How To Start Your Own Charity Organization May 11, 2016My LifeOff

Believe it or not, some of the most successful business people in the world have started their own charities. Bill Gates, the owner of Microsoft has the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This helps to support health and education initiatives. Oprah Winfrey is another excellent example, who has founded multiple charities, all with worthwhile causes. While you may not have the same income as Bill or Oprah, that shouldn’t stop you from starting your own charity. If you have a cause that is close to your heart, spare time and financial stability, you can make a difference. It’s not as difficult as it may seem to set one up and you can see the results of your work almost instantly. To get your dream of starting a charity organisation off to a fantastic start, use this guide to help you.

Choose a cause. You need to choose a charitable cause that holds some significance to you. But it also needs to vary from other organisations. Have you watched a documentary lately that moved you? Or was there a story in the newspaper that struck a nerve? Maybe you or a relative has a rare medical condition that is not being funded. Or maybe your local town is dealing with a rise in homelessness. Choosing a cause that you care deeply about will keep you motivated and focused from the concept to reality. You’ll also need to be passionate and know everything there is to know about the cause you choose. Once you’ve chosen a possible cause for your organisation, do as much research as you can. Go online, read books and talk to volunteers to get further knowledge and understanding.

You might also want to consider ways in which your charity and business can combine. For instance, if you are concerned about deforestation, you can start selling recycled products. Or become a completely paper-free business. Or you could start selling cruelty-free items or products made by local tradesmen and artists.

Do your reading. Once you have determined the cause you want to support, your charity needs to be registered. But before you do this, you need to do a wealth of reading. While you probably know all about your cause and your business, it’s unlikely you know how to run a charity effectively. So you need to read the recommended online reading sources provided by the Charity Commission. There is a lot to get through before you can register, but it’s relevant and useful information you need to know. It includes rules of what you can and can’t do, charitable structures and choosing a name. You need to take the time to read through all of this information carefully. You may find that it’s more hard work that you realized and that supporting a similar charity may be easier. On the other hand, it may make you more eager than ever to get started.

Know how you are going to get funding. Funding is something that your charity will regularly need to continue it’s good work. So you need to start considering how you intend to raise the funds it needs. Many organisations offer grants and funding to charities, but they are highly sought after. It’s likely you will face stiff competition from other charities who are also starting out. To increase your chances you could hire bid writers to create appealing applications to help you secure the funds you need. Fun video content and interesting marketing can also help you stand out.  Organizing charity auctions and fundraising events to gain donations and interest are popular techniques. You could organize a charity walk, a crafts fair or a sporting event in your local area to raise awareness. Setting yourself up on Facebook and other social media sites can also help get your charity’s name out there. With TV producers and journalists using social media to find charities, it could bring many opportunities to your door. Even money left in wills and legacies can give you the funds you need. Create an action plan by brainstorming ideas and start organizing your first event as soon as possible.

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