This document provides an overview and instructions for starting a successful nonprofit organization. It discusses defining nonprofits, conducting a needs assessment, developing a mission statement and branding. It also covers creating a business plan, policies and procedures, legal filings, fundraising strategies, board development, using social media and connecting with other organizations in the community. The instructor has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and guides students through each step of launching a nonprofit.

1. How to Start a
Non-Profit…
That Matters!

2. Week One
Defining Non-Profits
Researching Your Vision
Conducting a Needs Assessment
Writing a Mission Statement
Branding

3. About Me
 I have been involved in the non-profit world
for over 20 years; starting three successful
organizations in the aging and health care
fields.
 I’ve raised over $10,000,000 and served
thousands of people.
 I currently serve on the Board of Directors of
three non-profit organizations.
 I love the non-profit world and you will too!

4. Our Classroom
Please turn off other technology and try to minimize distractions.
This course moves quickly and we cover a lot of ground!
Feel free to type in questions as we go through the material.
View the material in full-screen mode.
While each course is 90 minutes long, there will be time each
week to answer questions and talk.
Feel free to email me throughout the week if you get stuck or
need some encouragement.
AskMeg@likefinewine.net

5. What Is a Non-Profit?
 NPO: An organization in which no owner,
stockholder or trustee shares in profits and
losses and which exists not to earn
revenue but to promote a mission that
enhances the public welfare. These
organizations are usually eligible for tax-
exempt status and can receive tax-
deductible contributions.

7. Four Characteristics
 Mission
 Ownership
 Control
 Accountability

8. Your Vision, Your Abilities
 What need are you  Do you have the
meeting? business skills to run a
 Is your mission vital to non-profit?
YOUR community?  Are you creative,
 Does your vision lend passionate and
itself to high quality, persistent?
responsive and Collaborative? Driven?
unduplicated  Can you inspire others?
programs?  Can you communicate
 Will you have your vision quickly and
adequate facilities? effectively?

9. Conducting a Needs
Assessment
Discover Quantify
 Is there another non-profit in  Talk to a sample group of
your program space? your intended audience.
 Who is your audience?  Talk to other non-profits that
Where do they live? How do are providing similar services.
they get around? How many  Guidestar
people will need your  211 Call Centers
service?
 Interview leaders in your
 What services do they community.
currently use?
 Search the web.
 What are this group’s stated
needs and desires?  Use a SWOT analysis.

10. Writing Your Mission Statement

11. 1. What is a mission statement?
2. Why is a mission statement
important?
3. Constructing a mission
statement.
4. Using your mission statement.

12.  Witha written
mission statement
BRAND! and a completed
needs assessment,
your name and
brand should be
coming into focus.
Brainstorm.

13. Color. Text only or brand mark? What do you
want to convey? Fun? Trust? Caring?
Using a designer? Logo software?

14.  Conduct your needs assessment
 Begin to refine your mission statement
 Brainstorm about your name and brand

15.  Howto write a mission statement
 Sample needs assessment
 SWOT analysis

16. How to Start a
Non-Profit…
That Matters!

17. Week Two
The Business Plan
By-Laws
Policies and Procedures
Overview of Legal Filings

18. Our Classroom
Please turn off other technology and try to minimize distractions.
This course moves quickly and we cover a lot of ground!
Feel free to type in questions as we go through the material.
View the material in full-screen mode.
While each course is 90 minutes long, there will be time each
week to answer questions and talk.
Feel free to email me throughout the week if you get stuck or
need some encouragement.
AskMeg@likefinewine.net

19. Business Plans
The Executive Summary
Products and Services
Strategy
Operations
Financials
Budget with Revenue Projections

20. The Executive Summary
 Thisexplains very concisely and clearly
what the business does or will do.
 Include your mission statement, a
description of the Board of Directors,
types and numbers of employees
needed, location of where services will be
provided, a description of those services,
your funding sources and a summary of
the market research you have
conducted.

21. Products and services
 What products or services will be
provided?
 Who is the market?
 What differentiates your services from
existing services?
 What problems do your services address?
 What are your objectives?

