This section is about start-up of non-profits, administration issues, rules and regulations, taxation information, advices and assistance, how-to's ...

Here you will learn about some of the basic things to consider before you decide to start a nonprofit, as well as resources and tools to help you through the early stages of the process. Topics include: Initial Questions, Planning, Incorporation, Charitable Status, Helpful Organizations, Articles, Online Discussions, Book Reviews, Additional Resources. http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/guides/guide4.asp

 

The practical details (in the USA) of incorporating a nonprofit and filing for tax-exempt status and a nonprofit mailing permit.
http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/FAQ/QuestionViewer/default?category-id=21&item=4&section=2&sid=63297361-11-qpWJb

Resources and advice to use at the very beginning. (US)
http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/FAQ/QuestionViewer/default?category-id=21&item=1&section=2&sid=63297361-11-qpWJb

The procedures vary from state to state. This item provides the names of three books that can help.
http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/FAQ/QuestionViewer/default?category-id=21&item=2&section=2&sid=63297361-11-qpWJb

"How do we become a nonprofit organization? Forming a Nonprofit Organization: A Checklist"
http://www.boardsource.org/Knowledge.asp?ID=3.367

Comprehensive advice and materials for anyone who is considering starting a nonprofit organization. The reader can use the free information in this Library topic, along with other Library topics that are referenced. (US and CAN)
http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm

IRS: Tax Information for Charities & Other Non-Profits
http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html

Basics of Developing Mission, Vision and Values Statements
http://www.managementhelp.org/plan_dec/str_plan/stmnts.htm#anchor519441

Template for nonprofit by-laws
http://users.aristotle.net/~nonprofit/startup/bylaws.htm

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4220.pdf

Free Basic Guide to Leadership and Supervision
This guide is basic, yet comprehensive, in nature to be useful to new managers and supervisors. Note that many organizations struggle, not from lack of advanced information -- rather, they never really master the basics. This guide will help you master the basics. Each topic includes references to Web addresses that provide additional, advanced, free information. These Web addresses are spelled out in the text of the guide. Therefore, the reader might best benefit from this guide by printing it out for continued reference.
http://www.managementhelp.org/mgmnt/prsnlmnt.htm

An Introduction to Business Planning for Nonprofits. Explanation of business planning process, importance, and how to make a successful plan.
http://www.bridgespangroup.org/PDF/IntrotoBusPlanning.pdf

Developing Your Strategic Plan
Simply put, strategic planning identifies where the organization is going over the next (typically) one to three years and how it's going to get there. The "strategic" part of this planning process is the continual attention to current changes in the organization and its environment, and how this effects the future of the organization. Skills in strategic planning are critical to the long-term success of your nonprofit.
http://www.managementhelp.org/np_progs/sp_mod/str_plan.htm

www.hrcouncil.ca/council/index_e.cfm 
The HR Council for the Voluntary/Non-profit Sector is a venue for employers and employees to identify current and emerging issues and to identify priorities for action.
Key challenges:

• Retaining staff
• Attracting young people to the sector
• Diagnosing and meeting changing skill needs

The HR Council does research and takes action on priority labour force issues; supports activities by others that are aimed at helping the sector identify and meet its changing human resources needs.

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Dmitry Buterin, Chief Apricot

Organizing a charitable organization should include a number of operational duties for the survival of the business. At a minimum, these items should include a strategic plan, case statement, articles of incorporation, budget, and set of bylaws....

http://www.labyrinthinc.com/sharedcontent/startnonprofit.asp?Page=1&subs=5

This is for US only. Anyone can recommend a good resource for starting a Canadian non-profit?
Also, this one is written by a company who offers registration services so it is focused on the registration process. I think there are many other high-level organizational issues which are much more important to resolve - before looking into registration logistics. E.g.:
- why are you doing it?
- where the money will come from?
- your board
- accounting, insurance etc.
- communications strategy

NP

Yeah, this resource is quite decent (but note that it is specific to Canada).
Good conceptual overview, a lot of useful links and resources.
They could have improved it by 1) letting people to comment and/or submit additional resources and 2) Showing when each resources was posted/updated - otherwise it is impossible to tell if it is current or totally outdated.

ApricotJam:

An Introduction to Business Planning for Nonprofits. Explanation of business planning process, importance, and how to make a successful plan.
http://www.bridgespangroup.org/PDF/IntrotoBusPlanning.pdf

 

This is good stuff.

How do poeple get their plans evaluated? I mean are there companies that would look at your plan and suggest some modifications to it? - based on their knowledge in that sector or in business planning in general...?

I'm a 22year old medical student with an ambition to create a not-for-profit organization for my hometown's local highschools; however, I am finding pitfalls in every attempt that I make. I have a bunch of questions to ask, and am looking for some advice. Firstly, I am having huge difficulties in finding volunteers that will stay committed to their positions and not just up and leave at any given moment. Also, even on the board, I find it difficult for people to do any work, so I end up handling the bulk of the workload. The organization itself has been in development for many years and we have almost everything ready to run, except for going through all the legal issues...etc. However, in a recent analysis, I've come to the conclusion that the organization cannot possibly 'run' this year given the time constraints. If I was to become incorporated, but only for the purpose of fundraising for THIS year, and having the following year be the year in which the organization 'runs' (supplying prom clothes and the prom experiences to students that cannot afford this), would this be legally appropriate? Our organization hardly has enough money to do anything we need to make things legal, let alone the startup costs necessary in running the organization and given that I'm 22 I'm far too broke to actually allocate the entire cost of the organization upon myself. If there is a way I can incorporate, focus on fundraising for the remainder of this year, and next year (hopefully by then I can find a decent and suitable staff dedicated to the cause) I can have the organization 'run'. The other HUGE problem would be that, I am a Canadian planning to run this organization in Ontario, but next year I'll be leaving for Ireland for the majority of the year- I thought that with extensive amounts of communication and a dedicated staff able to meet deadlines this would be possible, but finding this "staff" seems nearly impossible. Does anyone think this ambition can still reach fruition, or should I just call it quits until I have more financial support and better partners to work with to accomplish this goal? Thanks for the help!

Sounds ambitious :) And at the very least you're not alone - I know a lot of non-profits struggle with keeping volunteers and making the most of thin resources.

The best advice I could give ( which is admittedly a little cliche) is to decide how much you care about this cause. Because anything you do will come with obstacles but if it's something you care about, you will at least have a little more fun and energy to over come those challenges.

A book that helped me do this was  "Getting Things Done - By David Allen" it covers a lot of useful (and practical) things you can do to break big projects down into smaller and less overwhelming tasks. Another key take away from the book is the decide what exactly success is for you - after all if it's helping just one or two people then it becomes a lot more manageable and satisfying than an ambiguous one  .

 

Good luck!

 

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Frank | www.twitter.com/fresh_apricot
Wild Apricot: Member Management Magic