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Nonprofit Management: Establishing a Nonprofit Organization

In thinking about starting a nonprofit, you must first ask, “What is a nonprofit organization?” Some refer to nonprofits as charities or community-based organizations. Others refer to nonprofits by their discipline such as “the arts” or “human service organizations.” The best way to define a nonprofit is to think of it in terms of its mission. A nonprofit is different from a business in that its bottom line is driven by achieving its mission, not profit. Simply, it is people coming together to solve problems and enrich their communities

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection
To Be or Not To Be a 501(c)(3) Checklist
http://files.ctctcdn.com/24295e59001/72c7edca-0d97-4cb2-9454-664de5b01c56.pdf








eLibrary Collection





  Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church. Joy Skjegstad. The book outlines the step-by-step procedures for setting up a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization connected to a congregation using simple, easy-to-understandterminology and plenty of examples from churches that have already taken on this task.


 

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General: Starting a Business

Starting a for-profit business you can enjoy being your own boss, setting your own schedule, and making a living at something you enjoy doing. While Community Development Works focuses on resources and tools for nonprofit organizations, some information and some training sessions can be useful to for-profit businesses.Increasinglyimportant are efforts around collective impact and collaboration in building better communities. It is important that for-profit busineses and nonprofits have a better understanding of each other.
If you need assistance in establishing your business or taking an existing business to the next level. Contact these local organizations regarding available resources and trainings:

Small Business Development Center at Northwestern State University
NSU Small Business Development Center – Alexandria
3600 Jackson Street Ext.
Suite 114C
Alexandria, LA 71303
Phone: 318-484-2123
http://sbdc.nsula.edu

CLEADA (BAS)
P.O. Box 465
Alexandria, LA 71309
Phone: (318) 441-3400
Fax:(318) 442-6734
General Inquiries: info@cenla.org
http://www.centrallouisiana.org/index.php

Central Louiaiana Business Incubator
1501 Wimbledon Boulevard
Alexandria, LA 71301
Phone: (318) 561-2299
http://www.clbi.org
 

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Funding Research: Definitions and Clarifications

You start a business for the financial benefit of the owner and/or shareholders. Businesses pay taxes on any profit. A nonprofit is started to benefit the community, for the community good. A nonprofit pays no taxes. Profit of the nonprofit must be used for the the fulfillment of the mission for which the organization was formed. When a for-profit goes out of business its assets can be liquidated and divided among the owner and/or shareholders. When a nonprofit goes out of business its assets must be given to another nonprofit. A nonprofit is board controlled; it cannot be owned by an individual. A business can be owned by an individual.
 

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Funding Resources: Foundations

Finding grants for your nonprofit begins with prospect research. You must find funders whose interest(s) match your organization's mission, program, target audience, and geographic focus. There are a variety ofresources and tools that can assist you in your prospect research.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection

  Chronicle of Philanthropy. The Chronicle of Philanthropy includes articles, grant postings, online discussions and recent news in the philanthropic sector.
  (Magazine available free in the CDW Civic Engagement Library).



 

Foundation Center Funding Information Network Collection
Foundation Directory Online. Foundation Center's searchable database that provides an unsurpassed level of comprehensive and accurate information on U.S. grantmakers and their grants. You can search based on subject, geography, grantmaker type, type of support, trustee names, and many other search fields. Visit the CDW Civic Engagement Library for free access to this resource

 The Foundation Directory, 2015 Edition. The 10,000 Largest U.S. Foundations






  Foundation Fundamentals, 8th Edition. Learn to use the latest technology to identify your best funder prospects. The new edition of our popular how-to Guide gives beginning grantseekers a thorough overview of the funding research process, with special focus on web-based tools as well as print resources.




 

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Funding Research: Individuals
Individual Grantseekers: General

Generally, foundation grants are given to nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status or at least a fiscal sponsorship. Competition for foundation grants is stiff.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Foundation Center Funding Information Network Collection



Foundation Grants to Individuals Online.An online searchable database for indidivuals seeking help with paying for education, or artistic or research projects.
 

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Funding Research: Proposal Writing

Writing a proposal is much like writing a research paper. It is extremely important to follow the funder's guidelines. Not following the guidelines can result in the rejection of your proposal. CDW provides a Grantwriting Series including the training sessions, Introduction to Finding Funders, Basic Grant Writing, and Advanced Grant Writing. Visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org for additional information on these and other trainings provided by CDW during our Spring and Fall Training Calendars.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection

  Demystifying Grant Seeking: What You Really Need to Do to Get Grants.Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown. Demystifying Grantseeking is an inspirational and instructional guide to grantseeking. The book provides you with a systematic and logical way of searching for grants, and helps to identify which foundations to approach so fundraisers don't waste time on dead-end proposals



  Grant Proposal Makeover: Transform Your Request from No to Yes. Cheryl A. Clarke and Susan P. Fox.Grant Proposal Makeover shows how to transform lackluster proposals into excellent ones–that have the potential to be funded. This book illustrates common flaws and problems in proposals and shows exactly how to fix them. It also includes helpful tips and quotes taken from an international survey of foundation professionals.



