how to start a nonprofit organization

Do you know someone in need? Do you want to help someone in need? If so, make Lendego your nonprofit of choice this holiday season. Launched by Atlanta.With plans for Florida DrupalCamp 2010 well underway and our discussions about building a site for a non-profit organization on Day 2 of the camp, I figured I'd create a place to start capturing all of the good ideas as well as names of ...Do you know how to start a non-profit organization? Visit HowStuffWorks to learn how to start a non-profit organization.In fact, far too often, when I hear people say "I want to start a nonprofit", they typically have a particular program in mind, not an entire organization. It is far easier to fit a new program in an existing nonprofit than to construct ...Everything she experienced in Africa influenced her decision to take another step: co-founding a nonprofit organization. It a�?works in the developing world to better the lives of those in need,a�? Kowalczyk said. ...Nonprofit Fundraising Side: Have google adwords / ads on the site to generate some revenue for the nonprofit organization. *Having ideas on how to do this will also be a key factor in choosing the winner of the project. Other Pages: ...How to Start a Non-Profit Organization. Recently I was asked to help a friend understand what is involved with starting a new non-profit organization in the U.S. After some research and cogitation, I put together some helpful ...Would you like to start a non-profit and do not know where to begin Join me as we explore this area. You only dial in if you have a question for the guest or the host. If you have a question during the show call 1-347-326-9755.Before you start designing your new nonprofit's logo, ask yourself a few questions to determine if that's the best thing. 8. How a Facebook Event Transformed an Organization Debra Askanase (www.communityorganizer20.com) | Social Media ...Though many of the folks who attempt to start their own nonprofit organization will fail, the experience that they gain will be substantial and it will help them to become better nonprofit leaders in the long-run. ...
I'm 17 and I desperately want to start a local nonprofit organization. I just really want to know any suggestions on what it can be about, you know? I know that I want it to be for young kids, I know I want to get them started on volunteering, and I know that I want to start an out of the country pen pal project. What I don't know is what could be the overall goal for it. Maybe for young kids dealing with personal issues? I'm not sure. So any suggestions would be nice.
If my question is hard to comprehend, I want any suggestions about the purpose of an organization. Like there's the optimist club, key club, HOSA, ect...


I want to start a nonprofit organization that helps new immigrants to America. I would provide English lessons, legal advice, help with accommodation, etc. to new immigrants. Can I start this on my own?


I am thinking abotu starting my own nonprofit organization for cancer patients. My idea was to make pillows for the patients, and to call it PillowsForPatients, however that is taken. But then, I thought of also making decorated journals, chemo hats, and stuffed animals for them too. Can you help me come up with a name? I want it to be something that flows...like PillowsForPatients would. Thank you so much!


My friend and I have started an organization called Ride Against Cancer. On bicycles, we travel to different parts of the country while interacting with and encouraging people to help support the battle against cancer by donating to the American Cancer Society.

Currently, we're stuck on determining exactly HOW we can raise money more effectively. Right now our site basically contains a link that redirects you to the American Cancer Society donations page.

Do you have any better ideas on how we can help?

Our site is:
www.Ride-Against-Cancer.org



Thanks, 10 points to the best answer.


I am starting up a company of which each product we sell supports a different organization, and a percentage of the sales will go back to that organization. I am wondering, if I donate 50% of the proceeds (proceeds = sale amt - cost of expenses), will I still turn a profit? I am worried about being taxed on the donated amount (albeit marginally if we're donating to a nonprofit) so much so that we don't turn much of a profit at all.

Is there another way to set up my sales so that we won't be taxed on that amount (for example, money from the sale would bypass our company and go directly to the organization)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

k


I do not yet have any incorporation. I don't want to pay for incorporation. I want to set u pa paypal account to benefit a non profit organization that I am starting.
I regret that the responders must assume that I am starting a 501(c)3 illegally. I cannot vote for a best answer due to the baseless allegations loaded within.

I was specifically asking about starting a paypal account for an existing 501(c)3 charity that is unincorporated.

I appreciate tha bit of information found within.


My wife and want to start a nonprofit organization to help kids pay for fees and and get the equipment they need to play youth sports. The cost of these sports are rediculous! It cost my wife and I almost 100 bucks just to play youth football this year and i have been talking with other parents in our area and some of the other sports are even more! So i would like see about starting a non profit to help with these costs, WHAT DO I DO!


I work for a fantastic nonprofit organization in a town that's almost an hour and a half away from where I live. They pay me $10.50 an hour and I'll get a pretty good benefits package once I'm here long enough. I started July 27th so this is a brand new job.

