Chris Caldwell ⋅ Louisville, KY Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville ⋅ 25 years experience

John,

Don't assume the non-profit world is also non-competitive. There are lots of good, well-intentioned people in the non-profit sector, but the funding is often scarce, and the competition to secure that funding can be vigorous. The suggestion of trying to connect with a grant writer is a good one, as is the suggestion to try connecting with an existing non-profit that might provide experience in your area of interest. Also, know that granting organizations typically have a mission/purpose that pretty well directs their funding. You'll need to have a pretty clear idea of what you want to do, and then try to find foundations and others who will consider grant proposals in your area.

Chris

Richard McCann ⋅ Bellingham, MA Consulting CFO and Advisor ⋅ 30 years experience

Have you tried speaking with your town's Veterans Representative - start at the town hall and begin the discussion that way.

Christianah Adesida ⋅ Lorton, VA U.S. Army, Master Sergeant ⋅ 22 years served

Hello John, a good website to help you get started is www.nonprofitally.com. The site have videos and information that you can download to use for your business.
Starting a non-profit organization goes beyond just registering the company, you have to have a plan on how you will generate consistence funding for the organization.

Let me know if you find the website helpful.

Good luck

Susan Hallen ⋅ Elk Grove Village, IL IBM ⋅ 35 years experience

All the answers are great, but please take a look at existing non profits...I am the chair of a non profit and it takes more that commitment to a cause...fundraising dollars are very split in the US and making sure you have the niche that needs filling is the first thing you need to do, then look at the other non profits to see if someone else is already going down that path...combine efforts for the best results.

Joe O Donnell ⋅ San Francisco, CA Hotwire ⋅ 5 years experience

Hi John,

I'd encourage you to think first about getting involved with an existing non-profit that has a mission similar to the one you're envisioning. Actively participate and network with those involved to learn all that you can ahead of starting your own. What you may find is that your good intentions, talents and ambitions might most effectively be realized within an existing non-profit organization currently serving post-9/11 disabled veterans.

Good luck!

Scott Tagg ⋅ Boise, ID U.S. Air Force, Colonel ⋅ 38 years served

John,
To add to what Jacqueline listed:

1. Concur about contacting a local non-profit center for their advice and resources.

2. Check with your local colleges and universities and see if their professional development has a class/course on non-profit management.

3. Conduct an informational interview with your local VA Regional Office leadership to come up to speed on VA services available and provided in your local area, as you don't want to duplicate/compete with what is already there. Your non-profit needs to fill the gap of what the VA and other local non-profits are not providing.

4. Hire a Development Director. A non-profit is all about fund raising in order to make it happen.

5. As your focus is on disabled vets, hire/contract a social worker as part of your team.

Hope this helps gets the thought process going and good luck.

Jacqueline Berg ⋅ Gilford, NH self-owned business ⋅ 8 years experience

Part of what you will need to do is register (and file taxes) with the state. You will also have to file taxes with the IRS. Different states have different rules. Also, there are likely organizations in your state you can consult with (for example, here in New Hampshire, there is a training organization to support the development of non-profits through training its board members. Here in NH, that organization is http://www.nhnonprofits.org/. In Boston there is the Center for Non-Profit Success http://www.cfnps.org/. These typically charge for trainings. There are likely some grants you can apply for/tap into, many from our federal government.

You will likely have to create a board with officers (ex. President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.)

My board had believed there was an upper limit we could have in savings. There appears not to be, but I am not sure if there ever was and if there was, was it a state or federal imposition.

I'm sorry not to be of more help, but hopefully this will get you thinking about what you can google in your state to find more support.