How to Start a Nonprofit with No Money (Do Online Fundraisers!)

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Starting your nonprofit without immediate access to funds isn't always a barrier to progress. While you work on securing capital, you can still take some essential steps to start a nonprofit.

Designed with non-profits in mind, BetterWorld is an online fundraising platform that can help you establish a non profit organization or assist with running an existing organization. Our simple platform offers everything you need to take your non-profit to the next level, so please explore all we have to offer and sign up for free at BetterWorld today!

Tips for Setting Up a Nonprofit Organization

Starting a nonprofit with no money in the bank may seem like mission impossible, but there's always hope! Let's discuss the steps required for starting a nonprofit organization with no money in the bank.

Spread the Word About Your Cause\

To find help with physical labor and financial donations, be vocal about your plans and share information about how you're starting a nonprofit organization and your plans to further its mission.

Start small by focusing on your own family and friends. Once you see progress within your personal network, introduce your nonprofit to others in your community. And don't be shy about forming connections with businesses or philanthropic organizations -- they may become a fruitful source of future financial donations.

Once people start hearing how passionate you are about setting up a nonprofit, they'll be excited to follow your journey and help out when you start fundraising.

Meet With a Pro Bono Lawyer

Obtaining a 501(c)(3) tax exemption is one of the most vital steps to starting a nonprofit, and if you lack legal experience, this can be a heavy task.

Most communities require that lawyers perform a certain number of pro bono hours to keep their law license, so reach out to your local bar association.

Once you have the list of firms offering pro bono work to the public, contact a few to see if they will guide you through how to start a nonprofit. You'll need to file for an employer identification number (EIN), open a business bank account, and register the nonprofit with your secretary of state. Your pro bono attorney can also help draft nonprofit bylaws and advise you on establishing a board of directors.

It's vital to ensure that you set up your organization legally. Retaining a pro bono lawyer will save money, but you'll still need money to cover state filing fees and filing for tax exemption status. Luckily, the amount required is minimal.

Build Your Team of Volunteers

Starting a nonprofit is a big project requiring many hands on deck. You may eventually have enough funding to pay full-time staff members, but in the early days, it makes sense to build a team of volunteers.

Look for people in your community who are passionate about your project. Tap into their skills in event organization, social media posting, or supply donation. As you work through the steps to start a nonprofit, your needs will grow and vary, so be creative with how you use your volunteers and resources.

If you're having issues finding volunteers, reach out to your local high school or college and ask if you can share your nonprofit with their students. Many students need volunteer hours to graduate, and if they're passionate about your cause, they'll probably go all-in on your nonprofit!

Establish Your Fund-a-Need Campaign

Online fundraising is an excellent way to raise money as you work on setting up a nonprofit. With the help of platforms like BetterWorld, you can establish a fund-a-need campaign with minimal resources. Kickstart your nonprofit by using a fund-a-need campaign to raise large sums of money for a specific cause.

BetterWorld is a free platform for nonprofits offering a variety of tools -- such as web pages and social media integrations -- to help you navigate the world of online fundraising.

Try BetterWorld’s robust suite of charity & nonprofit fundraising tools for FREE!

Select and customize the fundraising method best suited for your organization
BetterWorld seamlessly integrates with both online and in-person auctions
Impress donors with creative raffle items and elegant online raffles
Create attractive donation pages that maximize donor impact and boost online giving

Boost Your Fundraising Now!

Get Creative With Your Advertising

Social media will become a valuable resource when starting a nonprofit with no money. Share your website on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and remember to include a link to your fund-a-need campaign to encourage donations to your nonprofit.

To boost your content, jump on social media trends and use hashtags -- the more people that see your content, the better your chance of obtaining donations to get your nonprofit off the ground.

Host an Online Silent Auction

An online silent auction is another great way to raise money quickly with limited resources. Platforms like BetterWorld make it easy to organize and host an online auction to help you raise the money you need when starting a nonprofit.

To maximize your chances of success, approach local businesses to donate items to your auction; take attractive, well-lit photos before posting items in your online auction; and pair your images with descriptive captions to entice participants to bid.

Additionally, share your online auction page on social media and use the platform's management tools to keep track of your donors. You can also use the list later to solicit more donations or volunteer help.

Start a Nonprofit Today

Now that you know the steps to starting a nonprofit, it's time to get this show on the road! Reach out to the BetterWorld team to schedule a free demonstration of our online tools. We'll show you how to start a nonprofit in an easy and accessible manner without money in the bank. Start spreading the word about your mission and making a difference in your community today!