The problem is that the commute and the gas are really taking it's toll. I expected this, but it's worse than I even thought. I don't have a great commuter car but I'm learning to drive a stick so I can use my fiance's car, which will be better (upper 20s in miles to the gallon).

My fiance is really starting to stress about the money being wasted on gas, and is encouraging me to find a job closer to home. I went unemployed from January to June, so I'm not about to quit until I've got something else lined up; in the meantime, I have to deal with him getting frustrated with this job that requires more gas money.
I'm looking at jobs in education because I want to get into a Master's program in college student affairs. I applied for a job with the local high school and I'm waiting to hear back now. My fiance and I calculated the pay and if I get this job it'll be part time but I'll make as much as I'm making now and I won't have a commute and I can get a second job or volunteer for experience.

My big problem is that I do like my new job, my boss, and my co-workers and it's so soon. They had a lot of qualified people apply too and they chose me because they liked my personality (my boss and I discussed this in some detail today) and my skills fit the job perfectly without me being too over- or underqualified. I would feel HORRIBLE for leaving, and it wouldn't be my first choice either, but the other job just seems to be a better situation.

I know I'm thinking about this way too early (since I haven't even been offered an interview) but it's just something that keeps running through my mind and I wondered what other people thought about it.

Thanks!


I am trying to find grants for a non profit organization that provides computers to poor children. Not sure where to start looking. Seems like a lot of federal grants have expired for this year already. Any suggestions where to look? Thanks!


I am going to be moving into a fairly nice one bedroom in about half a year/ a year and would like a dog. I have always wanted a dog, but I am in all honesty (regardless of being a woman) do not like toy or small dogs. I would like a med-large dog that is no couch potatoe. I am a chubby girl, and I am going to start hiking with my bro and our friends. I already camp at least 3 times a year (and not two day things, I am apart of SCA a nonprofit organization that does up to week long camping events) and go out to Salt River and parks and what not. The apartment complex I am going to be moving to has a huge park across the street were I would be taking the dog over to daily not only for a walk around it, but also for an hour or more romp/play with balls, vrisbees, etc.

Like I said, I am chubby, but I am making more lifestyle changes and am beginning to be very active and I would like a med-large si\ze dog, but I will be living in a 750 sq ft apartment(dog will have more than half the bdrm most likely, other than a section for me to have my bed. Not letting it dominat, just trying to give it space).

Help please and I am very sorry to have written so much.


I'm still in high school but for my senior project my idea is to start working towards (if I can't establish) a nonprofit organization for young women.

What steps should I take to get started? Any ideas on other organizations I can get ideas from and volunteer service done with too?


I am starting a program at our local hospital to help parents of stillborns. There currently isn't a program in place. I plan on making up baskets with helpful items and information to be passed out to the parents after the birth of their stillborn.
I am not at all sure where to begin in taking the steps to start this organization. I will be the only individual working on this program however I would like to set up a website and ask for donations. Therefore, I don't know if I would need to file to be a nonprofit or not. It seems like the nonprofit organizations are for larger groups. Can anyone please point me in the right direction? Thank you.


I have called library's, and super markets they only allow nonprofit organizations. All of the neighborhoods in my area have no soliciting signs and you can't pass them out in parking lots because they are private property. The only places I have found are health food stores ,but I need more people to know about my product and don't have money for advertising. What should I do?


I'm in undergrad school right now and will be looking for an entry-level position in public relations for a defense or aerospace firm in the next 18-24 months. I've recently begun doing PR work for an aviation-related 501 (c) nonprofit, learning how to do press releases and such, but I'm not exactly sure how to put that down on a resume. (We're not allowed to use our membership in this organization for "personal gain," whatever that means.)

Beyond a Christmas job and a 9-month stint part-time in the campus admissions office, I have no work experience. I did try to start a business raising animals in high school, but did not have a business plan and pretty much flew by the seat of the pants.

What should I be doing right now to make myself more marketable after graduation? Can I use my volunteer experience on resumes?


I would to try to start up a charity or nonprofit organization. The organization's goal would be to provide dental needs to under privileged people. This is something I have a passion for being in the same boat. I suffered extreme trauma to my mouth at a young age and have been suffering ever since. I want to provide basic dental needs to people who can not afford it on their own. Any help would be great.


A few months ago, my partner and I started a nonprofit organization.... He has basically been absent and I do not trust him anymore... How can I get out of it? how do I let the IRS know that I am not part of it anymore? how do I tell the state of California I am not the partner anymore?
Your help is much appreciated.


Okay I am a teenager and a childhood cancer survivor. I would really like to start a small local organization that hosts fundraisers for different charities. Cancer/medical related ones would be my first choice.

