Starting your non-profit organization will be a challenge, but also a big adventure. The route you take to sustainability, name recognition, and making an impact will depend on your resources, your aim, and public awareness of the issue you have chosen to bring awareness to. There are, however, some key stages which any non-profit should attain.
Have a short term and long-term funding plan
Many non-profits never get off the ground, in a crowded marketplace for funding, and this means that having donors lined up and clear presentations of your goals and plan ready for potential donors are vital in the early stages of your non-profit organization’s life. However, it is just as important to always think long-term. Even the largest non-profits can abruptly fold for a variety of reasons, and one of these is a failure to think about the future and the shocks it can bring.
Try to ensure that you never run a deficit. Between over-extending to reach your goals, and stepping operations down, it can be worth being financially cautious to ensure that you do not tip your not-for-profit over into debt. Once a non-profit organization is in debt it can be very hard to justify asking for funding from donors while continuing your work on intractable problems.
A vital strategy that is needed is a clear risk management plan, which states what risks are and are not acceptable right from the beginning of the organization. If this slows the early growth of the organization this can be worth it to ensure that it will grow slower but more healthily.
Marketing your brand as effectively as possible
To make sure your non-profit stands out it is a good idea to maintain an active presence across different social media platforms and keep an eye out for marketing savings. These accounts can take a lot of upkeep but are a good way to build a personal connection to your community and potential donors.
Another strategy for effective marketing is to get a cheaper rate on your organization’s phone line with an 0300 number, offered to government and non-profit organizations. Companies like Planet Numbers are able to provide 0300 numbers with memorable numbers and a range of pricing options for your organization. These offer a chance to use your non-profit status to make a significant saving.
Be on the lookout for unexpected sources of funding
As a non-profit organization, there is likely to be a lot of competition for available pools of funding, but there may often be more funding available than you first believe. In areas such as the arts, for example, there is government funding available from the Arts Council, and other devolved bodies. If you know someone who has been working in your area for several years it can often be very informative to ask their advice on where and how to apply for sources of funding.
In other fields, there are similar funding bodies, mostly governmental, and it is worth taking time trying to understand how the funding ecosystem in your chosen area works before you plan your first big project, to understand what has the best chance of success.
