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Should You Start Your Own Non-Profit?

By on January 30, 2013 in Money, personal empowerment, Work

This month we’ve been talking about making a career-change from for-profit to non-profit and the strategies to make that happen. One thing we haven’t touched on however, is starting your own organization. I get a lot of emails from passionate, mission-driven women who have identified a cause and have the power and wherewithal to start their own NPOs. Is this a good idea? Depends.
First, let’s backtrack a bit and define a non-profit organization. After all, If you’re going to start one, you should have a working definition in mind.
NPO: An organization in which no owner, stockholder or trustee shares in profits and losses and which exists not to earn revenue but to promote a mission that enhances the public welfare.
Still with me? If you start a non-profit, you are not an owner, and you do not directly share in its success, monetarily speaking. This isn’t for everyone. Examine your basic motivations for work, and be certain that your personality fits the NPO challenge.
Your Abilities
The next step is to begin a needs assessment – starting with yourself. Do you have the business skills to run a non-profit? Can you communicate your vision quickly and effectively? Are you collaborative? Can you build coalitions and relationships across the community and with board, staff and volunteers? Are you an inspirational person? Do you have the sales chops to attract donors and workers? Can you manage across a broad range of responsibilities?
Your Vision
Now, spend some real time considering your vision for the NPO. What need are you meeting? If your mission VITAL to your community? Does your vision lend itself to high-quality, responsive and unduplicated programs?
Discover
Is there another non-profit in your program space? Who is your audience? Where do they live? How do they get around? How many people will need your service? What services do they currently use? What are this groups stated needs and desires?
Quantify
Talk to a group of your intended audience. Check Guidestar to see who is in your program space and who is funding it. Meet with those funders. Talk to other non-profits that are providing similar services. Interview leaders in your community. Visit with the local United Way and check out the 211 call centers. Using all the information you have gathered, do a complete SWOT analysis.
If your decision still feels viable, construct a mission and a business plan and start moving both through the community. Let us know if we can help!

6 Responses to Should You Start Your Own Non-Profit?

  1. CallyL January 31, 2013 at 3:20 pm #

    What if there is an organization in my program space but they don’t do a good job? Do I go head to head with them? Thanks again for this. You are really helping me sort through my ideas about phase 2.

    Reply
  2. Sharon February 6, 2013 at 10:39 am #

    How large should your service population be before you start an organization? I am considering starting an NPO that deals with a very rare disease. I’m not sure if there are enought people in my area.

    Reply
  3. Shelley February 8, 2013 at 3:51 pm #

    Lets talk about non profit as a female ghetto. I think non profit is a place for women doing important and hard jobs and being paid less than women in for profit. I also notice that men are paid more even for non profit jobs. Lets talk about that.

    Reply
  4. Joanna February 21, 2013 at 3:03 pm #

    I agree with Shelley. I enjoyed non-profit but I want out now. I’m tired of being unappreciated.

    Reply
  5. Peter Marchovic February 21, 2013 at 7:36 pm #

    Sorry to intrude speaking as a man. We have the same problems that you ladies do. Even men are underpaid in non-profit. I will say that I notice in groups and things that I at least seem to have more autonomy and respect from my BOD. thoughts on this fellow non-profiteers?

    Reply
  6. Ceriaxsar February 22, 2013 at 4:43 am #

    This actually answered my difficulty, thank you!

    Reply

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