Starting your own nonprofit organization sounds like a daunting challenge, but plenty of members of the Connect for Kids community have done it. One New Hampshire grandmother turned a talent for sewing into a worldwide effort to furnish handmade quilts for sick babies. One man from Indiana decided to provide luggage to kids in foster care help to help them move from home to home with dignity. A Newark, New Jersey mother led a group of urban and suburban housewives in creating the first infant care center in the state.

But how did they do it? What steps did they take? Kathi Lei from Oregon asked the Connect for Kids community for their expertise and advice.

Lei had organized a group of volunteers in her hometown to mentor, act as pen pals or friends and offer other supports to children who have been victims of abuse. Many of these children live in shelters or residential treatment centers, and most suffer from emotional or behavior disorders. The volunteer group, under the name LadyBug Bridges, sought nonprofit status in order to be able to approach the community for contributions.

"We need some HELP desperately with this nonprofit startup project," Kathi wrote in her note on our discussion board. "I've never done anything like this before, and we are very limited with money ... I'm totally willing and able to do all the work myself, but just need someone who knows the process to talk to me, and help guide me through the process."

So far the response to her request has been strong. Despite the recent birth of her first grandson, she's moving forward with LadyBug Bridges. "I went to Innovation Network, Inc. (InnoNet) earlier today, and created a 'Strategic Program Map' and wow. It took me almost 4 hours to complete. But it's really just what I needed to begin my Business Plan," she recently wrote on the discussion board. She's also been looking into recruiting more volunteers�and even got her physician to help spread the word to a group of teens with whom she works.

Here are some of the resources members of the Connect for Kids online community suggested. We thank everyone who participated, and welcome anyone with more ideas or questions on this topic to post a note!

Going "Legit": Legal and Licensing Assistance

• "Call the Bar Association in you state, region (Washington County), or city to ask for pro bono legal representation from a recently graduated, and "bar certified" law student. The University of Oregon's Law School should also be a source. You should not have to pay for a lawyer.

• Contact your state's Secretary of State office to see if they have a nonprofit packet of information.

• Does you state have a division of volunteerism? Check to see if anyone there provides assistance with 501c3 applications. "In Arkansas there is an employee of that division who is a terrific resource on the incorporation and IRS paperwork."

• Contact the General Assembly's Commission on Children in your state.

• The first consideration is to research how not to start another non-profit. Are there existing non-profits whose missions encompass what your group is trying to do? Approach them with your ideas and see if your program can operate under their organizational wing.

• Obtain copies of another related association's bylaws and articles of incorporation, etc. Our licensing consultant gave us the name and phone number of Zocklein & Associates at 1-800-371-5703. For merely $103 we received a kit with all the paperwork we needed. Zocklein & Associates is reputable.

Online Info: Web sites and Other E-resources
Lists and newsletters:

• The Philanthropy News Digest newsletter is available for free via e-mail. Visit their site�and read the latest issue�online.

• The Charity Start list, hosted by Charity Channel to be a great resource for beginning nonprofits.

• Another e-newletter is from Compass Point, which covers issues in the Bay Area �some of their resources may be of interest to people in other areas.

Web sites:

• Helping.org has resources for nonprofits, and a great links page.

• The Alliance for Nonprofit Management has an online database of nonprofit managament assistance centers across the country.

• About.com has listings about nonprofits, with easy access to hundreds of other resources.

• The Foundation Center offers free info on everything from starting your non-profit to locating the right foundations to approach to developing your first grant proposal.

• The Nonprofit Frequently Asked Questions page has quick answers on a wide variety of issues.

• Find your state or regional non-profit resource center. They often help fledgling non-profits and usually have a wealth of workshops and other resources. In New Jersey it's http://njnonprofits.org/index2.html.

• Starting a Nonprofit by the Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits.

• The www.nonprofits.org site has information on by-laws, regulations, forms, etc. It also offers a weekly email newsletter.

• The National Center for Nonprofit Boards is a good place to start. They also have a toll-free hotline (800-883-6262).

• Managing a Nonprofit Corporation in the 21st Century, by Thomas Wolf (ISBN# 0684849909)

• How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in All 50 States, 4th ed., by Anthony Mancuso (ISBN# 0873374517)

• How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation: With Forms (Legal Survival Guides), by Mark Warda (ISBN# 1572480998)

... And There's More!
Add your ideas to the mix on our Starting a Nonprofit Corporation discussion board.

Be sure to explore our Taking Action and Improving Communities topic page and our Ideas for Action section for more tips and information on making a difference for kids and families in your community.