Do any DUers have experience starting a non-profit?

[JeffreyWilliamson]

This is actually an idea I'm spinning off from here:

In a better economy, I've always wanted to start a non-profit organization. For about 8 years I've rebuilt older computers and given them to families with children in school that didn't have one. I've always wanted to turn that into something more. Take in donations of outdated pc's from libraries and schools as they upgrade, add a little more ram, a larger hard drive, linux, set it up with free internet access, and find a way to distribute the finished product either to the community or back into the schools. An older computer without all the bells and whistles could still be retooled with a lighter OS and made to get a kid online that wouldn't have access at home.

This is something that I've always wanted to do, my question is, how difficult would it be? After typing it, I'm finally starting to work through how I would set it up in my head.

1. Find out how to register as a non-profit.
2. Purchase a domain name and hosting.
3. Set up a website that will solicit donations in the form of old computers, (for a tax break), or money.
4. Design an application process for low-income individuals to apply for a computer and internet access.
5. As the operation grew, and proved it is viable, seek donations from corporations for free internet access for families.

I left my job last week and have been worried about what I'll do for work. But this is something I've always dreamed of starting. Everytime I've started to think about it I've written it off as too "pie in the sky", or told myself that I don't have enough time. Now, suddenly, I have plenty of time.

Could this be done?

[graywarrior]

1. Go here

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/establish/

This is a very helpful organization. You should find everything you need here.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

4. Excellent site...

I'm reading through the first couple of pages now. Thanks.

[lizziegrace]

2. PM me if you have any questions about accounting

and all the tracking needed.

I've always wanted to start a non-profit too.

[KamaAina]

6. No time like the present

given the, uh, situation. :(

What would its focus be?

[lizziegrace]

7. It's big

I have sponsored some kids at the Pine Ridge Reservation so I've gotten just a small taste of how bad the conditions are there. I wanted to get craftsmen, mechanics and DIYers together with donated materials to teach the residents how to fix their own homes and vehicles. Also have groups come up during the summer to do large projects at the schools and around the community.

[KamaAina]

8. Sounds kind of like what's been happening in NOLA

on too small a scale, alas. Especially the donated materials (the Green Project, also using recycled materials) and summer (and spring break) groups (many colleges, especially HBCUs, and FBOs as well). You might want to poke around there (virtually).

Teaching the residents how to fix their own homes would be quite exportable from SD to NOLA!

[lizziegrace]

9. I believe in teaching a man to fish

I'll definitely poke around.

I bought a book of photos and writings by Viggo Mortenson. All the photos were taken at Pine Ridge when he was allowed to watch the Ghost Dance. At least a portion of the proceeds are sent to Pine Ridge. (This was after Hidalgo was filmed.) I've been thinking about this for years.

I've also wanted to gather Ellis Island stories now that most who came through (like my grandfather) are gone. These stories are dying with our ancestors. Kind of a "Greatest Generation" meets "Chicken Soup for the Soul".

[JeffreyWilliamson]

13. That's amazing...

You are amazing.

[lizziegrace]

14. Me?

no. I'm not.

My offer stands. I'm now unemployed, so I have time to help you get your records in order from the start. I'd love to help.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

16. Yeah, you are.

I wanted to get craftsmen, mechanics and DIYers together with donated materials to teach the residents how to fix their own homes and vehicles. Also have groups come up during the summer to do large projects at the schools and around the community.

This is what it's all about.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

11. Not sure if this was directed at me...

But I'll answer anyway. The focus would be...

Every night for years I've come home, turned on a box next to my desk, and had the entire world--the entire known universe--at my fingertips. Everything. I have retained an innate curiosity about the world around me since childhood, and each and every night spend hours on Wikipedia, news sites, DU, and Google searches typing in some random word or phrase that's caught my attention during the day, and linking through dozens of articles and posts--all the while increasing my own knowledge, and learning to see the world around me in new and exciting ways. I've done so much with that knowledge.

Now imagine giving that window to a child. And not just for an hour a day at school. Imagine a child, low-income, without the privlege and opportunities their middle class counterpart has, coming home, turning on a box next in their room, or any room, that they wouldn't otherwise have access to, and having that window, and the ability to let their curiosity, and their mind, take them wherever they want. (Not that I'm advocating kids being up all night surfing the net or getting into trouble.)

You'll have a child that's challenging themself with their own curiosity. You'll have a young adult that will eventually emerge into the world able to compete, and better able to make their own life and the lives of others around them better.

