Starting Your Own Nonprofit Organization

This course is a how-to guide for anyone who's got a great idea about how to give back to the community—but doesn't know how to turn that idea into a reality. The course begins by considering a fundamental question: Is starting a nonprofit the best way to achieve your philanthropic goals? For those who answer "Yes," the course then discusses the key steps in getting a nonprofit off the ground, including incorporating your organization; applying for tax-exempt status; drafting a business plan; choosing a board of directors and writing bylaws for the organization; recruiting employees and managing volunteers; and addressing the crucial issue of fundraising. Rich with videos and interactive content, this course provides a detailed and highly practical introduction to the fast-growing world of nonprofits. Learning Outcomes Articulate the advantages and disadvantages of starting a nonprofit organization List and describe the alternatives to a nonprofit structure Distinguish between a nonprofit organization's mission statement and its vision statement Explain the importance of a nonprofit's business plan, and list the elements that it should include Describe the different types of boards that a nonprofit may have, and the different strategies for recruiting new board members Explain the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation for nonprofits List the key steps in the incorporation process Explain the importance of an organization's formation documents and its organizational meeting List the steps involved in applying for 501 (c) (3) status Detail the actions needed to maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations Explain the process of program planning and development Explain the importance of organizational strategy, and describe the three major approaches to strategic planning List the types of records that a nonprofit is required to keep, and discuss the particular importance of IRS Form 990 Describe how compensation packages for employees of a nonprofit differ from those of employees of a for-profit corporation List the types of insurance that a nonprofit organization should have Describe the different types of fundraising efforts that a nonprofit may undertake, and explain how these can differ depending on the size of the organization