What to Do and What Not to Do When Starting a Non-Profit
Creative Commons Image Credit: Stuck in Customs
Every entrepreneur learns how to start a non-profit organization through hard work and, unfortunately, by making mistakes. Take advantage of the lessons other social entrepreneurs can teach you. You may be the first to walk the road you are paving toward your cause, but you aren’t the first to walk the road to non-profit success.
Here’s the Rebel for a Cause do and don’t list for starting a non-profit:
Don’t let people discourage your from your goal. Rebels are never discouraged by naysayers.
Do create a community of evangelists. You can’t do this on your own. Rebels need help spreading the word.
Don’t overlook branding and its importance in your success.
Do create a professionally designed logo, and develop a strong mission statement and tagline. Consistently place these items on your materials, e.g. letterhead, business cards, and website, etc.
Don’t rely entirely on the web to tell your story. Print mailings, phone calls, and handshakes still work and always will work.
Do keep your word. Follow through with your promises. For example, if you say you are going to commit a certain percentage of funds to a cause, then you must do so.
Don’t forget you are running a business. It’s always 50% program and 50% fund raising.
Do wear your passion on your sleeve. When your donors and community members see how much you care, it’s contagious.
Don’t limit message sharing.
Do decide on your target audience, but don’t forget about everybody else. Implement the 80/20 rule. Focus 80% of your efforts and time on those who you know care about your efforts and the other 20% on those who might learn to appreciate your message.
What have we missed? What other do’s and don’ts should social entrepreneurs heed?
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