A really fun fundraiser we did in school was a penny war and I thought that idea seemed good. It involved teamwork and would let adults be their inner kid.

My only problem is where to have a penny war. I cannot do it in my school system because we already have penny wars. I was thinking maybe at a local hospital? Like have different sections of it go against each other?

So I need your input... Where should I host a penny war, what other fundraiser ideas do you have?


I've been work for a nonprofit organization for about a year. When I first started working there I was promised one salary but noticed that my check did not reflect that. When I confronted my employer about it I was given the excuse that my pay would be increased once the grant came in. My pay increased not by what I was supposed to get but by two dollars.

I work part time 6 days a week ( makes no sense at all). Taxes were not being taken out of my check. My employer told me that I would be provided with tax forms but never gave me any. So in 2008 I got a 1099 misc form for a non employee. I paid it no mind because I didn't understand it. I just thought since she wasn't taking taxes out this was another way to report it. I never get my check on time. It is always weeks late and I am only getting paid once a month now. My employer does not even give me a reason. I asked for my check this month and I was given a lame excuse. I called the IRS to find out what the 1099 form was about. They are trying to avoid paying taxes for me and want me to pay their portion of social security and medicare. I am so upset. I only make $10 and hour. I know I have to pay my portion of the taxes but why would she do that to me. There is a lot more to the story and I am sick of it. I am not an independent contractor. I feel I was deceived plus I'm supposed to get paid from a grant.

I have to return to school in the fall and I want out of it. I need a recommendation from her. Should I blame it on school and confront her about the 1099? or leave the 1099 out of it. She already ruined this girls career that I know of and want to leave on good terms. I will leave with no other job lined up but this is killing me. It's only going to get worse and worse.


What do you think of this story?

*Eleven-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover liked football, basketball and playing video games with his little brother.


Rep. Carolyn McCarthy says the effects of bullying are becoming more severe.

But on April 6, after enduring what his mother called "relentless" bullying at school, Carl hanged himself with an extension cord in the family's Springfield, Massachusetts, home.

"What could make a child his age despair so much that he would take his own life? That question haunts me to this day, and I will probably never know the answer," Sirdeaner Walker said in a House Education and Labor Committee hearing on school bullying.

"He had just started secondary school in September, and we had high hopes," she said. "But I knew something was wrong, almost from the start." Watch Sirdeaner Walker describe finding her son's body A�

He didn't want to say at first, she said, but reluctantly told her of classmates who called him names, "saying he acted gay and calling him faggot," Walker said.

"Hearing that, my heart just broke," she said.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-New York, said the emotional and physical effects of bullying are becoming more severe and that the acts of bullying can continue outside school.

According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, about 30 percent of school-aged children in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying, as either a bully or the target of a bully.

Steve Riach, the founder of Heart of a Champion Foundation -- a nonprofit organization that says it offers educators an "innovative and effective approach to developing character in the lives of their students" -- said his organization has learned that students recognize that school safety cannot be accomplished only with security guards and metal detectors.

And students "have told us that emotional safety is every bit a concern as physical safety," he said.

Walker called school bullying a national crisis.


"I've learned that bullying is not an inevitable part of growing up. It can be prevented, and there isn't a moment to lose," she said.

"We need a national solution to deal with it," she said.*



I think that this story is so sad, can nothing prevent this? As a parent, would you approve of your child bullying another child? I would not, my son has not even started school let and I've already made it clear to him that he better not treat another person in such a way that he would not wish to be treated...do parents these days not instill morals..I mean I know all kids tease, but sometimes it goes overboard..
I'm not giving thumbs down btw..


I would like to also have write for a government grant, how do i do this.


I'm starting a new club at my high school where the goal is to make others aware of injustices and other calamities all over the world. Can anyone please help find some nonprofit organizations that we can contribute to or help out with? We've already started to work with Invisible Children, but I wanted to expand the club a little bit, branching out into other places of the world like Asia, South America, etc... And working with poverty, hunger, education, health, etc... I just can't seem to find any charities. Help please?


I need people to help me start this organization. Cant afford to pay yet but once we are on our feet pay scales will be reviewed. Looking for people with experience in real estate, financial planning, law, accounting,construction, how do I find people to volunteer for the positions?


basically a place in the twin cities metro area where kids, teens and young adults can come together to play music, form bands, put on concerts, etc...but where do i start?


