How to make your charity succeed online

    Starting your own charity may seem like a fairly intimidating task but with dedication, patience, and the ability to successfully follow directions, you will be on your way in no time. Initially, it is important to know and follow your state and local and our federal requirements for starting a charitable organization. By following these 8 easy steps, you will be well on your way to creating and maintaining a well-oiled charitable organization:
    •    Think about what kind of charity you would like to start and write your mission statement. If you want to start a non-profit organization as identified by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, your organization’s activities will have to be charitable and will probably fall under certain categories such as community benefit, religious, scientific, and/or educational. Also, a clear mission is a must. What is your organization going to do and why? Clearly identifying a mission state
    •    Decide if Section 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization is the best identification for your organization. There is a difference between non-profit organizations and charitable trusts. Charitable trusts focus more on the distribution of money rather than service to the community.
    •    Create Articles of Incorporation for your charity. These Articles serve as the foundations of your organization. These articles state the purpose, name, duration of operation, structure, and other basics of your organization.
    •    Write the Bylaws for your organization. Bylaws are written as a means of governing your charity. You can find templates for these online incase you are not sure where to start. These bylaws will outline how decisions are made, who makes them, and what type og governing structure your organization will follow.
    •    File an application packet for a non-profit organization with your Secretary of State. For a small filing fee, you must obtain and file the appropriate paperwork. This paperwork can be found at the Secretary of State within the corporations division.
    •    Get a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).  For tax purposes, the IRS assigns every business and/or organization an EIN. Every form you fill out regarding your charity will require your EIN. Call the IRS at (800) 829-4933 to get an EIN assigned immediately, or you can apply online, by mail, or by fax.
    •    File with the IRS for recognition as a charitable organization. There are charitable organization application packets available on the web. The IRS reviews applications for recognition as a charitable organization on an ongoing basis, so you can apply for charitable status at any time.
    •    Set up a board of directors and a registered agent. The board of directors will help guide the charity and will make decisions. The registered agent is a person that resides in the state of incorporation—he or she is responsible for receiving official communications from the state.
Keep in mind that a charity is a business, which requires a lot of time, work, and a little bit of luck. Don’t be alarmed if you aren’t able to reach your goals in a short period of time. With time comes experience, so focus your energy on what people in your community need to improve the lives those around you.

Additional articles about charity

About the author

We love to help people get their non-for profit or charitable organizations off the ground. Our online form builder allows these organizations to collect participant and volunteer data, submissions, and donations.

Please Rate This Article

Select Rating Excellent Very Good Interesting Fair Could Use Improvement

Number of ratings: 0
Rating: 0