonprofit organization. These tips and resources will help you to further your education, launch your organization, and effectively manage your nonprofit — regardless of any challenges and obstacles that may arise along the way.
This article was written by a guest writer, Vanessa Holwell.
Vanessa Holwell and her husband, Rick, created HiringSquad.net after losing their jobs during the financial crisis in 2008. The site is designed to be a forum for people to share advice on how to get hired, provide job search resources, and give you the tools you need to get the job you want.
Leave a Reply