Start Your Own Charity

When it comes to charity, Americans do a lot. According to a number of studies, between 70% and 85% of all Americans make some form of monetary charitable donation each and every year. In addition, many people contribute large amounts of time toward charitable causes instead of donating money. By being a soccer coach, a leader for a group of Boy or Girl Scouts, a phone operator for a local charity option, or any of a thousand other ways to give of yourself, you can make a difference in the lives of others in your community. You have a few different options when it comes to donating to either time or money to a charity.

For some, however, doing good involves more than just money or time. Although many charitable organizations exist that cover a huge range of important causes, many communities still lack the presence of a strong charity to do work that their citizens need. If you feel motivated to go beyond writing a check or working an hour or two a week to make your community a better place to live, you should think about taking the next step and creating a new charitable organization of your own. There are many programs out there that will allow you to create your own charity and give you the freedom to raise money for a cause that is close to your heart. You can become a full time humanitarian and make your community a better place.

Before you consider starting your own charity, you should have a strong knowledge of the charitable resources that already exist in your community. Often, you can make a more valuable contribution to an existing charity that has as its mission the same goal that you're interested in pursuing. Because the pool of interested community members, volunteers, and potential donors is limited, having multiple charitable organizations with overlapping missions is a luxury that only larger cities can afford. After you complete your research and depending on what you discover you will know more on if you would like to start your own charity or join an existing one.

Research charitable organizations and decide what kind of charitable organization you wish to create. This will depend on your charitable goals. There are five different types of charitable organizations that fall under the 510(c)(3) guidelines with the IRS. Once you have decided on what kind of charity you wish to create, file the appropriate forms with your state in order to be recognized as a charitable organization. Also you will need to file for an EIN number. You will need a Federal Employer Identification Number so that the IRS is able to identify your organization as a non profit when filing taxes. This is important so that your organization will not have to pay Federal income tax and that the contributions you receive are tax deductible.

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