Comments on: Nonprofit Startup Advice http://edaconsulting.org/2012/02/nonprofit-startup-advice/ Making Your Passion Our Mission Tue, 15 May 2012 15:35:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Herb Newell http://edaconsulting.org/2012/02/nonprofit-startup-advice/#comment-86 Herb Newell Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:42:14 +0000 http://edaconsulting.org/?p=921#comment-86 This is a good short list! Thirty years ago we were those young, wild-eyed compassionate people with a good idea and no clue. We had the dumb luck to get sucked in to just the right cause at just the right time. We took the right approach, made the right contacts, got the right grants and contracts, found the right mentors, board members, donors and volunteers..., and made the right adjustments... to strive, to survive, and eventually to thrive in compassionate ministry. We were lucky, worked hard and learned quick, and we only went bust a couple times. We are blessed to bless others! When kids come to me for advice I want to do everything I can to encourage them and to help them to help them realize their passion and dreams to serve because they are the next generation of compassion. I also want to encourage them to learn some of the things I should have known and do some of the things I should have done. I'd boil it down even a little further: 1. Whats the Big Picture: Understanding the need and your unique approach. 2. Boiling it Down: Getting from the big picture to the business plan. 3. It Is About the Money: Understand and embrace the importance of financing your dream. This is a good short list!

Thirty years ago we were those young, wild-eyed compassionate people with a good idea and no clue. We had the dumb luck to get sucked in to just the right cause at just the right time. We took the right approach, made the right contacts, got the right grants and contracts, found the right mentors, board members, donors and volunteers…, and made the right adjustments… to strive, to survive, and eventually to thrive in compassionate ministry. We were lucky, worked hard and learned quick, and we only went bust a couple times.

We are blessed to bless others!

When kids come to me for advice I want to do everything I can to encourage them and to help them to help them realize their passion and dreams to serve because they are the next generation of compassion. I also want to encourage them to learn some of the things I should have known and do some of the things I should have done.

I’d boil it down even a little further: 1. Whats the Big Picture: Understanding the need and your unique approach. 2. Boiling it Down: Getting from the big picture to the business plan. 3. It Is About the Money: Understand and embrace the importance of financing your dream.

]]> By: Emily Davis http://edaconsulting.org/2012/02/nonprofit-startup-advice/#comment-85 Emily Davis Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:54:13 +0000 http://edaconsulting.org/?p=921#comment-85 Well said, Cindy! Hopefully, we can get the word out to more and more folks to educate them about nonprofits as businesses and how to prepare. Well said, Cindy! Hopefully, we can get the word out to more and more folks to educate them about nonprofits as businesses and how to prepare.

]]> By: Cindy Lauren http://edaconsulting.org/2012/02/nonprofit-startup-advice/#comment-84 Cindy Lauren Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:08:13 +0000 http://edaconsulting.org/?p=921#comment-84 I too receive many requests like this: someone has a fantastic idea to do good work, feel compelled to start their own firm,despite many similar ones struggling and have no idea how to begin. There seems to be an idea that a good cause and care is enough to generate a following, income and attention. The reality is doing nonprofit work is simply hard- and if you add the sanctimony that often accompanies the need for fundraising, programs and volunteers, sometimes it is really hard. This article is very good and to the point and for all the inquiries about starting a new nonprofit, this might be required reading. thanks for posting! I too receive many requests like this: someone has a fantastic idea to do good work, feel compelled to start their own firm,despite many similar ones struggling and have no idea how to begin. There seems to be an idea that a good cause and care is enough to generate a following, income and attention.
The reality is doing nonprofit work is simply hard- and if you add the sanctimony that often accompanies the need for fundraising, programs and volunteers, sometimes it is really hard.

This article is very good and to the point and for all the inquiries about starting a new nonprofit, this might be required reading.
thanks for posting!

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