I know that I will get responses that will tell me to resign from my job. It is so complicated so here it goes. I currently work for a nonprofit organization. When I was first hired I was promised one salary but then noticed that I was being payed less that what was originally offered. When I asked my boss about it the answer that I got was that the "grant did not come in". A few months later my hourly pay went up only two more dollars. According to my boss, the grant did not come in as expected blah, blah,blah. To make a long story short, I have been employed with this nonprofit for almost a year. I have never been paid on time except my first pay check!! My checks would be two weeks late and now its even worse a month late. I know you guys may think I am crazy and rightfully so. Who would put up with something like this. Well there is more. I want to apply to health professional school and my boss is my solid recommendation and possible hook up.

Well I don't know how long I can go with putting up with this mess. I am broke and were in a recession. Not to give too much detail away, I'll just say that before I was working for my boss I proved that I am committed to what I want to do. Just from that I deserve a recommendation. I also babysit for my boss and run around like a chicken with its neck cut off. I don't even want to babysit but I do it. I get paid for that but still even then I don't get my money on time. When I started this job I was promised benefits and don't have any. I was told the grant was the problem. My thing is if I am being paid from a grant why don't I get paid on time.

So now I am thinking about leaving. I work six days a week and I'm only part time. That is soo annoying. My boss has done this to other people. There was another employee that my boss did the same thing to. BTW I am the only employee. When asked about my paycheck , the day I am so supposed to get it I don't.

Do you think the grant money was spent on other things that should not have?
Do you think that I'm being treated like this because I need the recommendation?
Should I just run for the hills and forget my hook up ?( I will still get a recommendation) I was just trying to hold off until I applied to school.

P.S. I have not been paid for the end of May beginning of June
I think it may be my fault since I was passive and did not speak up like I should have. This is so depressing and is not a good feeling :-(

Oh yeah I am paid under the table. Is that legal in a nonprofit?
Thanks guys!!


i have this friend who wants to start a nonprofit organization and i want to help him out...please help me!


I am very involved in student leadership and I have worked on the CA state level with nonprofit organizations. I have met one big name politician but that was mainly due to connections of others... any ideas as to how I can meet some big name people and start networking with them?


My husband has a local partner of the Fuller Center for Housing -- basically it's like Habitat for Humanity but for house repairs, at least ours isn't building new houses at this time. We had not even started up really when a woman contacted us asking if we could fix her house. We saw the house and heard her story and said yes, we would fix her house. That was in December.

Because we were not even really an entity at that time, we couldn't raise funds the way we wanted to. It was April before we had our first ever fundraiser because it took a few months to get a board together. I had expected to make thousands. We made one thousand. Under normal circumstances, that's not bad for a first fundraiser, but this lady needs like $15000 in materials for her house. We are getting some materials donated and it's all volunteer labor, but we're still going to be putting out a lot for her house until she starts paying it back (because the homeowner pays back in affordable monthly payments.)

Because I suck at fundraising and didn't have her house ready, the lady got behind in her rent and was evicted from the place she was staying. We actually found out about a lot of problems this woman has after we had accepted her as a homeowner. We're not interested in being like Habitat and only accepting people who've never made a mistake into our program, because I don't think that's right, but now I find myself really going all out to solve this woman's problems.

Her baby is staying with her mom/baby's grandma out of town. The teenage daughter has softball so she can't stay with grandma. We offered to have her stay with us. The homeowner/mom seems almost glad to have a summer off from parenting as it will probably take us a couple of months to fix her gutted house.

Does it cause a conflict of interest as a nonprofit to go outside the nonprofit to help her out personally with money and a place for her daughter to stay? We're using our personal funds not the organization's funds. If she had told us about all these other financial problems in the first place, we might have handled things differently, though we would still have helped her, just with her house. We would have made it clear we have a single mission and can't solve all of her problems.

What do you think?
Sassy2 -- try to pay attention. She owns a house that was gutted that we are fixing for her. That is the mission of our organization. It's a global organization and it has a mission statement, but they allow local partners to be self-governing.

She was a tenant in her temporary housing, and a greedy church kicked her out for nonpayment of rent -- she got behind because she lost her job. She owns this house but it's completely gutted. She was fixing it up with her dad, but her dad died 2 years ago and it's just sat since then because she didn't have any help.

