How do I get a grant to start a non profit charity for kid's?
I have an idea to get children interested in reading. I would love to start out with elementary children and children in hospitals and orphanages. With this idea I would need a grant instead of a business loan. I do not want to go through a company or website that I will have to pay for grant information or help. Are there any websites that will help me out for free? A site that will give me direct info or talk to a customer service rep?
Your best bet is to seek for private grants or grants from private foundations.
The best resource for this is Foundation Center http://www.fdncenter.org . They have a very good database covering all organizations giving grants and you can find foundations that are interested in supporting your type of cause. However, it's a subscription based website ($19.95 per month I think is the cheapest subscription price). But it certainly is worth the fee. You can subscribe one month, and make sure you get all the info you need and then stop the subscription.
If you want to try federal sources, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants.
CFDA has several ways to search for grants. I suggest you search by beneficiary and select Private Non Profit Organization and you can find listings of grants available http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show
I have found a website that compiles various resources on starting a non profit. I especially like the Minnesota Council of NonProfits because the site gives information on governance, developing strategic alliances, fund raising and other ingredients of successfully running a non profit.
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/znpbib.htm
Non profits are just like any business – you need to get the word out in order to get the needed funding to help support your activities. Here are some tips to help you market your non profit:
1. Determine your your target audiences: who are the groups and audiences that your non profit wants to reach. Remember that one target group may respond differently to a marketing message as another group so make sure that each strategy is tailor made for each audience.
2. Develop a communications strategy, creating timelines for marketing efforts such as newsletters, press releases, special events, and others.
3. Develop a visual image. Prepare your logo and other branding tools – and use them consistently across various mediums. Make sure that you repeat your branding messages, slogans in everything you make from brochures to newsletters.
4. Employ multiple communications tactics: Nonprofit organizations often target several audiences, which may respond to different approaches. Various communications campaigns can help establish and maintain a more widespread positive image.
5. Select and use appropriate media: Plan to use a combination of approaches best suited to reaching your targeted audiences and that make best use of your financial resources. Include a variety of methods including phone calls, letters, e-mail, newsletters, PSAs, press releases, and editorials.
For detailed information on how to start a non profit, I suggest you read the following books:
- Starting and Running a Nonprofit Organization — by Joan M. Hummel
- Starting and Running a Non-Profit Made Easy by Entrepreneur Press, David H. Bangs
- Starting & Building A Nonprofit: A Practical Guide by Peri Pakroo
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