Cause Collective Lincoln

Thinking of Starting a Nonprofit?

THINKING OF STARTING A NONPROFIT?

Engaging in your community and wanting to make it a better place is a wonderful way to support Lincoln. This may mean starting a new nonprofit organization, but there are often more effective and efficient alternatives. It is especially important to understand the risks and benefits of starting a nonprofit before doing so. 

These alternatives are also much cheaper, and still allow you to continue the work you love instead of taking on the responsibilities and costs that come with running a business. 

We encourage you to review the steps below before you decide to incorporate. We hope you will reach out to us as well - we are happy to meet with you for a free one hour guiding discussion. 

 CONDUCT RESEARCH ON YOUR IDEA

Research other nonprofits or resources similar to the services you want to provide and find data. 

Things you can do: 

• Contact Cause Collective for a free 1 hour guiding discussion 
  • Regardless of the planning stage you are in, we would love to meet with you! Call 402-441-4399 to setup an appointment
• Google keywords about the service you want to provide to find local agencies that provide the same or similar service 
• Reach out to one or two of those nonprofits providing a similar service - they may help you better understand the needs in your community or even may have a place for you with them

CONSIDER ADVANTAGES TO THE ALTERNATIVES

Your heart is in the right place and we absolutely support your passion to help. However, we hope you first consider some of the alternatives to opening a nonprofit that may allow you to better focus on the work YOU want to do, as well as more efficiently serve the community. 

• Become a sponsored project. Having an existing nonprofit become your fiscal sponsor is a great way to save your money, reduce your workload and test-drive the need of your idea in the community before going through the process of becoming a nonprofit. Check the links below for some info on becoming a sponsored project: 
  •  Council of Nonprofits Info 
    • https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/running-nonprofit/administration-and-financial-management/fiscal-sponsorship-nonprofits
  • Check with The Foundry - a local nonprofit that supports fiscal sponsorship 
    • https://thefoundry.co/how-we-educate/fiscal-sponsors.html
       
• Alternatives to Starting a Nonprofit (Minnesota Council of Nonprofits) 
  • https://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/resources-tools/starting-a-nonprofit/alternatives-to-starting-a-nonprofit 
     
• Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Info 
  • https://www.nonprofitam.org/page/startanonprofit 
     
• Want to Start a Nonprofit? (ONEPlace @ KPL)
  • https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k_FC6H2NOq_qyRucIIfETkPZSZUTxwho/view?usp=sharing 

 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AND GETTING STARTED

If you feel the best thing for you is to start a nonprofit, below are a few things to think about and some helpful pages we highly recommend you review beforehand. 

• Some important things to know before incorporating: 
  • Consider how you will be funded. Making a budget and having a good understanding of where your income will come from is invaluable to your future success and sustainability. 
  • Having a board. Nebraska requires at least 3 people to be on a board of a nonprofit. You will need a few other passionate people before you can open your organization and then learn about the roles and responsibilities of a board (We can help with this too!) 
  • No one OWNS a nonprofit business. If you are someone who wants to control a business and make all decisions, a nonprofit may not be for you. A nonprofit is governed by a board, which does often include the founder, but is never controlled by a single person. 
     
• Best Practices for a Nonprofit (The Nebraska Attorney General's Office) https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/sites/protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/files/doc/Best%20Practices%20for%20a%20Nonprofit%20Organization_0.pdf 
   
• Assessment: Are you ready to start your own nonprofit organization? 
  • Arizona State University: https://lodestar.asu.edu/nonprofit-management-institute/are-you-ready-start-nonprofit 
     
• Business Planning for Nonprofits - National Council of Nonprofits 
  • https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/running-nonprofit/administration-and-financial-management/business-planning-nonprofits

MORE PAGES TO HELP YOU GET STARTED 

• Nonprofits Startup Guide (nonprofit hub) 
  •  https://nonprofithub.org/nonprofit-startup-guide/
     
• How to Start a Nonprofit in Nebraska (NAM)
  •  https://www.nonprofitam.org/page/startanonprofit
     
• Starting Out - IRS 
  •  https://www.stayexempt.irs.gov/home/starting-out/starting-out
     
• How to Start a Nonprofit Organization (SCORE) 
  •  https://www.score.org/resource/blog-post/how-start-a-nonprofit-organization 
     
• Guidelines and Principles Assessment (Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM))
  •  https://www.guidelinesandprinciples.org/
     
• How to Start a Nonprofit Organization in 2023 (step-by-step) Video by LYFE Accounting 
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWzo6mQZpSM&t=930s 

VIEW PDF VERSION HERE