The Everything Nonprofit Toolkit

by Goettler, Jim

• ISBN13: 9781440538780
• ISBN10: 1440538786
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-06-18
• Publisher: Everything

Summary

Expert advice for creating a successful nonprofit Do you dream of starting your very own organization that promotes a mission and provides assistance to a meaningful cause? In this volatile and unpredictable economy, you'll require more than a good idea and committed volunteers to find success. The Everything Nonprofit Toolkit with CDis the ultimate guide you'll need to plan carefully, set realistic goals, and create sustainable financing for your nonprofit. Featuring essential and up-to-the-minute information on how to: Develop a business plan that works Understand the federal and state laws for nonprofits Secure funding and investors Create a board of directors and a mission statement Publicize and advertise through social media Navigate tax laws, personnel issues, and daily operations Nonprofit advisor Jim Goettler guides you through the process from beginning to end, even providing a new, proven case study that's a living example of nonprofit success. Complete with a CD chock-full of every tax, budget, and incorporation document that a nonprofit needs, plus the latest information on Form 990 reporting, The Everything Nonprofit Toolkit with CDwill take your dream of a nonprofit to reality.

Author Biography

An Adams Media author.

Table of Contents

The Top 10 Things Every Organizer of a Nonprofit Must Remember	p. 10
Introduction	p. 11
Organizer to Organizer- Let's Talk!	p. 13
Living in Interesting Times	p. 14
We're Not All MBAs	p. 15
The Political Atmosphere	p. 17
The Citizens United Ruling- How It Affects Nonprofits	p. 19
Evaluating Your Capacity Honestly	p. 23
Time Commitment	p. 24
Looking Over the Horizon	p. 25
Networking Within Your Community	p. 29
Evaluating Your Broader Community	p. 30
Urgent Needs Facing Communities	p. 32
Local Networking	p. 34
Social Media Networking	p. 36
Similar Groups	p. 40
Understanding Organizations and Corporations	p. 43
The For-Profit Corporation	p. 44
Types of For-Profit Corporations	p. 45
The Nonprofit Organization	p. 47
State Versus Federal Nonprofits	p. 49
Types of Nonprofit Organizations	p. 50
Consulting a Tax Lawyer	p. 54
The First Organizing Meeting	p. 57
Meeting Basics	p. 58
Defining What You Want to Do	p. 59
Do You Really Want to Be a Nonprofit?	p. 61
Reality Check	p. 62
Limitations and Ongoing Reporting Requirements	p. 62
The 20 Percent Rule for Political Activities	p. 64
Acting and Thinking as a Nonprofit Organization	p. 66
The Initial Board of Directors	p. 69
The Initial/Founding Members of the Board	p. 70
Qualities of the Initial Board	p. 70
Choosing the Initial Officers	p. 72
Responsibilities of the Officers	p. 73
To Pay or Not to Pay the Board	p. 77
Acceptance of Corporate Documents	p. 78
The Fiduciary Responsibility of the Board	p. 79
Articles of Incorporation	p. 81
Required Language	p. 82
A General Overview of Suggested Language	p. 85
Defining Your Purpose to Meet IRS Standards	p. 86
Planning For the End-While Meeting IRS Standards!	p. 87
Amendments	p. 89
The Registered Agent	p. 90
By-Laws	p. 93
Organizational Details	p. 94
Responsibilities of the Board	p. 96
Membership Options	p. 97
Standing Committees	p. 99
Proposed Committees	p. 100
Nondiscrimination and a Statement of Ethics	p. 102
Language for a Specific Audience	p. 104
Filing Incorporation Documents	p. 105
Local Government Offices	p. 106
Federal Tax ID Number	p. 108
State Business License	p. 109
Local Business License	p. 111
The Twenty-Seven-Month Clock Begins	p. 112
Miscellaneous Documents	p. 113
Record-Keeping Systems	p. 115
