Launch a Charity Foundation?

Question

I want to start a charity called AHLAN FOUNDATION, which will be based in Zanzibar

(East Africa). The Foundation would help people who are living in very poor condition. I'm planning to put the funds received from Donation in building houses, wells and help poor to establish their own small scale business.

As I have seen here their are a lot of donation coming in from foreign countries but unfortunately it doesn’t reach the effected one.

I have also a new concept to make the Foundation unique by investing the Donation I get in real estate where we will get steady income on monthly basis which goes toward the construction of the said building or other charity.

I'm very interested in launching this Foundation soon my only concern is how to get started and how to get the people to donate for this good cause. Any help or advice?

Answer 1

First you should become a 501(c)3. Go to your state government website, and then the IRS section. Find 501(c)3, and there are 2 different documents. One of them is a packet of information and one is an application. It costs $300 to apply, if you don't become one they will give you your money back. Once you have became a 501(c)3, you should make a website, so everyone on the web can see it. Afterwards, get a postal box for people to mail in donations. Also, go to schools around where you live and talk to student council/njhs/nhs/ptsa, any of those types of things, and try to get them to start drives at their schools. Have fund raisers or bake sales. anything like that. Businesses are more likely to start donating to you once you become a non-profit because the money spent/given away is tax-deductible.  I hope I helped!

Answer 2

Firstly there are a lot of charities already out there doing similar things. It's probably a much better idea to simply join one of those charities and help them.

Secondly, unless I misread, do you mean you will invest peoples donations to increase income? I'm not sure people would feel comfortable making donations knowing it would be risked and possibly lost. Also on that point I'm not sure if you could get charity status and receive tax deductions whilst generating money in this way.