Find an issue or need that you're passionate about, think of ways to help with that issue or need, and start drumming up financial support. Note that forming a non-profit is not a cheap endeavor. Complying with IRS rules on nonprofits and filing your applications will cost a few thousand dollars for someone to do it correctly. You'll also have ongoing compliance costs for your record-keeping, tax filings, legal costs, and so on. Running a nonprofit is, in most cases, much harder than running a business.

You are never young to help others. I really appreciate your initiative.

The following steps will help get your own NGO up and running:

Step 1: Test the waters.

Many new activists are ready to commit their lives to “the cause.” Some are even willing to die for it. Most of these enthusiastic newbies are nowhere to be found a few months later. There’s no need to turn down the volume of your enthusiasm, but before starting your own NGO, consider joining one that does similar work for a while. If starting your own NGO really is right for you, the experience of working for an established NGO will only strengthen your resolve and direct your passion. Maybe you’ll find that NGOs are not your life calling after all. Better to learn that early on, before making a big commitment.

Step 2: Start on the right foot

Becoming obsolete should be the fundamental goal of all NGOs. You must constantly strive to work yourself out of a job. Becoming obsolete works on two levels. In terms of your personal involvement, you should build the NGO to the point where it can function independently of your leadership. The long term goal of your NGO should be to solve a problem and thereby become unnecessary.

Step 3: Clarify your goals

Set clear and achievable goals for yourself and the NGO. “Ending world hunger” is a great goal and looks good on your NGO’s t-shirt, but it’s not a problem you can seriously hope to solve. Finding a niche is good place to start. Positive change usually comes from picking something small, doing it well and following through.

Step 4: Make an action plan

A plan of action is your chance to make an NGO effective, address any potential negative impacts and make sure your NGO will attract donors and volunteers.Make sure you are able to follow through with what you start. Think hard about your action plan. Hard work is important, but hard work without a good plan is a waste of time and money.

Step 5: Make a website

t’s never too early to make a website for your NGO. A good website helps you to spread the word, attract volunteers, secure funding and establish a professional appearance. An interactive website can also minimize your need for meetings and micro managing. Attention spans on the web are very short. Be clear and concise.

Step 6: Get in the know

Local knowledge is indispensable to every NGO. Even if you grew up in the city where you want to start an NGO, you still need to research and make contacts. Making solid local contacts and understanding the locals’ worldview is especially important if you want to work in a foreign culture. Good use of local knowledge can really make an NGO effective. Without local knowledge, you may do more harm than good.

Step 7: Assess your NGO’s financial needs

Money, when it does come, usually requires great amounts of paperwork and sometimes has strings attached. The quality of the work an NGO does and the amount of its funding are often inversely related. That is to say, the NGOs with less money do better work per hour and dollar spent. The crucial point is to to minimize your NGO’s need for money. Get an established NGO to accept you under its umbrella. Tax deductible donations and grants will go to them, care of your NGO. Setting up this arrangement could be as easy as a 30 minute talk with your local peace center.

Step 8: Network, network, network

Make friends with people and organizations doing similar work so that you can learn from their successes and mistakes. Networking also helps you to know when to team up and when to divide your efforts for maximum effectiveness.

Step 9: Find balance

Be realistic about how much time you want to give to your NGO. Taking on projects beyond your comfortable limits won’t yield much benefit in the long run. You are worth more to your NGO as a part time activist for 5-20 years than letting your passionate burn out in two years. Finding balance between work and personal life is key to success.

Step 10: Re-evaluate everything

Take a step back and look at what you have done and where it is all headed. Take joy in what you have accomplished, but also make sure your NGO is not becoming self aggrandizing. Your own awareness is the best tool to avoid over-emphasizing the NGO to the detriment of the cause, but don’t hesitate to ask someone from outside of your NGO for an evaluation. With constant awareness, you can keep your focus and resources flowing to your original goals.

Any volunteer experience can be rewarding. Starting your own NGO can make you feel totally fulfilled.

You will learn and grow as an individual and receive a profound sense of satisfaction not easily found in modern life.

I hope my insights, experiences and mistakes were of benefit.

Lavanya D'cruz

http://reliancefoundation.org/

do not do so

there is no market when you open up a non profit

cities and counties support people that civilian NGOs try to help

open up a profit org