The Core of Any Nonprofit	p. 116
Agendas and Minutes	p. 117
Financial Reporting to the Organization	p. 119
Financial Reporting to the State	p. 122
Financial Reporting to the Federal Government	p. 122
Increased Scrutiny of Allowable Activities	p. 125
Recording All Publicity	p. 128
Developing a Budget	p. 131
Be Realistic	p. 132
Budget Projections	p. 133
Identifying Income Sources	p. 134
Projected Capital Expenses	p. 136
Projected Staffing Expenses	p. 139
Organizational or Administrative Expenses	p. 140
Bank Accounts	p. 143
Be Prepared	p. 144
Authorized Check-Signers	p. 144
Types of Banks	p. 146
Types of Accounts	p. 149
Establishing Financial Credibility	p. 151
Get to Know Your Banker	p. 153
Fundraising	p. 155
Commitment from the Entire Organization	p. 156
Ever-Expanding Circles	p. 157
The Board and Their Families	p. 158
Direct Appeals to Existing Contacts	p. 159
Establish a History	p. 160
Competition for Grants	p. 161
Public and Private Funding	p. 162
Development of a Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign	p. 164
Overlooked Methods	p. 167
Using the Internet	p. 169
In-Kind Contributions	p. 171
Board Development	p. 173
Basic Procedure	p. 174
Expanding Your Reach	p. 175
Assessing Immediate Needs	p. 176
Assessing Future Needs	p. 178
Connecting with Other Nonprofits	p. 180
Continuing Education	p. 182
Reflecting Your Community	p. 183
It Will Always Involve Money	p. 185
A Business Plan	p. 187
A General Overview	p. 188
Contents	p. 189
Supporting Financial Documents	p. 191
General Supporting Documents	p. 192
Nonprofit Business Plan Overview	p. 194
A Mission Statement	p. 197
The Soul of the Organization	p. 198
Vision	p. 199
Introduce Yourself to the World	p. 200
Introduce Yourself to the Funding Community	p. 201
Guiding Principles	p. 202
Exercises to Use	p. 203
Publicity and Outreach	p. 207
Websites	p. 208
Newsletters	p. 210
Press Coverage	p. 212
Fairs and Community Festivals	p. 213
Mailing Lists	p. 214
Public Access Television	p. 215
Staff	p. 217
Office of the Executive Director	p. 218
The Development Director	p. 220
Volunteers and the Volunteer Coordinator	p. 222
The Accountant	p. 225
Program/Project Coordinators	p. 226
Compensation	p. 227
Finally! the 1023	p. 229
The Anatomy of Form 1023	p. 230
The First Challenge: Part IV, the Narrative	p. 231
Financial Data	p. 233
User Fee Information	p. 234
The Advance Ruling Process	p. 235
Assembling Supplementary Materials	p. 235
Outside Review	p. 236
The Application Packet	p. 237
The Determination Letter	p. 239
Board Liability Insurance	p. 243
Overview	p. 244
"Good Faith"	p. 244
Insurance for Employment Issues	p. 246
Insurance for General Liability with Real Property	p. 248
Insurance for Specific Situations	p. 249
Operations Staff and the Board of Directors	p. 253
An Age-Old Conflict	p. 254
Defining Board Oversight	p. 256
Financial Responsibility	p. 257
Programming	p. 258
A Board Liaison	p. 259
An Open-Door Policy	p. 260
Personnel Issues	p. 261
A Unique Sense of Ownership	p. 262
The Personnel Committee	p. 263
A Code of Conduct	p. 266
Contractor or Employee	p. 266
Collective Bargaining	p. 268
Changing from a For-Profit Organization to a Nonprofit	p. 271
Where You Are Right Now	p. 272
The Twenty-Seven-Month Rule	p. 275
Rethinking Business Plans and Terminology	p. 276
Forming a Nonprofit Within Your Current Operation	p. 277
Starting From Scratch	p. 278
A Successful Fundraising Campaign: A Case Study, Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, Kentucky	p. 281
Sample Documents	p. 287
Tribal Nonprofit Organizations	p. 312
Web Resources	p. 320
General Resources for Nonprofits	p. 321
CD Contents	p. 322
Index	p. 327
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.