I want to start a non profit.

I want to start a non-profit organization; do I have to have a building before I start the paper work?

• I want to start a non-profit organization for children that have been exposed to violence. This organization will help them to over come what they have gone through or what they are ...show more

• Answer:

  What you need first is PEOPLE -- people who support this idea and are willing to provide some start of funding and serve on the board of directors. You need to get letters of endorsement from existing organizations saying this organization is needed, you need to have data that shows your target group is in need whatever service it is that you want to provide and that they are not served otherwise, and you need to have a draft of what your first year's budget would look like (what expenses you expect to incur, what you expect to pay staff, etc.). And then you need to start on the paperwork to form the nonprofit: Starting a Nonprofit Organization http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm (one of my favorite resources) Starting a Non-Profit Checklist- The Things You Must Do to Start a Nonprofit Organization http://www.ctnonprofits.org/pages/NonProfitResources/StartNonProfit.asp Starting a Nonprofit Organization - How to Start a Nonprofit http://nonprofit.about.com/od/nonprofitbasics/ht/startingsteps.htm How to Start a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-501c3-Nonprofit-Organization If you have never managed a program that does some of the things you want to do, I strongly suggest you first volunteer at organizations that are involved with abused children, and organizations that educate children about HIV/AIDS and STDs.