How To Start A Non-Profit With Limited Funds

Researching a name for your nonprofit can be easier than you think, with the right tools, which I have provided for you. Since the name will represent you and your company for years to come, please give it great consideration. Your brand name will be recognized by your name, as well as the logo, and the representation of your company's leaders. You should register trademarks and company logos with your Secretary of State.

Business Plan:

A business plan is a detailed plan or operating manual of how you will operate your nonprofit business. You can list your one year goal, three year goal, five year goal, ten year goal, and so on; as well as steps to achieve these goals, and how you will fund them. It is okay for them to change, for your environment will change, economic times will change, your business will grow, and your needs will continually change as you implement more programs.

Some of you are familiar with writing a business plan and some of you are not, but that is okay. I have written an example and left a PDF for you to follow as you write your own in this lesson's homework. In this lesson you will be given a template for writing your own business template. Your lesson is to write your own business plan and post it in the discussion panel.

In This lesson of Developing A Mind Map, you will learn to write down your goals and steps to achieve them, using a mind map system. Mind maps will help you create steps to implement, which may change as your business grows, your environmental and economical needs grow, and throughout time. Change means you are growing. If you did not change, you would be left in the draconian dust. While a mind map may seem like a simple tool,, it a subconscious reminder to keep you on track, and what you need to do, to achieve your goal.

In lesson 4, you will learn about the Articles of Incorporation. You will want to decide how your board will be managed, how many officers you will have and what roles they will play, and many more key aspects of running your business. Your Articles of Incorporation will be notarized and sent to your Secretary of State, for they will issue your nonprofit status.

Use the PDF Articles of Incorporation to write your own Articles of Incorporation, for your nonprofit, and this is your lesson for Lecture 4.

In lesson 5, we will discuss Bylaws. Bylaws vary according to the nature of your nonprofit business. They are considered the internal manual on how your business will operate.

We will discuss writing your Bylaws and amending your Bylaws,

Your lesson for lecture 5 is to write your own Bylaws using the example PDF I have given you.

In lesson 6, you and I will go over some important documents necessary for every nonprofit: Antidiscrimination Policy, Grievance Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, and a Document Retention and Destruction Policy. I am giving you the tools you need for a successful nonprofit.

I have enclosed example PDF"S of Conflict of Interest, Antidiscrimination Policy, Grievance Policy, and Document Retention Policy for you to write your own. This are very beneficial for your nonprofit business.

In lesson 7, Board members and Responsibilities, we will discuss the importance of choosing valued board members, who will reflect your company, in your community. Friends and family can be included as long as they do not make up 49% of your board. You might want to consider a CPA, a grant writer, an attorney, or someone from your local college, church, library, or local businesses. Board members are responsible to help fund raisers. Make sure you all agree on clear fund raising goals and work hard to achieve them, or surpass them. We will cover this and more in this lesson. Grab something to drink, sit down to carefully listen, and open your PDF's to follow along.

Board members and responsibilities are enclosed in the PF's. Please write a list of the board members you would like to include on your board and discuss in the discussion panel why you chose them.

In Lesson 8, we will go over the Business Meeting Minutes, using the template I have enclosed for you. It is fairly straight forward. You will discuss with your board old business, new business, new projects, funding and fund raisers, and any other business which needs to be recorded, and then adjourned. keeping good records for your business is key to your success.

In this lesson, your assignment is to write a mock business meeting minutes of  your proposed nonprofit, using the template I have provided for you.

Lesson 9 Nonprofit Budgets: we will discuss your nonprofit budget, which will include your income, expenses, and donations. Your budget has to be reported monthly, quarterly, and annually.

I have enclosed a proposed budget to use an example. Please write a proposed monthly budget, a quarterly budget, and an annual budget to turn in for you annual meetings.

Lesson 10 Funding:

Many businesses close within the first five years due to management issues and funding issues. I list some resources to help you have a better start. You don't have to struggle alone. With the internet and a global outreach, you now have funding resources worldwide. Networking, marketing, and aligning yourself with others will help you to succeed, and to fund raise.

I have added resources for you to find some valuable tools and resources for funding your nonprofit. Please start with Foundation Center and try it out. I believe you will find it very beneficial for your business.

Lesson 11 Networking and Marketing: In today's social media, most of you have some basic idea of the power of social media and increased business presence, it presents. If you have a business, you want a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a LinkedIn account, an Instagram account, a Pinterest account, a Reddit account, and a YouTube account, just to name a few. You will meet many of your volunteers, peers, colleagues, vendors, and business associates there, especially on LinkedIn. I used LinkedIn a lot to build my business. You can connect with me there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/connie-lee-91578622.

We will have a Facebook page for this class to post their nonprofit progress. It is a closed group to students of this class. We will utilize resources to help you grow your business. That link is https://www.facebook.com/groups/793151904154644/

Lesson 12: Filing For Your Nonprofit Tax Exempt 501 (c) 3 Status

In this lesson, we will cover the  types of business organizations, public charity vs. private charity, what nonprofit's can and cannot do, what form to file for your nonprofit tax exempt status, and when they must be filed.

I have given you some resources to help make filing for your Tax Exemption easier. Enclosed is my free money making ideas to help you cover the cost of the filing fees. http://conniesmiles51.wix.com/moneytransformations.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ZGVHnTHUQptLYaPQCYAzQ

Congratulations on completing this course and I wish you many blessings for your nonprofit! Please keep me posted on your progress at conniesmiles53@gmail.com. I will post a Facebook page for everyone to join and follow each others progress. Good luck.

Remember, to join us on the community Facebook page, where we will continue to collaborate and share resources to build your nonprofit. This is a closed group to members who purchased this course. Follow this link.