3 Common Mistakes Non-Profit Startups Make

When you're extremely passionate about a particular non-profit cause, it can be easy to imagine that your success as a non-profit will be made on your devotion alone.

However, if you rush into founding your non-profit, without doing proper due diligence, you'll soon see that starting a non-profit organization isn't as easy as it looks. Here are three common mistakes that most startup non-profits make and ways to avoid them.

 1. Not Having a Business Plan. Starting a non-profit is very much like starting a business. It begins with a passionate desire to do good for your cause, but can quickly lead you to disaster if you don't plan properly. Having a good, solid business plan can help you formulate your mission and set goals that can endure when you're feeling overwhelmed. It's not enough to want to make a difference in the world; you need to know exactly how you're going to make that difference and who's going to help you, and what each person is going to be responsible for. A non-profit business plan is the first step to being successful.

For help with a business plan, check out the SBA's site on Creating Your Business Plan. 

 2. No Financial Organization or Planning. Starting a non-profit isn't easy, and many people fall prey to underestimating the startup costs because they didn't plan a budget or create any type of financial organization when they first began. However, with the proper tools to help track your donations and expenses, as well as a simple budget of all your monthly expenses, you'll be prepared for any financial burdens that may be in store for your non-profit.

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 3. No Marketing Plan. Your non-profit depends on the generosity of donors, but without a marketing plan, how will you ever attract people to your cause? How will you convince people that your cause is the one deserving of giving? Having a marketing plan will greatly increase your chances of success. If you don't know much about marketing, consider taking some classes or enlisting the aid of a professional marketer who might be willing to brainstorm some ideas with you.

For help creating a marketing plan, visit the SBA's site on Developing a Marketing Plan.

Starting a non-profit is never easy, but with the right amount of planning and determination, you'll see your non-profit started on the road to success in no time.