How to Start a Nonprofit

ABC's for Tax-Exempt Organizations For managers of new and small tax-exempt organizations from the IRS

Arts Wisconsin A checklist. Every nonprofit organization must have a carefully developed structure and operating procedures in order to be effective at fulfilling its purpose. Good governance starts with helping the organization begin on a sound legal and financial footing in compliance with the numerous federal, state, and local requirements affecting nonprofits.

CauseCast.org How to Start a Nonprofit - short, inspirational, practical advice-filled article and additional resources. Three main points: Don't do it by yourself, Have a plan and commit to sustainability, Love it.

Foundation Group Blog  Info and tips for nonprofit formation and compliance.

Free Management Library provides comprehensive advice and materials for anyone considering starting a nonprofit organization.

National Council of Nonprofits

Nolo.com How to Form a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation and receive a tax exemption.

Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool From the UW Extension Nonprofit Management Education Center, this 9-part Assessment is for existing organizations, but start-ups can use it as a window for future planning. The Assessment can help guide a group discussion about an organization's operations. This group discussion ideally should include board members, staff, volunteers, and service recipients, but could be used as a self-assessment tool by anyone associated with a nonprofit organization.

SCORE's Business for Non-profit guide (PDF), 2006. To perform effectively, nonprofits must be free to take risks, try new approaches and invest in solutions as they see it. This means developing the strategies and skills to build the capacities to serve their communities, to become self-sufficient, and to compete for resources needed to achieve their missions.

Step-by-Step Tutorials from Enterprise for community development and affordable housing programs

UW Extenstion Nonprofit Management Education Center  The Learner Resource Center provides you with a number of resources on the web that could provide you with assistance in a variety of nonprofit management and leadership issues. In the "nonprofit web sites" section you will find a number of useful annotated resources organized by topic.....everything from How to start a nonprofit organization to volunteer management.