We want to begin in San Diego (feeling a huge pull to be West Coasters after years of being East Coasters) so to start, here are San Diego area places/orgs to get information and help from for the Non-Profit side.
San Diego - Neighborhood House Association
San Diego Association of Non-Profits: SANDAN, P.O. Box 503353, San Diego, CA 92150, (619) 886-5354, info@sandan.orgAmerica's Second Harvest http://www.secondharvest.org/
California Association of Nonprofits http://www.canonprofits.org/
IRS' site http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/index.html for information on tax-exempt organizations
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) http://www.hud.gov/
Habitat for Humanity International http://www.habitat.org/
National Center on Poverty Law http://www.povertylaw.org/
National Congress for Community Economic Development http://www.ncced.org/
National Low-Income Housing Coalition http://www.nlihc.org/
Community Development Venture Capital Alliance http://www.cdvca.org/
National Community Reinvestment Coalition http://www.essential.org/ncrc
San Diego Foundation http://www.sdfoundation.org/
San Diego Social Venture Partners (SDSVP) http://www.sdsvp.org/
Young Nonprofit Professional Network (YNPN) San Diego http://www.ynpnsandiego.org/
Lobbying Guidelines & the City of San Diego - New rules go into effect January 1, 2008.
Community Services City of San Diego.url
General NP info:
http://www.snpo.org/resources/startup.php
GovernmentDocs.org was created to advance the values of open and accountable government. This site gives the public an unprecedented level of access to government documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other public disclosure, or “sunshine,” laws.
Compliance Guide for Public Charities, www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4221pc.pdf
Compliance Guide for Private Foundations, www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4221pf.pdf
EIN (Employer Identification Number) application can be filed online by completing an online questionnaire.
FEC Launches New Internet Tool - a new system on its website (www.fec.gov) offering automated email updates for a variety of campaign finance information. The new service will allow users to sign-up to receive notification whenever information important to them is added or changed on the Commission’s site.
FedSpending.org (OMB Watch project) is a free, searchable itemized database of federal government spending, grants & contracts
Nonprofit Management Solutions http://www.npsolutions.org/
Monday, April 1, 2013
First Steps
Now that we have our name, we have to begin the process of making this project become a reality. The ideas are fantastic and (I think) incredibly feasible, it just becomes a question of getting a solid foundation so we can actually create our non-profit.
We need to create an official mission, a fiscal plan, and find potential sponsors. Plus, we need to do the research into what it will take to set up our "homestead" and facilities. The ideal here is to find a way to create a green farm community which also seeks to provide an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration to those whose circumstances have found them without a home.
I'm the type who plans BIG, I want to have an area which is a cross between a resort in the Adirondacks and everyone's favorite summer camp, with a dash of Midwestern ranch thrown in for good measure. I can envision a main building for the dining hall, rec room, library, and classroom. There will also be a building for the main office, staff conference room, and store. I also want dorms for men, women, and families; a barn and other farm/growing buildings; and homes for those of us who choose to live on the land.
Obviously, this is a project which is not going to spring up fully formed overnight, but I'm so ready to get it going. Stay tuned for my research and people/places to contact! And if you have suggestions, please don't hesitate to comment :-)
We need to create an official mission, a fiscal plan, and find potential sponsors. Plus, we need to do the research into what it will take to set up our "homestead" and facilities. The ideal here is to find a way to create a green farm community which also seeks to provide an opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration to those whose circumstances have found them without a home.
I'm the type who plans BIG, I want to have an area which is a cross between a resort in the Adirondacks and everyone's favorite summer camp, with a dash of Midwestern ranch thrown in for good measure. I can envision a main building for the dining hall, rec room, library, and classroom. There will also be a building for the main office, staff conference room, and store. I also want dorms for men, women, and families; a barn and other farm/growing buildings; and homes for those of us who choose to live on the land.