These other problems are a result of her having to pay rent while still paying taxes, mortgage, etc. on the house. That's not her fault so we're trying to help her with all of it.
501(c)3 status is about whether contributors can get a tax write off. What we get involved in is not relevant to the 501(c)3. We aren't spending contributors' money on the other things.
We're not mixing our funds with the corporation's money. We would never do that. We spent our own money and were its sole contributor until we got a board and had a fundraiser.
I think it's a bigger mistake to let someone be homeless when we have a housing organization than it is to worry about some dumb paperwork. The national org has the 501(c)3 and we're covered under their group so we're good there.
The child is a friend of my daughter now. We're taking her in outside of the nonprofit as a person like any other friend of my daughter's who stayed with us for the summer.
We're not mixing our funds with the corporation's money. We would never do that. We spent our own money and were its sole contributor until we got a board and had a fundraiser.
You nonprofit bureaucrats are really unkind. That's why most nonprofits are mired in politics and a sense of entitlement from its officers and board and fail to see their mission in helping others. Our org is a Christian organization. That means we find it unloving to let people go without.
Photo Student, thanks for at least being respectful. I just think it's kind of a waste to spend so much time and effort on fixing her home then letting her family be homeless.


My husband has a local partner of the Fuller Center for Housing -- basically it's like Habitat for Humanity but for house repairs, at least ours isn't building new houses at this time. We had not even started up really when a woman contacted us asking if we could fix her house. We saw the house and heard her story and said yes, we would fix her house. That was in December.

Because we were not even really an entity at that time, we couldn't raise funds the way we wanted to. It was April before we had our first ever fundraiser because it took a few months to get a board together. I had expected to make thousands. We made one thousand. Under normal circumstances, that's not bad for a first fundraiser, but this lady needs like $15000 in materials for her house. We are getting some materials donated and it's all volunteer labor, but we're still going to be putting out a lot for her house until she starts paying it back (because the homeowner pays back in affordable monthly payments.)

Because I suck at fundraising and didn't have her house ready, the lady got behind in her rent and was evicted from the place she was staying. We actually found out about a lot of problems this woman has after we had accepted her as a homeowner. We're not interested in being like Habitat and only accepting people who've never made a mistake into our program, because I don't think that's right, but now I find myself really going all out to solve this woman's problems.

Her baby is staying with her mom/baby's grandma out of town. The teenage daughter has softball so she can't stay with grandma. We offered to have her stay with us. The homeowner/mom seems almost glad to have a summer off from parenting as it will probably take us a couple of months to fix her gutted house.

Does it cause a conflict of interest as a nonprofit to go outside the nonprofit to help her out personally with money and a place for her daughter to stay? We're using our personal funds not the organization's funds. If she had told us about all these other financial problems in the first place, we might have handled things differently, though we would still have helped her, just with her house. We would have made it clear we have a single mission and can't solve all of her problems.

What do you think?
I did some reading on the victim triangle. I guess I'm not seeing it. I don't see myself as ever acting like a victim. I do apologize if I came off as a martyr here. Seriously, I have no problem taking the daughter into our home. I just feel the homeowner is making some poor decisions and I really want to fix them before something bad happens to the whole family. She's been through so much -- domestic violence, her dad dying, addiction -- that I really don't want her to have any more problems.


I've tried everything but McDonald's and temping (which I might have to do soon), including: applying for countless jobs, networking, volunteering, and being an intern yet again. However, it's been 8 months and I can't find a job despite my two degrees and experience (which I admit could be more, but is low because I'm still young). I've been volunteering at one nonprofit since January and I will also start volunteering at my alma mater this month. Also, both of these opportunities actually provide me with some skills and I'm not simply stuffing envelopes. I am really in that bad of a position if I hit the one year mark of unemployment? In other words, will potential employers take into account this bad economy and the fact that I volunteer at two organizations? Being the age I am, I've never experienced looking for a job in a bad job market and I'm not sure how this works, if I'll be rejected even if I show that I volunteered on my resume.
I'm not against it, I just wanted it to be my last resort considering I have a master's degree in international business and I didn't spend 5 1/2 years in school to be an office assistant.


i am looking to start an orphanlinege all information are wecome


i know you have to obtain a nonprofit organization license that tax exempts donations but am I allowed to accept money from someone if they want to give it to me personally and then use it for the organization or is this illegal? I don't want to do anything illegal so this is why I am asking on here.


I am a junior in High School, and I live in MASS. I have an idea to start an NPO. I did some research, and I wrote my constitution, and the motive of the organization.

I hear I need to get a lawyer. Can you give me more detail about the lawyer part?

and what should I do next?


My husband had his license suspended for failure to pay speeding tickets. We've been out of work and just had trouble paying them. Today he drove our daughter to school then came back home. A half hour later, the sheriff knocks on our door, says he's seen husband driving and wonders what's up. He was up front and admitted to driving while suspended. The sheriff has taken him to jail.

The ONLY problem with this is that TONIGHT we have a major fundraising dinner and auction for our nonprofit housing ministry that helps homeowners that can't repair their homes. It was started by the people who started Habitat for Humanity and decided to go on their own in 2004. We're a local partner of this great organization and tonight is our whole life! It decides whether we can continue! If it was ANY OTHER DAY we'd take our lumps but TODAY we cannot spare our executive director.

