How to Start a Nonprofit Organization: Step 1 Business Plans
Let me begin by telling you a story. About two years ago, my son visited his grandparents and great aunt in Ithaca, NY. While he was there, they brought him to a local nonprofit called the Finger Lakes Toy Library so that he could pick out some toys for the duration of his stay. I was impressed by the mission of this organization and therefore decided last July that I would establish a toy library in our hometown of Dearborn, MI. My son Theo loves this idea, and we now enjoy imagining all the exciting possibilities with this new endeavor.
Starting a nonprofit may seem overwhelming, but by breaking it down into smaller steps, you can create an organization that makes a difference in the lives of individuals. During the next several weeks, we are going to take a look at some of the steps you should take to set yourself up for success.
Once I decided to take the leap and start the organization, I first reserved the organization’s name with the state of Michigan, and then I got to work writing the Dearborn Toy Library’s business plan. During this process, I made several important decisions like, what was the organization’s mission and location or what industry competitors existed. I started with the business plan because I planned to bring it with me while I began the process of recruiting Board members.
Elements of a Business Plan
Executive Summary
Mission
Vision
Goals & Objectives
Operational Plan
Project Timeline
Competitor Analysis
Marketing & Fundraising Plan
Financial Information
Leadership
Evaluation Plan
My first logo
Theo’s first logo
The final product
In addition to the research that I did for the plan, it was also important to me that the plan was attractive. There are many ways to create documents for a low cost. For the Dearborn Toy Library business plan, I used www.canva.com to design the document and to create the logo.
For your inspiration, you can download the Dearborn Toy Library Business plan here. Also, if you want help writing your business plan, Spark Group offers a flat-rate package for $550. If you are interested in starting a nonprofit organization and you would like some help, stay tuned to the spark group blog for the next several weeks as we walk through the process together or contact spark group today for a free consultation.
Next Week: Board Recruitment: Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!
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