Do you have an idea for a nonprofit organization — but aren’t sure where to begin? 

To start a nonprofit, you need to have passion. 

But if passion were the only requirement, nearly one-third of nonprofits wouldn’t fail within 10 years. 

SOAR receives questions about starting a nonprofit or social enterprise at least once a week. 

Based on the volume of inquiries, we clearly observe an appetite for change. Even better, there are many of you willing to step up and help. We applaud you for desiring to become a part of this positive momentum. 

The Complete Guide to Launching and Managing a Nonprofit Organization should help answer all of the questions we receive on a regular basis. 

To overcome the odds, founders must approach nonprofit formation with curiosity, discipline, and an entrepreneurial mindset. 

SOAR created the Complete Guide to Launching and Managing a Nonprofit Organization to help you create a plan, from fundraising and advocacy to compliance and ethics. 

What will it take to help bring new non-profit ideas to Eastern Kentuckians? 

The Complete Guide to Launching and Managing a Nonprofit Organization 

A nonprofit organization exists for reasons outside of generating profit. Its purpose is to pursue a clear vision and mission that addresses an unsolved problem to benefit the broader public. In a broad sense, the solutions pursued by nonprofits may focus on:

• Improving people’s lives and well-being
• Protecting animals or the environment
• Conserving natural resources

A small nonprofit organization may focus on local, smaller-scale problems, whereas larger nonprofits may perform their work nationwide, if not internationally. For example, a local nonprofit typically offers services tailored to a very specific population, whereas a global nonprofit will have many branches and areas of work to address many different populations.

Who needs to get involved in the Complete Guide to Launching and Managing a Nonprofit Organization

Are you ready to put in the work? If you said yes, you’re off to a great start. 

Starting a nonprofit is difficult. Just as difficult as starting your own business. 

There are several opportunity costs to consider. 

Getting off the ground is not much different from the start of an entrepreneur’s journey. The viability of your idea matters. Just because you’ve identified a specific problem doesn’t mean there’s a clear or feasible path for a nonprofit organization to solve it. 

You have to perform market research, speak with the impacted communities, and prove that you can offer a valuable solution — all before you can hang your name on the office door. 

All this work will require a personal investment of your time, money, and energy. Grants won’t be immediately available in most cases. And even once you’re up and running, the grants you have your eye on are typically difficult to win. 

If you’re looking for “free” money, you’ll quickly find out that such a thing doesn’t exist. 

Once you’ve taken the time to vet your idea and ask for feedback from your stakeholders, then you’re ready to make use of this guide. 

If you haven’t done the initial legwork yet — don’t fret, we’ll show you how to get started with our guide.

Download the Complete Guide to Launching and Managing a Nonprofit Organization today

This plan walks you through every step you need to take to Launch and Manage a Nonprofit Organization today.

Passion isn’t the only requirement for starting a nonprofit. Founders need to develop and implement a well-formed plan that covers: 

• Legal, tax, and financial foundations
• Board formation, ethics, and oversight
• Grants and fundraising
• Marketing and operations
• Advocacy and Impact Storytelling

By mastering the fundamentals and learning to avoid common errors, nonprofit founders can succeed over the long term. Use this guide to access tips from expert insiders and build the charitable organization of your dreams. 

Help your nonprofit organization succeed with additional timely resources from SOAR, including: 

• The Complete Guide to Entrepreneurship In Eastern Kentucky
• The Grants 101 Playbook for Eastern Kentucky
• Getting Funded: The 2022 Manual for Writing & Winning Broadband Grants

Need help with a grant application review? SOAR can help. Our team provides complimentary feedback for charitable organizations in Eastern Kentucky.