Nonprofit Essentials 101

Welcome!

Starting a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is a major decision that requires significant forethought before and after you receive IRS tax exemption. As a nonprofit founder and or new board member, you will likely have questions that you already know to ask or seek answers for, and there will be questions that you don’t even know to ask! That is exactly why this training course was developed; to help you find your way during your first 12 months of becoming a nonprofit founder or board member.

About this Course

Nonprofit Essentials 101: What to do in your first 12 months is a product of more than 25 years of working both in the nonprofit and and for-profit sectors. This course highlights what nonprofit public charity founders and leaders must do in their inaugural year, at a very basic level, to build and sustain a nonprofit that is compliant and sustainable.  Many nonprofit founders have never owned a business, rather, they are simply people with a “Big-Amazing-Heart” for balancing societal norms.  This course helps those who are considering establishing a U.S. nonprofit public charity or those who have recently taken this huge step to plan for success in the nonprofit sector. 

This course seeks to equip nonprofit founders and leaders, and anyone else with an interest in a nonprofit public charity, with strategies and techniques that can support the development of your new organization. This course identifies best practices in order for nonprofits to not only survive but thrive in a growing sector that welcomes about 6,000 newly registered U.S. nonprofits EVERY month!  During our time together, I will share how to best prepare for your first board meeting; board responsibilities; the type of nonprofit insurance that you may need; and internal controls that help to mitigate fraud within an organization.  I will also give attention to planning documents to help you build your case for funding; resources to help you further your mission, board expansion and composition tips; budgeting; applying for grants, and so much more!

Dispelling Myths

Many believe that the nonprofit public charity should not and cannot not legally earn a profit. To the contrary, a nonprofit public charity is a business, and generating income for the business is integral to its sustainability.  Others believe they can form a nonprofit and obtain full funding immediately without doing the hard work of laying a solid foundation or even starting their program and tracking success.  While this is certainly possible, it is highly unlikely.  This course will address these sort of myths. 

At the conclusion of this course, it is my sincere hope that you feel inspired to lead the organization that you’ve always dreamed that you would one day lead. You have everything it takes to succeed. This course is just your reminder!

Who this course is for:

This course is for nonprofit Founders, Executive Directors, Board Members, Staff of Nonprofits, Volunteers of Nonprofits, Funders, and others with an interest in U.S. nonprofit public charities.

This material would not be helpful for a person exclusively looking for guidance for a for-profit business.