How can I incorporate as a non-profit agency?

Question

I want to provide support services for aged victims of crime. I work for a large metro police dept and officers have spoken to me about having to leave elderly victims of crimes, such as home invasion, to go to the next call knowing that many victims have no family to call for support. There are currently no emergency support services for this category of victims.

Answer 1

Starting a Nonprofit Organization

http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/s... (one of my favorite resources)

Starting a Non-Profit

Checklist- The Things You Must Do to Start a Nonprofit Organization

http://www.ctnonprofits.org/pages/NonPro...

Starting a Nonprofit Organization - How to Start a Nonprofit http://nonprofit.about.com/od/nonprofitb...

How to Start a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization

http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-501c3-Non...

Before you file any paperwork, you need to get a very impassioned group of people together who support your idea and will provide some start up funding and serve on the board of directors, you need to get letters of endorsement from existing organizations saying this program is needed,  you need to have data that shows your target group is in need whatever service it is that you want to provide and that they are not served otherwise, and you need to have a draft of what your first year's budget would look like (what expenses you expect to incur, what you expect to pay staff, etc.)

Answer 2

Use the links below for more help.  Great idea!