22. Strategy
 Include the results of your needs analysis.
 Explain the documented need for your
service and/or a new need you will address.
 Who else provides this service or a similar
one?
 Who are your clients? Where are they? How
many are there?
 How will you market your services to this
population?

23. Organization and
Management
 How will you organize?
 Create an organizational chart.
 Develop and include staff profiles for the
major players.

24. Marketing Strategies
 How do you plan to communicate with
your target audience?
 Include an advertising or PR plan.
 Include a social networking plan.

25. Financials
 Where will you get your start-up funding?
 Will you be a membership organization?
 Include research you have done on
grants and special events. Include
fundraising goals.
 Prepare an annual budget showing
revenues and expenses.

26. Why?
 You will need your business plan to show
to donors and foundations that may fund
you, to potential board members, and to
key volunteers and employees.
 The business plan is your compass.
 Your business plan is a living document
that will grow and change with the
organization.

27. Policies and Procedures
Bylaws Policies
 Seesample by-  Conflict
of Interest
laws in the  Compensation
handouts section.  Board Roles and
Responsibilities

28. Legal Filings
State Incorporation
Federal Tax Exemption
Local Operational Filings
Fundraising Filings- State by
State

29. Begin policies and procedures notebook
Do your legal filings

30.  Sample policies and procedures forms
 Sample by-laws

31. How to Start a
Non-Profit…
That Matters!

32. Week Three
Developing a Fundraising
Plan
Sources of Funding
Special Events

34. The Fundraising Plan
 Develop your goals!
 How much money do you need to raise?
 What will you use the money for?
Overhead, salaries, programs, capital
projects, emergency fund?
 Develop a plan for EACH goal!

35. Fundraising Plan - Costs
 Estimate your cost of fundraising.
 Your total cost of fundraising should not
exceed 23% of your overall operating
budget.
 Consider postage, website, special event
costs, cost of staff and cost of facilities
used.

36. Fundraising Plan - Timelines
 Develop a timeline for your fundraising
plan.
 Fill in a one year calendar with specific
activities.
 Then develop timelines for each activity.

37. Fundraising Plan – Funding
Sources
 Can you leverage current sources of
income?
 Who are the audiences you aren’t
tapping?
 Should you return to the “well” or try for
mass appeal?
 Grants?
 Can you develop a product or service
that will bring in earned income?

38. Fundraising - Evaluation
 Evaluate your plan every three months.
How will you evaluate your efforts?
 Money raised?
 New donors?
 Publicity?
 What were your success? Where did you
miss? What should you change, drop or
add?

40. Sources of Funding
 Grants –  Service recipients
Foundationcenter.org  Family and friends
 Local  Special Events
businesses/corporate  Non-profit coalitions
presences
 Community Marketing
 Community
Foundations
 Cooperative ventures
with established non-
profits

41. Be:
A heartfelt connector
A beneficiary builder
A member motivator

43. Special Events
 Galas
 Runs and Walks
 Golf Events
 Product Sales
 Individual House Events
 Fashion Shows
 Restaurant Nights/Happy Hours

44. Week Four
In the Community
Board Development
Social Media
Connecting with other
organization

45. Board Development
 Founding Board Members Matter!
Consider the skills you will need as a start-
up:
1. Financial
2. Technical
3. Marketing
4. Legal
5. Social Service

46. Board Development
 No less then 3, No more than 15 members
 Stagger terms to ensure fresh talent and
ideas
 Develop board member roles and
responsibilities, be sure that roles are clear
 E.g. – Board sets policy, staff implements
 Board hires Executive Director, ED hires staff

48. Social Media
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Stumble Upon
 You Tube
 Pinterest
 LinkedIn

49. Sign-up for at least one social media site
Develop your daily social media plan
Begin Board Matrix

50.  Sample board matrix

51. The Take-Away
Our course has given you the tools you
need to begin your journey. With a refined
vision, policies and procedures in place, a
fundraising strategy and board in place,
you are ready to serve.
Next steps: Developing programs and
additional revenue streams and next level
strategies.

52. Call or Email!
 Call me or email me if you get stuck.
You won’t find this to be an easy road, but I
promise you it will be a fulfilling one!
AskMeg@likefinewine.net