As the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, we get questions about how to start a nonprofit all of the time. Before you move ahead with starting a nonprofit, you should consider the following:
- Is the service needed? Who’s already providing it? How will this one be better?
- From where will money come to operate? Do you have supporters who will donate both their service and funds?
- Once incorporated the entity is a public charity and the founder is not the owner.
Start online with How Do I Start a Nonprofit? from GrantSpace, a service of the Foundation Center. This outline begins with the most important questions and provides a collection of resources, including a video to help answer many of your questions.
Our top recommendation is the Internal Revenue Service. They have all of the information you will need about tax-exempt entities: IRS Charities and Other Non-profits
Indiana Nonprofit Startup Resources
From Foundation Center, a collection of online resources for starting a nonprofit in the state of Indiana.
How to Start a Nonprofit Organization — Guidelines and Resources for Entrepreneurs
From Carter McNamara’s Free Management Library, a set of topics on starting and shutting down a nonprofit.
What Are Nonprofit Bylaws? Where Can I Find Samples?
Also from GrantSpace, a collection of resources, including a video on Bylaws and where to find samples
“What is Fiscal Sponsorship? How can I find a fiscal sponsorship?”
From GrantSpace, extensive resources on the topic, including webinars, videos, online articles and guides, websites and print books.
Fiscal Sponsorship
From the Community Resource Center, a PDF on by David Barlow CPA
“A White Paper: On Comprehensive Fiscal Sponsorship”
A white paper from Third Sector New England.
Fiscal Sponsorship
A topic page from the Council on Nonprofits.
