It is not always easy to put in time and effort towards the betterment of other people’s lives. That is why most people prefer to donate to charities instead of starting their own. However, if you are considering starting your own charity, use the following helpful tips:
Be a changemaker
Which problem do you want to address and why? Once you figure this out, research what is causing it and how to solve it. Answer all the important questions: who, when, where, what, and how. You should also think about the scale of your charity: local, global, or national.
Identify the solution
Find a great solution that will not only solve the problems that you want to address but also attract worthwhile investments. Your solution should be more effective than other previous attempts. Find out if other statutory bodies, charities, or local groups are trying to deal with the issue. If you find someone who is addressing the same issue, talk to them and share ideas. Could you add value by collaborating with someone else? If you can, then bring in others who are willing to help.
Map your journey
For the first year of activity, try to be as detailed as possible. What are you going to do and when are you going to do it? Having a plan is the best way to ensure that you do not go into anything blind. Do you want to go public right away? If you have strongly identified a need, you can start by delivering. The official launch can wait until your charity has a high profile.
Fundraising
How are you planning to fund your charity? If you need to raise cash, where will it come from? Do some research by asking people in other charities how they got started. Learn about several charity fundraising packages online and find out which one works for you. You should also decide whether to ask for donations from corporate funders, individuals, or charitable foundations.
Find a business finance mentor
You will face complications of investment and cash flow down the line. Therefore, it would be smart to get in touch with a pro bono business finance mentor who can help you deal with them.
Think about your name and brand
In order to be visible to future volunteers and donors, you will need a compelling brand. Think about what you will write in the “about us” section of your charity’s website, your logo, and Twitter handle. What will work best for online searches? Learn more about search analytics so that you can position your brand on the first page of search engine results. You can pick either a quirky and catchy name or an obvious one.
Be bold
In the charity sector, you will need to keep striving if you want donors to contribute towards your cause. You will face many obstacles along the way, but you need to remember that you are working to improve other people’s lives. Do not be afraid to confront people who might be stealing from the charity. If you are doing something that you truly believe in and making a real difference, then the rewards will be worth it.
Seek a communications expert
Your message needs to be communicated to the target audience effectively. Doing so will help in your future planning, communications, and fundraising efforts. A communications expert will also get your message across multiple social platforms, helping to spread the word about your charity. This will come in handy when looking for donors and volunteers.
