So you want to start a non-profit?

You are probably doing a quick Google search or asking ChatGPT, how do I start a non-profit organization?

The websites or the answers you are getting from an LLM are probably stating something along the lines of follow these 5-steps or 10-steps to establish a non-profit. Some of the steps might be similar. Some might be in different orders. It may feel overwhelming and confusing, and you'll probably just end up at the starting point again - how do I start a non-profit?

I've been there. Looking back to 2020, when I co-founded Side by Side Agency with my fellow founders, I wish we had a resource we could use to easily understand the steps to jumpstart our non-profit organization within 90 days. When we built Side by Side Agency, it felt like we were operating blind. There were tons of resources online, but the free articles and websites never went in-depth into all the aspects of starting a non-profit organization. Some of the resources would recommend registering the non-profit as a charity first. Others would recommend building a robust Board of Directors before incorporating.

The danger of the conflicting advice can lead non-profit/charity founders to:

• Spend unnecessary time obsessing over the perfect mission and vision before validating the need and demand in the community.

• Neglect basic financial planning (cost estimates, funding pipeline), which can lead to instability in the early stages of the organization.

• Prioritize registering the organization as a charity without spending the time to understand if the organization qualifies for the status or whether it is needed right away.

To mitigate the above challenges, I developed the How to Start a Non-Profit Guide. I wanted to create a succinct guide which anyone can easily pick up and follow along to establish their non-profit organization (or charity). Whether you are a community organizer seeking to formalize a mission as a registered organization, a student with a big idea, or someone who wants to co-found a non-profit with friends, you can leverage this guide.

In the guide, you will gain access to:

• A high-level landscape overview of the Canadian non-profit and charitable sector.

• A series of exercises to validate the mission of your organization and design programs/initiatives that align with it.

• A 12-month roadmap with resources to navigate setting up and running your non-profit organization.

To help get you started, click on the download button below.

Download the FREE guide to get started with establishing your non-profit organization (or charity)

As you go through the guide, keep in mind of these three anchoring questions, which will support you in the process of building your non-profit organization:

1. Who are you serving?

2. What specific change will your organization achieve in 12 months?

3. How does your organization differ to existing organizations that serve a similar community?

Lastly, feel free to reach out to admin@aureliusascend.ca if you ever get stuck on a decision point in the guide. We at Aurelius Ascend are happy to point you in the right direction.

Cheers,

Vanessa, Founder | Aurelius Ascend