Before You Start:: Key Questions You Need To Answer Before Starting Any Nonprofit Initiative

Before You Start:
Key Questions You Need to Answer

Before Starting Any Nonprofit Initiative
Written by Valerie F. Leonard

Founder, Nonprofit Utopia, LLC
Contents
Legal Information…………………………………………… Page 3
Note from Valerie …………………………………………. Page 4
Brainstorming Worksheet………………………………………. Page 5
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Copyright Nonprofit Utopia, LLC. All rights Reserved
Legal Information
Copyright 2019 Nonprofit Utopia, LLC.

All Rights Reserved. This workbook may
not be reproduced in any form, in whole or
in part, without written permission from
Nonprofit Utopia, LLC.
(Email us at info@nonprofitutopia.com to
request permission.)
3
Note from Valerie
I’m Valerie F. Leonard, Founder of Nonprofit Utopia, LLC. I published this workbook to help
you answer critical questions and flesh out your thoughts before you start any nonprofit
initiative. You will be able to
 Identify and prioritize community issues and how you will address them
 Identify your target and give a rationale for selecting them
 Start to think about how you can help your target
 Identify the community-based assets you will need to develop a community-based
initiative.
If you find this workbook to be helpful as you develop strategies to strengthen your organization,
please consider joining the Nonprofit Utopia community at https://nonprofituopia.mn.co.
Valerie F. Leonard
’
Valerie F. Leonard
Founder, Nonprofit Utopia, LLC
4
Brainstorming Worksheet
Before You Start: Key Questions You Need to Answer
Before Starting Any Nonprofit Initiative
The following questions are designed to help you to assess the need for an organization that you
are considering opening—before you start. While there are no right or wrong answers, going
through this exercise will help you to determine how you might approach the market; help you
think about programs and services you might offer, and whether or not your idea is feasible for
the community.
The information you provide here can be used as a support to help you respond to your
application for tax exemption, develop a case for support and funding proposals and to develop
your programs. If you have any questions, email me at valeriefleonard@nonprofitutopia.com.
Consider joining the Nonprofit Utopia community at https://nonprofitutopia.mn.co, where you

can get feedback, and access to resources to help you develop your leadership and build a
sustainable organization.
1. Do you have a name for your organization?
2. If you have a name picked out, or are thinking about a name, what is it?
3. Have you conducted a name search to see if it is available?
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4. What community are you considering working in?
5. How would you describe the community? Think of things like its location, the
population, the racial makeup, the income levels, education levels, etc.
6. What is the current situation? (What’s going on? What are some of the current events that
could impact the work you’d like to do?)
6
7. Are there other people or organizations in the community that are addressing the issues?
If so, how many? Who are they? How are they addressing the issues?
8. What services are already being provided, and by whom?
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9. What is the quality of the services? (Share examples)
10. Do you see any gaps in services?
11. Given the number of people in the community who may need the services you want to
provide, and the number of organizations providing the services, is there still a need for
you to start a new organization in that community? Why?
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12. What are some of the issues or problems that you would like to address?
13. Who else cares about these issues?
14. Who are potential partners?
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15. Who could be part of your leadership team?
16. Who are your potential clients (who will you serve, who will you target)?
17. How many people will you serve?
18. In what activities will your organization engage?
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19. What programs and services will you provide?
20. How will your organization differentiate itself in the market?
21. Will your organization or its members require any licenses, certifications or permits to
offer certain services? If so, list them here, along with the corresponding job title.
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22. What resources do you need? (people, supplies, location, money, etc)
23. How much money will you need to get started? (It may be helpful to list program
components and resources, how much they will cost, and add them up. You may also find
yourself reviewing other questions in order to get to the answer.)
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24. What education levels and skill sets are required among the board and staff to run the
programs that you had in mind? It may be helpful to list positions and requirements
25. What will change for the community and the people you serve as a result of your
programs and services? What outcomes do you expect?
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26. How will you be able to measure the change?
27. What does success look like? (This may also be used to help write your vision statement).
28. How will you evaluate success? (ie, before and after pics, pre- and post-tests, surveys,
etc.)
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29. How will you use the information you gather from the evaluation process to make your
program stronger?
30. Is there a demand for this new initiative? What is the evidence? (You can find out
through surveys, focus groups, interviews, waiting lists, etc.)
31. Given all the work that is involved, are you still committed to going through with this
process? (Don’t be discouraged. The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.)
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Before You Start:: Key Questions You Need To Answer Before Starting Any Nonprofit Initiative

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Before You Start:

Key Questions You Need to Answer

Written by Valerie F. Leonard

Legal Information…………………………………………… Page 3

Note from Valerie …………………………………………. Page 4

Brainstorming Worksheet………………………………………. Page 5

Copyright 2019 Nonprofit Utopia, LLC.

Consider joining the Nonprofit Utopia community at https://nonprofitutopia.mn.co, where you

1. Do you have a name for your organization?

3. Have you conducted a name search to see if it is available?

8. What services are already being provided, and by whom?

10. Do you see any gaps in services?

13. Who else cares about these issues?

14. Who are potential partners?

17. How many people will you serve?

18. In what activities will your organization engage?

20. How will your organization differentiate itself in the market?

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