*Programs.  Decide what program you want to do, determine the goal of the program, the objectives of the program and the expected outcomes.  This will help you as you begin to search for funding to support the program. Also, decides if this is a one year or multi-year program because that will help you determine which foundations might support your program from an annual grant or a multi-year grant perspective.

Once you have decided on the program, now you have to staff it.  And for the purpose of identifying foundations that support your mission, you have to describe the program on paper, create a budget for the program which you have to include in your grant proposal to the foundation and include your IRS Determination letter.  If you have not yet received your IRS Determination letter, you will need to consider finding a fiscal agent (another 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit organization to receive your grant from a foundation or individual donor if they require that the donation be made to a tax-exempt organization).   

Now you need to determine salary of progam manager and what fringe benefits the organization will provide.

Be assured that the question of money — where and how to get it to fund your passion — so you can pay your bills remains at the forefront of actually living your passion.

Topics
In this column, I will write about what it takes to move from passion to actually starting your non-profit organization and getting it up and running. Topics will include:

• Getting Started — Steps to starting a non-profit organization
• Programs, Projects and Activities
• Fundraising
• Grant writing
• Building your donor base
• Board development
• Advisory councils
• Communications and outreach
• Budgets/Finance/Accounting
• Creating income generating activities
• Organizational growth and development
• Partnerships, networks and coalitions

Getting Started
There are quite a few steps to take before your non-profit can become operational.

• Get organized: Buy a box of manila file folders and keep yourself and your records organized.
• Name: What do you want to call your organization?
• Address: Use a street address — not a PO Box.
• Logo: Decide on your colors and ask a graphic design student of  to create one for you.
• Mission: Define your mission — what do you want to do and how.
• Mission Statement: Write a mission statement that summarizes your mission and is clear and concise.
• Programs: What will the organization do, and how will your organization fulfill the mission?
• Board of Directors: Who else will join you on this adventure?
• Start-up funding: You need some. Do you have start-up money? Or a donor lined up to give?
• Federal Tax ID #: Either go online or call the IRS to be assigned a Federal EIN for your organization (you must have a name, a street address and a contact person to do this step).
• State Registration: Contact your Secretary of State to find out which forms you need to fill out to become an officially incorporated non-profit organization in the state where you establish your organization.
• Bank Account: Open a non-profit bank account and ask them to donate your first round of checks. You have to have your Federal Tax ID # to open a bank account.
• IRS exempt status: Apply for non-profit 501(c)(3) status from the IRS once you are incorporated in your state as a non-profit organization.

“There’s no such thing as tainted money — there just t’aint enough of it!”