How to Start a Nonprofit: Hard, Rewarding Work By Ericka Foster with reporting by Maggie Allen It’s not unusual for those who have turned their lives around to want to help others. For some, part of the recovery process is to pay it forward. One way to pay it forward is to start a nonprofit. A nonprofit is sometimes referred to as a 501(c)(3) most non-profits fall into that tax-exempt category. Visit the IRS web page and consult with a tax professional on the ins and outs of the non-profit tax status. As with ANY self-employment endeavor, start by being passionate about the idea. Passion is required because it is hard work to create a successful non-profit. “I would caution everyone that it’s not going to be easy. It’s not, but the payoff is so big if you remain resilient,” explained Tia Ryans (pictured left) in a previous interview. Tia created F.O.R.T.E. House, a transitional housing non-profit. “I wish someone would have told me about how unbalanced my life would become and then give me some helpful tips on how to bring back that balance. You don't realize how much time is spent on different activities, and how many hats you actually have to wear,” explains Porche Proffit, the co-founder of our organization, Positive Transitioning. “It's a really interesting learning process since you are wearing so many at times completely different hats. That's what makes focusing on your time distribution so important, making sure that you are spending time on responsibilities that are more challenging, and not spending all your time on the responsibilities and tasks that are enjoyable.” Once you have found your passion, you need to create a plan – a business plan. Huh? But it’s a nonprofit. The best nonprofits run like businesses. Furthermore, answering the questions that are required to complete a business plan are the same questions that you should be answering to make a nonprofit successful. Your business plan will help you figure out what makes you stand out from other nonprofits, how you will finance your nonprofit, and how you expect your nonprofit to grow. Having a direction for your organization will help you predict the time and effort required to get your nonprofit off the ground. You can find a business plan template online.
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