So, you’re wondering if you should start a nonprofit. Well, you’re not alone, because that thought crosses quite a few minds. Currently, there are approximately 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States, and more and more are being added on a daily basis.
No matter what your background or expertise is, you may have a strategic vision for how to serve the people and communities you’re passionate about. Maybe you feel launching a nonprofit is part of your calling. In either case — as much as the world needs the good you have to offer — starting a nonprofit is a serious decision. There are a number of crucial steps you’ll need to take to make sure you can effectively execute your vision, acting on your mission to do good in the world.
Curious if you should start a nonprofit, and what steps you’ll need to take to make it happen? Here are some points to consider along the way.
Make sure there’s a need
Five years ago, Pierre started a nonprofit organization named after both of his grandmothers, who he had watched feed the hungry in his Washington DC neighborhood. Because of those seeds that were planted in Pierre from childhood, he now feeds over 200 homeless per week on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles, CA. Not only does Pierre and his organization offer these underserved individuals food, but they also pray with them and give away necessities like clothes and hygiene kits.
Pierre was fortunate because he knew there was an unmet need in his neighborhood. But community needs can change as rapidly as the cultural landscape, as we’re seeing before our eyes right now. Before you act on your own, personal passion, it could be beneficial to work with a nonprofit consultant, who can help you pinpoint the exact needs in this current moment, predict the needs of the near and distant future, and help you develop a strategic vision for meeting them.
Remember: Your goal is to align your passion with the needs of the world around you. A nonprofit consultant can help you make that happen, so you can use your time and resources as effectively as possible.
Make sure you have support
Identifying your dream and vision — who you will serve and how you’ll do it — are vital preliminary steps to launching a successful nonprofit. But starting a nonprofit organization requires more than just a great idea. You’ll also need professional support to bring that idea to life.
Why is support so important? There are a lot of unforeseen nuts and bolts involved in building a successful nonprofit. We always teach our clients that a nonprofit is a business. In order to build a successful nonprofit you have to treat it just like any other business. For example, you’ll need to make sure you have the funding to start the nonprofit, and to make sure you have your state and federal paperwork filed correctly. You’ll also need someone to manage your nonprofit, beyond volunteers.
Think of it this way: If you’re not a mechanic, you probably wouldn’t try to repair your engine in your car. The same is true for correctly setting up your nonprofit. You want to use a professional consultant who specializes in nonprofit start-ups.
Don’t let disqualification stop you
While launching an effective nonprofit startup takes a lot of professional support, don’t disqualify yourself from meeting an important need in the world simply because you don’t have the right “experience.” That’s what nonprofit consultants like Favour Consulting Group are here for: to equip you with the tools to bring your vision to life, and ultimately, to empower you to do good in the world.
Tonda, who became a teen mother and was on welfare, didn’t let that stand between her and her dream. Today, Tonda is a Certified Life Coach, and in 2019, she graduated from law school. Tonda is now working with Favour Consulting Group to launch her nonprofit organization for Teen Moms and Young Women to encourage, inspire and empower them to achieve their goals through mentoring programs, resources, events and more.
Nonprofit leaders like Pierre and Tonda are successful because they focused on what matters most — the people they were called to serve — and delegated the details to an experienced nonprofit consultant.
Do you have an idea for a nonprofit organization? Contact Favour Consulting Group today.
