Does it matter where my organization is located?
Nope. As long as you’re in the United States, you’re good to go.
Does my organization have to be a 501c3?
It doesn’t have to be, no.
There are several ways you can establish your organization, as long as it has a clear social mission.
You can register as another type of non-profit like a 501c4, 501c5, or 501c6, or as a B Corp. B Corp stands for “Benefit Corporation” which is a relatively new entity that’s structured as a for-profit business that strives to provide social benefits.
How long does it take?
That depends on a few things!
Choosing to launch your organization utilizing a crowdfunding campaign — while awesome — will likely take the longest. This is simply because it takes time to raise funds, time that would be saved if you footed the bill yourself.
Choosing to launch your organization utilizing our Start-Up Program will likely take the least amount of time. This is because you’ll grant us the ability to get all the messy, difficult paperwork done ourselves, and — if we can be bold — we’re pretty good at that stuff.
All of that said, no matter what path you choose, the amount of time it takes to launch a non-profit will be heavily dependent on how quickly you can put together the important content that defines the organization.
How can I pair the services together? Do I just mix and match them?
Choose one program, and if you want, give it a boost with an add-on or two.
- Programs: Each of the three programs includes the services found in the Basic Program, but in the other two programs, they are optimized differently to suit them better. The E-Commerce and Start-Up programs both have unique features that set them apart from the Basic Program.
- Add-Ons: After you choose a program, you can “accessorize” it with your choice of add-on.
How much does it cost?
Each program has a simple pricetag. Any add-on packages would then be an additional cost.
Programs:
- Basic — $2,500
- E-Commerce — $5,000
- Start-up — $10,000
Add-Ons
- Promotions — $2,000 initial set-up, $30 per month ongoing
- Crowdfunding — 3% of raised funds (mostly to offset credit clearing costs).
What if I already have email?
No problem. We can set up your old email to migrate to the new system. Or you can choose not to use the new email system at all. It’s totally up to you.
So what is crowdfunding, anyway?
Crowdfunding is just a fancy name for taking donations from a lot of people who all want to see your project happen. The Internet has revolutionized this old idea, simply making it easier to educate, reach, and inspire more people to give to your cause. Check out the blog article for more about this growing movement.
How does it work?
First you start by building a campaign on our crowdfunding platform. Write about your idea. Motivate people to get behind your mission. Set up financial goals, deadlines, and any benefits for donations. Then spread the word and watch your dream come closer to reality. Twenty dollars here and a few bucks there add up quickly, and before you know it, you’ll have a non-profit to call your own.
Am I giving up equity by doing this?
No. Your venture is entirely yours. Seizing the opportunity created by crowdfunding simply helps you get started. You may choose to offer certain perks or benefits to certain donor levels, but you are under no obligation to award equity in your organization.
Do I have to contact everyone I know? Won’t they think I’m spamming them?
Contact only the people you want. Obviously the wider the net you cast, the more fish you’ll catch…but even we understand there are some fish you just don’t want in your net.
And no one will think it’s spam if you take care in crafting the right message. Remember to take advantage of our sample templates for successful emails, posts, tweets, etc. Besides, you have the distinct advantage of doing all of this for the greater good, and everyone responds better to that then to a set of pots and pans.