If wanted to start up a registered Charity how would i go about it - and what is the criteria for a charity?

Question

If wanted to start up a registered Charity how would i go about it - and what is the criteria for a charity?

Answer 1

In the USA, a nonprofit is a 501(c)(3).

The Nonprofit FAQs (http://www.nonprofits.org), now hosted at IdeaList, will give you information on all the paperwork you will need to file and administrative tasks you will have to go through in order to form a nonprofit. There are also tips on recruiting a board of directors.

But first, you need to get a very impassioned group of people together who support your idea, you need to get letters of endorsement from existing organizations saying this program is needed, and 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.

The mission of your organization would be to serve whom? How? Why?

Answer 2

I am not totally sure, but maybe the Charity Commission (though which all charities must be registered) could help.

Google them.

Answer 3

In the UK, an organisation is set up for charitable purposes if it is set up for one of 12 criteria - see the Charity Commission website for what these are. In addition, an organisation must be set up for 'wider public benefit', so you can't set one up to benefit a v small group of people. An org. set up for charitable purposes has to register as a charity once its annual income reaches £5000 - the CC are unlikely to register an org with less than this.

Setting up a charity is a big undertaking - you need at least 3 trustees who are aware of their legal responsibilities and have legal, financial, etc knowledge. I always advise people to see if an existing charity is doing the work they want to do before going into it themsleves. Sustainability is also an issue - although you may get funding to start the work for the first couple of years, how realistic is it that you can raise funds for your cause on an on-going basis.

Your local CVS will provide more guidance.

Answer 4

To be tax deductible as a charity you would need to qualify with the IRS, typically as a 403-c charitable organization. Look at the IRS web site and search for 403-c. It isn't easy and does cost some money to qualify.....