We also can't let the community and board know what's going on. I am not sure if I have enough money to bail him out. He sees a judge today, the sheriff "thinks." I have not had a license in six years because of an accident at that time which, didn't seriously injure anyone but still bothers me as to how it could have turned out. And the cop who handled that accident and cited me only for running a stop sign died a couple of months later. I could have a license if I paid my fines but with the money we're putting into this ministry we don't really have that going for us either.

Would it be to our advantage to go down to the courthouse when I find out the court time and beg the judge to just let him out this time???
Thanks to all who answered! The judge let him go as he was already doing community service!!! Yay!
Thanks especially to Fred P. We have been ignoring our financial obligations pursuing our passions -- and our passions ARE for the good of others, but this was a definite wake up call that we need to take care of our own obligations first and we are working on making some changes. For the record, I have not been driving -- I get rides or walk or hitchhike.


I was interested in starting a nonprofit organization as a hobby, and was wondering whether or not it was necessary to go through all the trouble of incorporating. It's going to be a very small group.

If I don't incorporate, does that mean I can't receive donations from the public? Do I have to incorporate in order to call the organization a "non-profit?" Is the organization not recognized by the state if it is not incorporated? And will I have to personally pay taxes on donations if I don't incorporate?

Thanks in advance for your help.


Hi all. I'm part of a nonprofit organization that's opening a Animal Sanctuary in NJ (seerfarms.org). We're helping families and their pets in times of crisis (military leave, hospitalization, divorce..etc). We're in the start up stages but have come across some opportunities to attend local fundraising/animal related events. I attended one of the events today but was unable to set up a table (rain and no tent not a good combo! but a good trial run) Anyway, I did see some people with some exhibits but wanted to get some feedback on good ideals to create one for our organization. I'd like to do something that can withstand changes for upcomming events/progress but also explain who we are and our goals. Does anyone have suggestions? examples of materials and or products I can use to create this display? Our newsletter is called "Tails from the Farm" so I'd like to keep that theme going along with our goals/events.


In 1994, I left college, but was still allowed to go through graduation ceremonies, some hours short of completion. Now that I see it, I have basically 30 hours or a full year of undergrad left. I really wrangled my way into the line for grad. Naturally I never got a diploma for my empty folder. But, my whole family thought I had graduated.

I have worked as a freelance writer, holding myself out as having a degree in English. I got 2 books published 4 and 8 years ago, I have published articles, blogs and business and grant proposals. I have done mission trips and ministry work with my writing, and am up for a major journalism fellowship (I did not pretend to have a degree on that application). Lately, I have felt very guilty about pretending to have a degree when I don't.

Due to serious illness in our family, the construction and publishing markets (my husband's and my work) and a variety of other factors I'm not going to detail here, our family is on welfare right now. As a bit of background, I have not been offered a full time job in five years in spite of my best efforts. I get part time jobs easily and freelance writing jobs easily -- they just don't pay enough for us to pay our bills. My husband (who remodels houses but doesn't charge near enough to support us) and I have to cooperate with the job placement plan in order to keep getting welfare. It's not that the few hundred dollars is such a big deal, but under the program, and since I don't have outstanding student loans, I can go back to school and finish my degree with distance learning through a university about 40 miles from here. I can take online classes or some classes at a center in my town. It will actually take about 2 years because I have to earn 45 hours at this new school to graduate from it. This program offers adult learners courses at the upper undergrad levels and counts whatever coursework you've done to meet the core education requirements. You have to have completed 60 hours to get in and I've completed 98.

Here are possible majors available to me:

1. English. Pro: it was already my major and I have a lot of work done in it. Con: I don't see how it will get me farther than I am now. I'm already a published author and journalist and not making enough money at it. I can already get hired for writing jobs based on my talent -- not to brag, it's just a fact.

2. Psychology -- Pro: I like people and helping others. Con: I have absolutely no hours in psychology right now and would have to start with Psych 101. Like all of these, I have the educational core done, but would have to take a bunch of psych and other social science courses.

3. Business administration. I do have nonprofit experience but my lack of degree has kept me from ever getting a job with it. I have no interest in business courses, I'm bad at math, possibly too chaotic for accounting, but I would make more money I think.

4. Teaching certification -- I would go for secondary English. Pro: very easy for me to finish up and possibly steady work that I'd enjoy. Con: Our local school district cut a bunch of teachers this year and I don't want to uproot the kids. I quit the teaching unit when I was at uni before because I didn't think I would be the best teacher.