You will have a child that will have a vastly greater chance of reaching adulthood able to keep up. The knowledge that child will gain will bring self-confidence, and opportunity. And that's just the child. The whole family will benefit from the experience.

And it will be free, as it should.

[KamaAina]

17. 'Twas directed at lizzie

who's looking for something.

But mahalo (thank you) anyway. It's pau hana time now, so I'll pull up similar thoughts I've had tomorrow.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

18. Pau Hana time?

I realized after I put up that little bit of passion that it wasn't directed at me, by the way. The conversation had progressed while I was typing.

[KamaAina]

22. pau hana = end of work

pau = finished, hana = work. The exchange took place just before 5 PM HST.

I shall now go and ferret out my blog response along similar lines from last year.

[KamaAina]

23. And voila! Here it is.

http://ashleymorris.typepad.com/ashley_morris_the_blog/2007/11/one-laptop-per.html

One Laptop per Birmingham Child
Yep. Per Birmingham child.

Not New Orleans. That third world country we call "Birmingham, Alabama".

Every student in grades one through eight in the Birmingham city school system will receive a laptop computer under a tentative agreement Mayor-elect Larry Langford (since embroiled in the county's messy bankruptcy case -Ed.) has reached with a foundation that provides computers in developing countries, an adviser to Langford said Monday. Nicholas Negroponte, the founding director of the MIT Media Laboratory, set up and heads the nonprofit foundation. He developed the laptops specifically for use abroad in Third World countries to try to bring the users up to speed with technology, Katopodis said.

"Mayor Langford was able to persuade MIT to make an exception and do this program," he said.

Those sons of bitches. Negroponte's goons explicitly told me "no exceptions", even for New Orleans.

Big tip o' the brim to Mominem....

Ha! The phrase "Negroponte's goons" is usually applied to Nicholas' brother, John. Yes, that John Negroponte, the Prince of Darkness in both Central America and now the Middle East.

I always thought of Nicholas as the good Negroponte, sort of like Patricia Clarkson to John's Jackie (a lily-white city councilmember -Ed.) . Now I'm not at all sure... (P.S. Your question has apparently been deleted. Again.)

Under the banner of "Sinn Fein", here's my modest proposal to stick it to both OLPC and Asus: Train a number of young New Orleanians to be PC assemblers. Then, order a bunch of cheap, slightly outdated parts, and have the machines built right there in the city. Sort of like an electronic Cafe Reconcile; all it needs is an electronic Emeril. (David Filo, check your inbox...)

Posted by: KamaAina (that's me! -Ed.) | 16 November 2007 at 05:07 PM

Addendum, which I had not even realized at the time: Since NOLA is the world's second largest port, it would be extremely easy to ship the finished product anywhere in the world, in or out of the U.S.

[flvegan]

3. The non-profit part is easy. The 501c3 exemption is hard

to obtain, if that's your goal. Starting my non-profit cost me maybe $100 and a bunch of paperwork. The IRS is a pain in the ass, though.

Good luck to you. I think your idea is absolutely brilliant.

[KamaAina]

5. At least one, yes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=387&topic_id=730&mesg_id=730

[Chan790]

10. Yeah, you can totally do it.

Your first stop should be the local library. There are hundreds of books on how to start an NPO that can get you headed in the right direction. I'm a fan of the "for Dummies" series titled on starting an NPO and Fundraising.

1.)The answer to your first question is dependent upon locality. You can usually look the process on your state's secretary of state or state treasurer's webpage or by running a google search for "forming an Non-profit" and the name of your state. generally the cost is under $500 depending on location. Then you have to apply to the IRS for a tax-exemption. That doesn't cost much (I don't think it costs anything but it's been years since I did this) but it can take months. You're allowed to operate once you apply based on the presumption that you'll be approved. They don't reject people outright usually, they tell you what you need to change to qualify. It's an act of jumping through hoops.

The answers to all other questions really are secondary to that first one. That's the thing you've got to do first and the answers to almost all other questions will come out of that process.

[Shardik]

12. My life?

:)

[JeffreyWilliamson]

19. Is it? n/t

[DarkTirade]

15. I don't have any advice, I just wanna say good luck

and kick this back up to the top for others to see. :)

[JeffreyWilliamson]

20. Process seems easy enough, at least to get started in a basic sense.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2213792_start-nonprofit-corporation-texas.html

[lizziegrace]

21. I think you've got a terrific idea

and I hope everything works out well for you.

:)