Starting a Non-profit ?

Are you thinking to start your own NGO? Trying to figure out the steps it takes to do so? If “YES” then following guidelines may help you to efficiently plan for your organization:

Step 1: The Board of Directors:

The very first step is to have board of directors for you non-profit. They vary in number (usually smaller than five and no larger than twelve) according to the rules of the country and state. It is vital that the members of boards are highly dedicated, enthusiastic and sincere to the social cause. They can come from various backgrounds but their main focus must always revolve around the mission and vision of the non-profit. They work together for making the rules/policies, fundraising, processes and decision making for continuous services by organization. Through their mutual consent an Executive director of the non-profit is selected.

Step 2: Strong Background Research:

A comprehensive background research on the issue, problem, geography, people, community, media contacts, need assessments, funds etc is required. The board of directors shall make sure to look into every possible issue and challenge.

Step 3: Service Plan

Once the background research is complete, the services that your non-profit will provide must be evaluated. It is humanly impossible to provide all the solutions for the problem, so during this step them organization must evaluated its services with respect to its resources and need assessments on the ground. Emphasize on the “Value added services”. It is highly recommended to start my small and then grow big. Keep in mind that the services of the organization may change according to the demand for services.

Organization at this point must define ways to document the data e.g if its a healthcare non-profit then the number of patients, their gender, their diseases, process of NGOs etc must the documented. This documentation shall be reviewed frequently in order to improve and evaluate.

Step 4: Staffing and Training

A proper recruiting plan to hire volunteers and staff must be in place. All the vacancies must have a well-defined job description and properly published through offline and online media. All employees must be trained (training manuals) according to it. These training should be as focused and detailed as possible.

Step 5:- Publicity of Non-profit

Now its time to publicize non-profit through the media contacts that were developed during earlier steps. The power of social media can be leased to publicize it on larger ground. This process is a re-occurring process and it is critical to update the contacts, volunteers and local community about the progress and updates.

What a social Entrepreneur should do? My point of view

So what are the key elements of being a successful social entrepreneur? How to make a social venture successful? What does social entrepreneurship means to you? What steps a social entrepreneur should take? I repeatedly hear these and many questions of the similar nature especially during the interaction with YOUTH…[[ I don't feel any reluctance in admitting that our youth has amazing ideas and they are not afraid of taking risks. Ahhh ! I am sure if we keep motivating and providing them with focused sense and direction, they can do wonders to make this world a better place.]]

Following are few lessons that I learned during the implementation of social projects namely Jaroka, environmental buddy , Social Entrepreneurship Club and workshops with STEPS . I hope they give our youth some clarity on the concept of being a social entrepreneur.:

Lesson 1: Permit yourself to dream BIG.

( Listen to your heart as social venture is a game of heart ..Sometimes its ok to say “NO” to mind…Is it Difficult ???? Not at all, give it a try)

Lesson 2: Think what can you do for other??

(No complains and think optimistically…What others can do for you is not the question rather you making a difference counts…… )

Lesson 3: 1,2,3 …Start… Go for your idea

(Hurdles, Nicknames, criticism , and the list goes on……… SO WHAT !! start it now or wait for the rest of your life )

Lesson 4: Always start Small.

(small is not always very small…..Gradually grow big because in reality you are thinking BIG)

Lesson 5: No Problem is small . Overcome your ignorance

( Ahhhhh !!! I only want to solve BIG issues…..”Problem” is a “Problem” so don’t worry about its SIZE )

Lesson 6: Highlight the actual Problem on the ground and NOT what you think is a problem

(Do you assume you know actual problem?? How are you so sure???? Did u get the community feedback?)

Lesson 7: Listen and Reflect

(The hardest things in life is to listen, Yet it is the most important thing you need to do…..why is it soooo hard?)

Lesson 8: Design the realistic solution model and Focus on moving forward

(HIT and TRAIL….HIT and TRAIL …HIT and TRAIL… keep innovating)

Lesson 9: Challenges and Risks will always be there

( No Problem.. There is no FUN without them so let them motivate you and opportunities will “knock”)

Lesson 10: Let people witness your work and let them own your cause

( Invite them … Let them choose to participate and they will do half of your marketing)

Lesson 11: No one is Perfect…..

(one time is no time …Make mistakes as an imperfect person and you will do wonders)

Lesson 12: Earse the word “IMPOSSIBLE” from your dictionary and NEVER give up.

( Can I do it? YES, YES, a BIG YES…Impossible is NOTHING )