How do you start a non-profit

[Transformers]

I spent a year in India working in an orphanage and volunteering in local hospitals. Its really provided me insight into international medicine, a possible speciality I may want to pursue after medical school. In the meantime, I've read a lot about non-profit organizations and I was interested in starting a foundation for this. At my school, there are definitely service trips during the summer but I'd like to make a year-long endeavor via fundraisers and awareness events to really promote my platform and initiatives because my college is very service-oriented and I feel like I could make a difference.

But, I am lost as to what steps are needed to start a non-profit. Can anyone from experience help me with what steps are required to be taken?

Thank you.

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[BBender716]

You don't need anything except for a cause if you don't care about tax exemptions. If you do care about tax privileges, you must file to be a non-profit organization. This will allow the income to be tax exempt and anyone who donates to be allowed to write it off on their taxes. For more info: http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/obj...4A6B3-EFB6-4036-8498D5414328FD73/111/262/ART/

This is generally what you need to do. There is a lot involved if you are not well acquainted with tax law. I would consult a service that specializes in this.

 

[runrunrudolph1]

this is incredible, good luck. Maybe your pre-med advisor would be able to give you more information, I'm sure it has been done before. You could shoot him/her an email

 

[looks like mae]

That's really awesome. I'm trying to put together an organization to collect school supplies for impoverished schools overseas but i'm also finding it really hard to get everything together.

I just ended up deciding to start up a program in conjunction with a preexisting community organization. I think it is saving me a lot of hassle with paperwork and still allowing me to do what I set out to do.

Good luck to you!