Thanks for the work you do for your community.

I'm thinking about starting a non-profit. Where do I begin?

Validate the mission before you incorporate. A few things to do first:

• Talk to people running similar organizations in your area
• Look for existing non-profits already doing the work you have in mind — sometimes joining or supporting an existing one is a better path than founding your own
• Test whether the people you want to serve actually want what you're planning to offer

I've been asked to join a non-profit board or committee. What should I know first?

Ask what kind of board it is — that determines your legal authority and what's expected of you:

• Governing board — carries fiduciary responsibility, signs the Form 990
• Advisory board — no governance authority, just input
• Working board — does operational work because the organization can't yet afford staff

Then ask about time commitment, give-or-get expectations (some boards require members to donate or raise a specific amount each year), and what the existing board members actually do day to day. The Board Structure Guide walks through the differences.

Don't non-profits have to be broke?

No. The "non-profit" designation means the organization can't distribute profits to owners or shareholders — there are no owners in the for-profit sense. It does not mean an organization can't:

• Have revenue
• Pay competitive salaries
• Maintain operating reserves
• Operate sustainably for the long term

Healthy non-profits do all of those things, funded by a mix of donations, grants, member fees, fees-for-service, contracts, and earned income.

How do I know if a non-profit is a good fit for me to support or join?

Look at five things before you commit:

• Mission — is it something you actually care about, not just something that sounds good?
• Financials — Form 990s are public on Candid (formerly GuideStar) and show exactly how money is spent
• Leadership — who's on the board, how long have they served, what other organizations are they connected to?
• Impact — what does the organization actually accomplish, not just what does it say it wants to accomplish?
• People — talk to those who've worked with or volunteered with them