What are the 15 steps starting 501(c)(3) nonprofit 0rganizations from scratch?

Dear Friends,

We need specialized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations today.

We do not need generic nonprofit organizations that try to solve all community problems. Instead, we need nonprofits that focus on solving one specific community problem.

I've been helping people across the country start nonprofits since 2010. Therefore, I see the trends in how the IRS approves nonprofit applications.

The applications that are approved the quickest are "niche-based" applications that focus on solving a single problem.

For example, I used to create applications to address multiple problems in a community, such as providing services for youth and for senior citizens.

Today, I encourage my clients to choose a single problem to solve through their nonprofit organization to streamline the approval process.

FREE WEBINAR!

I am facilitating a free webinar to teach you the steps to start a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization from scratch on Tuesday, November 25, at 2:00 pm EST.

You will be able to ask questions at the end of the free webinar.

New rules for charitable giving!

According to Fidelity Investments, charitable giving can make you feel good about supporting causes you care about. It can also have important tax benefits.

The new tax act passed in July 2025 made some important changes to the tax provisions for charitable contributions, which could make it more beneficial for people who itemize to consider giving this year, as they may see some reductions in the amounts they can deduct in the future. In contrast, non-itemizers could see greater tax benefits in future years.

While most of the changes go into effect for tax year 2026, the tax legislation introduces 3 new provisions that could significantly influence decisions on charitable giving strategies, offering both expanded opportunities and important considerations for donors to think about in the current tax year.

20 warning signs a nonprofit is headed for failure (and how to save it)

According to the Forbes Nonprofit Council, nonprofit organizations can sometimes face the risk of failure, and staff and executives must be aware of the telltale signs.

When it becomes apparent that a nonprofit is headed toward trouble, effective leadership can be the saving grace between staying afloat and shutting down operations for good.

To that end, the Forbes Nonprofit Council members highlight critical indicators that can signal a nonprofit's failure, from donor fatigue to internal strife.

Select the button below to learn the signs, as well as these experts' top strategies for turning the ship around.

Thanks for reading! My goal is to provide nonprofit information each week that help you reach your goals. Until next Monday, ​Susan Woods, MBA

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