5. organizational management -- like bus admin but less accounting and other drudgery. Might help me grow my writing business or get a job with a cool organization.

What's your advice? Hope it wasn't too long. I tried to break it up into a lot of paragraphs. Thanks!


In 1994, I left college, but was still allowed to go through graduation ceremonies, some hours short of completion. Now that I see it, I have basically 30 hours or a full year of undergrad left. I really wrangled my way into the line for grad. Naturally I never got a diploma for my empty folder. But, my whole family thought I had graduated.

I have worked as a freelance writer, holding myself out as having a degree in English. I got 2 books published 4 and 8 years ago, I have published articles, blogs and business and grant proposals. I have done mission trips and ministry work with my writing, and am up for a major journalism fellowship (I did not pretend to have a degree on that application). Lately, I have felt very guilty about pretending to have a degree when I don't.

Due to serious illness in our family, the construction and publishing markets (my husband's and my work) and a variety of other factors I'm not going to detail here, our family is on welfare right now. As a bit of background, I have not been offered a full time job in five years in spite of my best efforts. I get part time jobs easily and freelance writing jobs easily -- they just don't pay enough for us to pay our bills. My husband (who remodels houses but doesn't charge near enough to support us) and I have to cooperate with the job placement plan in order to keep getting welfare. It's not that the few hundred dollars is such a big deal, but under the program, and since I don't have outstanding student loans, I can go back to school and finish my degree with distance learning through a university about 40 miles from here. I can take online classes or some classes at a center in my town. It will actually take about 2 years because I have to earn 45 hours at this new school to graduate from it. This program offers adult learners courses at the upper undergrad levels and counts whatever coursework you've done to meet the core education requirements. You have to have completed 60 hours to get in and I've completed 98.

Here are possible majors available to me:

1. English. Pro: it was already my major and I have a lot of work done in it. Con: I don't see how it will get me farther than I am now. I'm already a published author and journalist and not making enough money at it. I can already get hired for writing jobs based on my talent -- not to brag, it's just a fact.

2. Psychology -- Pro: I like people and helping others. Con: I have absolutely no hours in psychology right now and would have to start with Psych 101. Like all of these, I have the educational core done, but would have to take a bunch of psych and other social science courses.

3. Business administration. I do have nonprofit experience but my lack of degree has kept me from ever getting a job with it. I have no interest in business courses, I'm bad at math, possibly too chaotic for accounting, but I would make more money I think.

4. Teaching certification -- I would go for secondary English. Pro: very easy for me to finish up and possibly steady work that I'd enjoy. Con: Our local school district cut a bunch of teachers this year and I don't want to uproot the kids. I quit the teaching unit when I was at uni before because I didn't think I would be the best teacher.

5. organizational management -- like bus admin but less accounting and other drudgery. Might help me grow my writing business or get a job with a cool organization.

What's your advice? Hope it wasn't too long. I tried to break it up into a lot of paragraphs. Thanks.


In 1994, I left college, but was still allowed to go through graduation ceremonies, some hours short of completion. Now that I see it, I have basically 30 hours or a full year of undergrad left. I really wrangled my way into the line for grad. Naturally I never got a diploma for my empty folder. But, my whole family thought I had graduated.

I have worked as a freelance writer, holding myself out as having a degree in English. I got 2 books published 4 and 8 years ago, I have published articles, blogs and business and grant proposals. I have done mission trips and ministry work with my writing, and am up for a major journalism fellowship (I did not pretend to have a degree on that application). Lately, I have felt very guilty about pretending to have a degree when I don't.

Due to serious illness in our family, the construction and publishing markets (my husband's and my work) and a variety of other factors I'm not going to detail here, our family is on welfare right now. As a bit of background, I have not been offered a full time job in five years in spite of my best efforts. I get part time jobs easily and freelance writing jobs easily -- they just don't pay enough for us to pay our bills. My husband (who remodels houses but doesn't charge near enough to support us) and I have to cooperate with the job placement plan in order to keep getting welfare. It's not that the few hundred dollars is such a big deal, but under the program, and since I don't have outstanding student loans, I can go back to school and finish my degree with distance learning through a university about 40 miles from here. I can take online classes or some classes at a center in my town. It will actually take about 2 years because I have to earn 45 hours at this new school to graduate from it. This program offers adult learners courses at the upper undergrad levels and counts whatever coursework you've done to meet the core education requirements. You have to have completed 60 hours to get in and I've completed 98.

