Think you're ready to scale your project into an organization? This information will teach you how to establish a plan and purpose for your organization, and show you the steps to create a plan. Here are some starters to get your project off the ground and running!

Starting a Not-for-Profit Organization

1. Are you crazy? Why in the world would you want to do that?! There should be a darn good answer to this question. (Hint: it will look great on my resume is a terrible reason to start something.)
2. Do a competitive analysis. Find out what other organizations are in your space. Are they doing something similar—but could just use a tweak? Maybe helping them grow makes more sense than starting something new.
3. Have a goal. Think about the problem you’re trying to solve and use that to help write your statement. Break it down to one sentence and have a number in it. How else will you measure the impact you want to have on that problem?
4. Establish your Board of Directors. Consult the lawyers in the state where you’re founding and find out the minimum requirement for your board. The board votes on major decisions and actions.
5. Do your paperwork. Decide how you want to file (501c 3, etc). This makes you tax exempt from the IRS and they will recognize you as a legal entity.
6. Develop your bi-laws with your lawyers. This is a legal document that tells what the purpose of your organization is, the structure of your board of directors, and other important information about your organization.
7. Build clear and clean financial infrastructure.Keep track of all the money you spend or take in, and develop an annual budget with your board.
8. Create promotional material. This includes a logo, trademarks, and taglines. Think about getting a graphic designer, who is willing to donate their expertise. If you’re talented enough you can develop your own logo.
9. Get your name out there. Get your board together to organize volunteers or any staff that is working for free to organize events, and raise awareness for your organization and collect funds while you’re at it.
10. Do some initial fundraising. Get your board to contribute. When they sign on as a board member and commit to a year, decide how much that’s going to be. Scale the contributions by how much you anticipate spending that year.
11. Look for support in your community. Host events locally and invite community members. Do some grass-roots campaigning by promoting yourself as a new organization looking for community support.