Non Profit Incorporation


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Non Profit Incorporation

Non Profit Incorporation

People often want to know how to start a non-profit organization, but in doing so they usually overlook a critical question: should they be starting a nonprofit in the first place?

What do I want to accomplish?

This is the most important question you can answer, and one you will have to deal with if you do start a non-profit, so it is worth taking the time to explore. A lot of charitable sentiment arises from the idea that “something should be done about X”. If that is as far as you have gotten, you are not ready to start a non-profit. You should research what, if anything, is already being done to address the issue in your community or elsewhere. If a true gap exists, you can try forming a coalition of interested parties to develop a strategy to address the need. If, on the other hand, your response to the question is something along the lines of "X is a need, and Y is a way to fill it,” then you are ready to take the next step. (Should you decide to start a non-profit, your response to this question can be the basis for developing vision and mission statements.)

Is a starting new nonprofit really the best way to proceed?

There are nearly 3 million non-profit organizations out there. Chances are, someone somewhere is already doing your idea. Instead of going through the time and expense to start up a new organization, and instead of competing for limited funds, you might be better off partnering with an existing non-profit. You can volunteer, become a board member, or even work for the organization. You can start a local chapter of a national effort. Or if an organization is doing something related to what you envision, you can see if there is room to grow under its umbrella. If you truly care about your mission, you will not start a non-profit as a vanity project, but because it is truly needed.