    Winning Grants Step by Step. Tori O'Neal-McElrath.The Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing and Writing Successful Proposals.





  The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need. Ellen Karsh. This book is designed to help nonprofit organizations craft proposals for grants from foundations,companies, and government agencies.



 

Foundation Center Funding Information Network Collection

  The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 6th Edition. In the sixth edition of our essential Guide, author Jane Geever provides detailed instructions on preparing successful grant proposals





  The Grantseeker's Guide to Winning Proposals. A collection of 35 actual proposals printed in their entirety





  After the Grant: The Nonprofit's Guide to Good Stewardship. Manage your grant to ensure you get the next one!You've secured the grant-that's just the beginning! Now you begin the multi-faceted journey of stewardship to build and maintain a lasting relationship with the funder.


 

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Funding Resources: Foundations

Yes. Religious and faith-based places of worship (churches, mosques, synagues) are automatically considered tax-exempt by the IRS and are not required to apply for 501( C)(3) status. However, obtaining official tax-exempt status will provide more legitamacy in the eyes of some donors and the community and potentially allow the church to qualify for additional funding.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection


 Faith-Based Management: Leading Organizations That Are Based On More Than Just Mission. Peter Brinkerhoff. This book describes proven management strategies and techniques developed at some of the world's most successful places of worship and faith-based service organizations. It also supplies you with a complete action plan for quickly implementing them in your organization.


  eLibrary Collection

 Start and Grow Your Faith-Based Nonprofit. Jill Esau. This book offers clear guidance on how to fund and manage a faith-based social ministry.


 

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Funding Research: Statistics
Nonprofit Management: Researching Nonprofit Organizations

Statistics are very important in making your case in a proposal and in providing a clearer picture as to the community and nonprofit landscape in which you work. As a nonprofit, researching demographic information can help you better identify the needs of your community and gaps in its services. Using this data in a grant proposal can help illustrate how and why your nonprofit's mission addresses your community's needs.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection

Central Louisiana in Focus (PDF)
Provides an overview of general demographic information and nonprofit statistical data for the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapies, Vernon, and Winn.
http://www.urban.org/research/publication/central-louisiana-focus

Profile of Central Louisiana Nonprofit Corporations (PDF)
This report provides a profile of the Central Louisiana Nonprofit Sector including comparisons to other areas of the state and based on survey results how the nonprofit is viewed by residents and member of the sector in Central Louisiana.
Click Here for PDF

CDW Online Stats
A hub for statistical and demographic information covering a broad range of topics.
Click Here for Online Stats
 

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Nonprofit Management: Establishing a Nonprofit Organization

To everything, there are advantages and disadvantages. Nonprofits are no exception. The advantages of a nonprofit are tax exemption, ability to apply for grants and to solicit public donations, its structure separates from the founder(s) from the organization, and under the law, creditors and courts are limited to the assets of the nonprofit organization. The founders, directors, members, and employees are not personally liable for the debts of the nonprofit. There are exceptions. Disadvantages to becoming a nonprofit include: (1) there will be lots of paperwork, (2) the fees needed to apply for tax-exempt status including filing fees and possible legal fees, (3) there is no individual owner; power is shared, and (4) the nonprofit is open to public scrutiny.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection


   How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation. Anthony Mancuso. This bestselling book includes complete instructions for obtaining federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption and for qualifying for public charity status with the IRS.




  Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide. Bruce R. Hopkins. Nuts-and-bolts guidance on the laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector--from leading nonprofit law expert, Bruce R. Hopkins

 

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Nonprofit Management: Establishing a Nonprofit Organization

There is no set number of board members that an organization is required to have. Typically, a grassroots organization may have 5 or 7 members. Some organizations may have as few as 3 board members. It is a good idea to have an odd number of board members although this is no required. Board size will vary dependent upon the size of the organization and its work.

CDW Civic Engagement Library Resources
Learning Lab Collection

  The Nonprofit Board Answer Book: A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives. Contains Specific question and answers relative to Non-profit board success.




  Structures and Practices of Nonprofit Boards, 2nd Edition Governance Series. Charles Dambach.This book provides a set of basic guidelines to enable nonprofit boards to meet these challenges and develop board members who are actively engaged in the life of the organization. It discusses how the board is organized (including board size and term limits); who is on the board; the roles of the board chair, chief executive, and committees; and productive ways for board members to work together.