Women Entrepreneurs: How to Start a Nonprofit and Make a Real Impact

A non-profit organization can be an intimidating goal to reach for women who have not done this work before. Women often ask the same two questions – “How do I start a non-profit” and “Do I qualify to start a non-profit?”

So, you have a wonderful idea for a non-profit, but you have no experience in setting up a non-profit organization? Great, because you don't need years of experience! What you will need is a clear understanding of your mission and a willingness to learn the non-profit rules and take the required steps to get your idea turned into a non-profit organization.

What steps do I need to take? What information do I need to gather? How do I find funding and staff, when I have none? In this article you will learn the steps you need to follow in order to start a non-profit organization, with no previous experience, and to be able to run it successfully to the benefit of the community.

Start with a Clear Mission and Purpose

When creating a nonprofit organization, a compelling mission is crucial to success. Establishing a mission is the first step in creating a non-profit organization. The mission of a non-profit organization is its purpose, and it is the overarching goal that the organization works to achieve. In the context of non-profit development, the mission is a description of the problem that you wish to solve or the need that you wish to fulfill.

Many female entrepreneurs own social enterprise businesses that focus on community empowerment through education. While that’s where you may start, it isn’t where your mission needs to end. As with anything, simpler and more focused is always better and the simpler you can make your mission statement the better you’ll be able to spread the word about your organization and attract more supporters.

You Do Not Need Experience to Launch a Non-Profit

This is perhaps one of the most widely held myths that have been created about non-profits. Most people truly believe that you must have vast knowledge and/or extensive experience in the area in which your organization plans to make an impact.

Perhaps they think that donors, foundations and other funding groups will not be generous with inexperienced non-profits and so in order to gain their trust and support your organization must already have “arrived” at the table of service rather than be “just starting”. Perhaps they feel it necessary for you to prove and validate what you are setting out to accomplish before they will start to believe. However, none of this is true, you do not need to have expertise in an area in order to form a non-profit. You actually don’t even need knowledge – you can just go ahead and do it and learn as you go!

A vast majority of non-profit leaders were not experts in the area they were trying to address when they founded their organization. There is no better time than the present. The best way to build confidence is to start taking steps. It is not necessary to be perfect.

Learn the Basics of How to Start a Non-Profit Organization

Well, let’s talk about some basics before you start launching your non-profit organization. As mentioned earlier, this will involve getting some sense of non-profit structures, laws and the inner workings of other non-profit organizations.

You know it's relatively easy to gather enough information so that you can feel comfortable about proceeding with your plans. Keep your research in perspective though, and do not get stuck into an unending cycle of gathering information!

Choose a Specific Audience and Cause

Success to a non-profit begins with a target population for whom services will be provided. Trying to be everything to everyone is an exercise in futility. Determine a target population and serve them exclusively. Many women entrepreneurs create non-profits to assist women, families and under-served populations.

Understanding whom you are trying to reach and what you are trying to do for them makes it easier to build public trust, develop a network of volunteers and donors and to grow your non-profit organization.

Create a Simple Non-Profit Business Plan

You don’t have to write a formal business plan to start a non-profit organization. Initially, just a simple business plan is required to serve as a guide for your new organization. This planning phase will continue to guide the non-profit as it grows and evolves in years to come.

Your business plan is meant to be a guide for starting your business. It should not be treated as a formal, polished document.

Start Small and Take Action

Many people feel they need to be very rich and/or have an army of volunteers in order to organize a non-profit organization. While resources do help in spreading the word, no one needs to have many thousands of dollars at their disposal, and no organization needs to be staffed by dozens of paid people before it begins its work.

One easy way to get started is to focus on one area of effort rather than trying to do too much too soon. Thus, it may make sense to begin by constructing a web site and beginning to organize themselves in cyberspace through the various social networks or starting off with a pilot project that reaches just a few dozen people, in addition to trying to get the word out on the Internet. Small efforts can and often do produce major impact.

Understand Non-Profit Funding and Grant Writing for Beginners

I have spoken with numerous new non-profit managers about the issues of non-profit financing. I have had many new non-profits tell me that this was one of the concerns that they had when they went into the non-profit field. This is a very normal concern because grant writing for non-profits is a skill that has to be learned. It does not come easily, although once learned it is relatively straightforward. You will only need to write a mission statement, state your goals and how you plan on impacting society.

While grants are a popular method of fundraising for many non-profits, there are many other ways that you can gain funding for your non-profit. In addition to grants, you may find it beneficial to try to obtain donations, set up partnerships and become involved in your community. Gaining more experience for your non-profit will help make fundraising for your non-profit an easier task.

Build Confidence as a Woman Entrepreneur

One of the things you'll need to cultivate as a social entrepreneur especially if you're a woman thinking of launching a non-profit is self-confidence. Being told that your non-profit venture “won’t work” and dealing with the many perceived barriers to creating change is a part of social change work, but it's also exactly what can bring you down and keep you from taking action on your dreams.

As you begin your work as a non-profit founder, you may feel unsure of yourself or what lies ahead. And the thing to remember about confidence is that it doesn't come before taking the first step. Your confidence grows with each step, action and experience. Your first conversations about your organization will be with people who are unlikely to believe that your organization can really succeed. Your first clients may be those who have little and need a lot in return.

Remember that your first volunteers may only want to do the smallest amount of work and expect the most from you. It's all okay! What's important is that you start talking about your ideas, start volunteering for organizations that are similar to yours, and start preparing for the days ahead when things may not go as planned.

Find Support and Build a Community

Who you surround yourself with will impact your success as a female social entrepreneur. Women social entrepreneurs have reported having discovered their network through the internet, through a mentor, or through attending a number of social events and conferences to meet other similar entrepreneurs. A social network can help an individual learn much faster. It can also be very motivating and a great way to receive inspiration.