Identifying a need is the easy part. Beyond that, there’s a lot that goes into launching a nonprofit, from getting a lawyer to forming a board to filling out tons of paperwork. For pointers, local philanthropist Karen Kalish is a good place to start. She’s founded several nonprofits in the St. Louis area, including Cultural Leadership, Books and Badges, and the Teacher Home Visit Program.
In her words:
1. Look Around.
First, go talk to every organization that’s working with the population you want to work with. The world, at this point, doesn’t need another nonprofit. Try to take your idea to one that already exists. Money is tight, and there are too many nonprofits vying for those dollars.
2. Get Help.
Never do it alone. Doing anything alone is the weakest form of leadership. You need somebody who’s not like you to bounce ideas off of. Make sure you do it as a partnership or collaborative effort—these are the strongest groups.
3. Make It Legal.
When you’re choosing a lawyer, make sure to choose a firm that does a lot of nonprofit work, like The Stolar Partnership in St. Louis. You also want to be very picky about what kind of lawyer or lawyers you want on the board. They need to have nonprofit experience; a real-estate lawyer probably won’t help you.
4. Build the Board.
When you’re choosing board members, make sure you have a few key people on the board who know fundraising. Also, you need people who are connected and aren’t afraid to ask for money. That’s very important. A lot of people are afraid to say, “Will you give us money?” but it’s better to ask, “Will you consider...?” That eases the fear of rejection.