Obviously, this is a project which is not going to spring up fully formed overnight, but I'm so ready to get it going. Stay tuned for my research and people/places to contact! And if you have suggestions, please don't hesitate to comment :-)
Building the Bridge
A few weeks ago, while pondering my career choices, I wondered why I couldn't just start my own non-profit organization to begin working for a change in the world, instead of struggling to convince the hiring people at my favorite charities that they really need to hire me.
The difficulty with this train of thought was trying to figure out exactly what type of non-profit I should start. With no solid ideas, I dismissed the idea as something that just wasn't really viable at this time. Then a week or so later, while having brunch with husband, best friend, and other wonderful people, the conversation turned to our various strengths in the non-profit, academic, and practical worlds. Half-joking I said, "Well then, let's change the world, what are we going to fix." As everyone kind of looked around at each other, I said, "Seriously, we're the future of the world, let's pick something and fix it! What's it going to be?"
Husband and our good friend said simultaneously, "Homelessness and hunger."
And we were off and running, the whole table brainstorming about how we could get this project going. I don't know if anyone else there knew just how serious I was about taking action, but here we are. We got home that day and brought our idea to my mother, and she was right there with us, coming up with more ideas, ready to do what it takes to get this new organization going.
For a few days, James & I tossed around ideas for a name, but nothing really felt right. Then on our way out to visit his parents in Wisconsin, I asked if there were song lyrics or a song title that he'd like to see if we could use. He quickly came up with "Anyone Seen the Bridge" a DMB tune that's used as a connector at most live performances. I liked the idea, especially since he main focus of our organization is helping people find their way back to communities, but again, it wasn't quite right.
Later that night, standing in The Depot, a restaurant in Oconomowoc, WI, watching our son play with a train set in the entrance, I noticed several bridges in the set, and was reminded of a song that James wrote called "Crossing Bridges."
The song was inspired by the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, NH which has recently been torn down and is in the process of being rebuilt. Memorial Bridge holds so many memories for both myself & James; from childhood through adulthood, that it seemed fitting to reference it in some way.
I headed back to our table and told James my idea; he hesitated for a minute (never one to take too much credit for any good idea) and said. "I like it if you do." Extending my hand, I said, "Done."
And thus, Crossing Bridges - An Outreach Community was born.
The difficulty with this train of thought was trying to figure out exactly what type of non-profit I should start. With no solid ideas, I dismissed the idea as something that just wasn't really viable at this time. Then a week or so later, while having brunch with husband, best friend, and other wonderful people, the conversation turned to our various strengths in the non-profit, academic, and practical worlds. Half-joking I said, "Well then, let's change the world, what are we going to fix." As everyone kind of looked around at each other, I said, "Seriously, we're the future of the world, let's pick something and fix it! What's it going to be?"
Husband and our good friend said simultaneously, "Homelessness and hunger."
And we were off and running, the whole table brainstorming about how we could get this project going. I don't know if anyone else there knew just how serious I was about taking action, but here we are. We got home that day and brought our idea to my mother, and she was right there with us, coming up with more ideas, ready to do what it takes to get this new organization going.
For a few days, James & I tossed around ideas for a name, but nothing really felt right. Then on our way out to visit his parents in Wisconsin, I asked if there were song lyrics or a song title that he'd like to see if we could use. He quickly came up with "Anyone Seen the Bridge" a DMB tune that's used as a connector at most live performances. I liked the idea, especially since he main focus of our organization is helping people find their way back to communities, but again, it wasn't quite right.
Later that night, standing in The Depot, a restaurant in Oconomowoc, WI, watching our son play with a train set in the entrance, I noticed several bridges in the set, and was reminded of a song that James wrote called "Crossing Bridges."
The song was inspired by the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, NH which has recently been torn down and is in the process of being rebuilt. Memorial Bridge holds so many memories for both myself & James; from childhood through adulthood, that it seemed fitting to reference it in some way.
I headed back to our table and told James my idea; he hesitated for a minute (never one to take too much credit for any good idea) and said. "I like it if you do." Extending my hand, I said, "Done."
And thus, Crossing Bridges - An Outreach Community was born.
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