Here are possible majors available to me:

1. English. Pro: it was already my major and I have a lot of work done in it. Con: I don't see how it will get me farther than I am now. I'm already a published author and journalist and not making enough money at it. I can already get hired for writing jobs based on my talent -- not to brag, it's just a fact.

2. Psychology -- Pro: I like people and helping others. Con: I have absolutely no hours in psychology right now and would have to start with Psych 101. Like all of these, I have the educational core done, but would have to take a bunch of psych and other social science courses.

3. Business administration. I do have nonprofit experience but my lack of degree has kept me from ever getting a job with it. I have no interest in business courses, I'm bad at math, possibly too chaotic for accounting, but I would make more money I think.

4. Teaching certification -- I would go for secondary English. Pro: very easy for me to finish up and possibly steady work that I'd enjoy. Con: Our local school district cut a bunch of teachers this year and I don't want to uproot the kids. I quit the teaching unit when I was at uni before because I didn't think I would be the best teacher.

5. organizational management -- like bus admin but less accounting and other drudgery. Might help me grow my writing business or get a job with a cool organization.

What's your advice? Hope it wasn't too long. I tried to break it up into a lot of paragraphs. Thanks!


I just started my business a few months ago and its going very well. I came across this nonprofit organization that I would really like to donate to, help raise awareness, etc. So my questions is can i just go ahead and promote them on my website? What i want to do is sell my product and give a percentage of the proceeds to that organization. any legal issues i need to be worried about?


I've started a non profit organization and was granted my 501c3 last year. My brother has filed for his 501c3 for a non profit organization that he is starting, but it is going to take several months for his 501c3 to be granted to his organization. He wants to know if he can collect donations under my organization until his 501c3 is granted to him. We are in different states and I don't want to make any bad decisions and get myself in trouble. Please help me.


i know what I need to do but can't seem to start it...
1. create a website (how do i make a website, copyright it and do i have to pay to get it running?)
2. file for a governmental nonprofit form (where can I get one and how would i fill it out?)
3. spread the word (i don't want it to be just a local thing, so i can i 'advertise'?)

thanks soo much in advance!
I know what I need to do but can't seem to start it...
1. create a website (how do i make a website, copyright it and do i have to pay to get it running?) (btw, i mean a website not from a blog site or another company site, but an individual website like www.campcamp.org or something)
2. file for a governmental nonprofit form (where can I get one and how would i fill it out?)
3. spread the word (i don't want it to be just a local thing, so i can i 'advertise'?)

thanks soo much in advance!
(btw, i mean a website not from a blog site or another company site, but an individual website like www.campcamp.org or something)


I'd like to start one, definitely a good cause; short on cash, wondering how to raise funds.


I would like to start a nonprofit organization for older teens and young adults (15-20) to help them learn independent living skills such as money management, banking and budgeting, resume writing, getting a job, getting an apt, after high school options, etc. I have worked with kids and teens and 1 thing I am noticing most is that these kids are not being taught these sorts of things. I have lots of ideas and pretty much have the program I want to run all planned out. I want to start working with social workers and foster agencies first but I have no idea where to begin. Can anyone help me out and point me in the right direction? I live in Las Vegas, Nevada (where social services are hard to find and really really needed)

e-mail me dovelylady217@yahoo.com Ia��m also always (by phone) on yahoo messenger

Thank you!


I'm thinking about starting a nonprofit organization or possibly a Political Action Committee. This group would be only for local elections like city council or mayor, not really for anything Federal, only statewide. Can a non-profit organization endorse or donate money to a candidate that they think will help with there cause?


I am sixteen years old and I want to start an oganization that will help tohers in third world countries, asia, africa, and south america but I really have no idea. I did my research and it says I should get legal advice, does that mean I need to hire a lawyer, because I cant afford one right now.

Also it says I should file an application from IRS so i dont have to pay taxes, what does that mean? Also if I want to go my organization at school, do i need the principals permission first?


Like I want to help other people in other countries by providing them education, shelter, food, medical things, and clothing

but my friends arent going to help me because they have no interest

anyways...i dont know idea how to start so that it can become bigger
i also want to make t shirts too for people who support my idea

please give me ideas or advice. thank you


Hello-

I'm on the board of a New England-based, nonprofit outdoor club. Several months ago the club launched a new website, which has been plagued with problems from day one. We're now considering abandoning the website, and starting a Yahoo group in its place. If we did so, could we set up a redirect from our website directly to our new Yahoo group?

Thank you,
Neil


I'm a senior in high school and I'm trying to figure out what I want to I'm going to major in next year when I got to university. I'm not sure what I want to do for a job yet, but lately I've been toying the idea of starting some type of nonprofit organization. What degree would be best to go after if I decide to do this?