The document provides guidance for starting a nonprofit organization to provide grief support for children. It outlines the necessary steps, including incorporating as a 501(c)(3), establishing a board of directors, developing programming, marketing, fundraising, and engaging volunteers. Key recommendations are to stick to your values, cultivate relationships with various experts for guidance, and keep records of finances and activities. Flexibility and learning from all experiences, including failures, are also advised for success.

1. START A NON-PROFIT WHO ME? YES YOU ! Mary Willhite, L.S.W. Kathy Stellato, R.N. Cleveland, Ohio

2. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step . Lao-Tsu

3. Joel’s Place provides grief support for school-aged children who have experienced the death of someone special in their lives.

4. Learning Objectives 1. List the steps necessary to establish a start-up 2. Discuss how to locate the right people to help you achieve your goal 3. Identify activities that are important to implement the program and assure success.

5. What are the three things you need to begin a start-up? Mary’s List Kathy’s List Perseverance Need Leave no stone unturned Passion Money Money

6. Milestones Began our groups in September, 2003 Incorporated, July, 2004 501 (c) (3), March, 2005 First Board Meeting, December, 2005 First Annual Butterfly Release, July, 2006 First Fundraiser, September, 2007

7. Ask, Believe, Receive People We’ve Needed Consultant (LPCC) Organizational Development Person Accountant Lawyer Insurance Agent and Insurance Expert Someone Who Knows How to Get the Word Out! Someone Who Knows How to Bring Money In!

8. Do Stick to YOUR values Develop a web site Cultivate a thick skin Choose board members wisely Keep a journal

9. Don’t Expect to be lucky Rely on friends and/or family We learned from anything we did. Even disappointments and failures were a learning experience!

10. Things You Have to Have! P.O.Box is a “minimum requirement" (if you don’t have an office address) Checking account for the organization Way to keep track of expenses Stationery with letterhead Business cards F l e x i b i l i t y

11. AREAS OF AN ORGANIZATION’S DEVELOPMENT Programming Marketing Governance Fund Development

12. Programming Most important!!!! What ideas do you have for encouraging or maintaining attendance? How do you find families? Policies, Procedures, Training Manual Client data collection

13. Marketing www.joelsplaceforchildren.org Branding logo brochure program flyers Committee “ Be a Marketing Ambassador”

14. Governance Board Members How many board members do you need? How do you find board members? What do you look for in a board member? Board Meetings Annual Retreat Insurance

15. Fund Development Where to look for funding? “ If you don’t give people a chance to say no, they can‘t say yes.” Give people an opportunity to fulfill their need to give.

16. Volunteers Where do you find volunteers? How do you keep them? Volunteer Coordinator?

17. What Do Volunteers Want? They want you to be prepared for them. They want to feel welcomed. They want good training. They want to do interesting work. They want to know up front how much time the job will take.

18. What Do Volunteers Want? (Cont’d) They want to be appreciated. They want to be communicated with. They want to know they are helping to make the world a better place. They want to be socially connected. They want to learn something new. About .com

19. Our Families, May 2009

20. Thank You! Joel’s Place for Children