I am interested in starting a foundation. Does anyone have any unique suggestions?

Question

I really have a place in my heart for children, single parents and children whos parents are incarcerated. Those are just some basics on how I would like to focus my foundation.

Answer 1

First, get some volunteering under your belt with organizations working with children, single parents and children whose parents are incarcerated. Learned what works, what doesn't, and what those that are to be served really want and need. It's nice that you have a big heart -- but donors fund organizations that have experience/expertise regarding whatever issue they are addressing. You may find through your volunteering that it would easier for you to focus your energies on fundraising and promoting an already-existing effort, to help them expand their services for these groups you care so much about.

Use your local United Way, communities of faith, and the following web sites to find organizations focused on these people already:

VolunteerMatch, http://www.volunteermatch.org

Idealist, http://www.idealist.org

HandsOn Network, http://www.handsonnetwork.org/

Change.org, http://www.change.org

CraigsList, http://www.craigslist.com

Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/

ServeNet, http://servenet.org/

Also, contact your local volunteer center; you can find this via the Points of Light Foundation web site,

http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/