Resources for Starting a Charity

IN THE TRENCHES

Several organizations, books, and Web sites offer assistance to novice charity leaders, from helping them decide whether to start a nonprofit group to providing advice

on fund raising, forming a board, managing volunteers, fiscal issues, and more. Organizations

The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is an umbrella group for organizations that provide management consultation to charities. Its Web site allows visitors to search for management-assistance providers in their geographic regions. Contact information: 1899 L Street, N.W., 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 955-8406, alliance@allianceonline.org.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals is a membership organization for fund raisers. It offers publications, workshops, and conferences to help both new and experienced people in the field. Contact information: 1101 King Street, Suite 700, Alexandria, Va. 22314; (703) 684-0410, afp@afpnet.org.

BoardSource publishes materials on how to form a nonprofit board and recruit new trustees, and other subjects of interest to nonprofit boards. It also holds workshops and can provide consultants to advise a charity that is being formed. Contact information: 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20036-5114; (202) 452-6262 or (800) 883-6262; mail@boardsource.org.

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a nonprofit organization that provides consulting advice to charities in the areas of fund raising, management, technology, and other subjects. It serves nonprofit groups in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley regions, but also offers online education and free online newsletters, and its Web site has links to grant makers and other relevant sites. Contact information: San Francisco office: 706 Mission Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, Calif. 94103; general information (415) 541-9000; workshop information (415) 541-9197. Silicon Valley office: United Way Building, 1922 The Alameda, Suite 212, San Jose, Calif. 95126; (408) 248-9505. Both offices can be contacted at info@compasspoint.org.

The Foundation Center operates a library with affiliates across the nation that can provide guidance on applying for grants and other help on financial matters for nonprofit organizations. Its Web site offers answers and links on a variety of topics, including starting a nonprofit group. It also offers online courses, a librarian who can provide research help via e-mail, and a searchable Foundation Finder. The Foundation Center offers seminars around the country on topics such as proposal writing, and it has published a book called The Foundation Center’s Guide to Grantseeking on the Web, which is also available on CD-ROM. Either format is $29.95 and can be purchased through the center’s Web site. Contact information: 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10003; (212) 620-4230.

The National Council of Nonprofit Associations counts among its members more than 35 state and regional associations of nonprofit organizations, some of which offer workshops on founding charities and can provide consultants to give tailor-made advice. Those groups are good sources of information on state and local laws and regulations. 1030 15th Street, N.W., Suite 870, Washington, D.C. 20005; (202) 962-0322, ncna@ncna.org.

Books and Journals

Chardon Press publishes books of interest to community-based organizations, and its Grassroots Fundraising Journal can help with a range of topics, including special fund-raising events to direct mail to soliciting major donors. 3781 Broadway, Oakland, Calif. 94611; (510) 596-8160 or (888) 458-8588, info@grassrootsfundraising.org.

How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation, Fifth Edition, by Anthony Mancuso ($44.99), offers step-by-step guidance on the tax and legal issues of starting a nonprofit group. Nolo Press, 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, Calif., 94710; (800) 728-3555, [URL]cs@nolo.com[/URL];mailto:cs@nolo.com.

The Nonprofit Handbook, Third Edition, by Gary M. Grobman ($29.95), covers the nitty-gritty details of starting a nonprofit organization, including applying for tax-exempt status, writing bylaws, getting insurance, hiring and firing, planning and leading an organization, and much more. White Hat Communications, P.O. Box 5390, Harrisburg, Pa. 17110-0390; (717) 238-3787, gary.grobman@paonline.com.

Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, Third Edition, by Bruce R. Hopkins ($29.95), discusses tax-exempt status, salaries and benefits for employees, planned giving, personal liability, and more. Published by John Wiley & Sons, 1 Wiley Drive, Somerset, N.J. 08875; (800) 225-5945, customer@wiley.com.

Web Resources

Starting a Nonprofit Organization, a comprehensive site written and compiled by Carter McNamara, co-founder of Authenticity Consulting, in Minneapolis, offers lots of practical advice, including checklists of tasks founders need to complete and plenty of links to other sources.

Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization is a government-produced guide to acquiring charity status. You may also want to check out the IRS Web site for additional information targeted to charities.