Hello all! "1" is such a lonely number, especially when you don't want to be ALONE! It's scary, discouraging, lonely, sad, and frustrating when there is no one that you have connected with or reached out to that seems to have 110% faith or support in you. This has been my experience for over 4 years now. True, I have great friends, family, and community people,that I do connect with on other levels, that are just as important, however not very many, if any 'like minded' people for me to connect with about D.O.G.S, what it stands for, what it could be, what I strive for. People who have this deep passion and drive to want to DO SOMETHING with me. I have ran into too many people who don't take me seriously, doubting and invalidating this endeavor. For a lack of a better word it SUCKS. I had to try to break through a lot of doubt, still am, but at least now I can say I am no longer ALONE completely. I have my 3, D.O.G.S has its 3! What can I say I am a pretty happy camper right now! D.O.G.S has its Board minimum-3! Thanks to my dear husband with a great background in business and my sweet friend with passion, heart, and brains for the love of animals, and myself we have reached our Board minimum-for now. As D.O.G.S grows I will not be able to 'officially' sit on the Board, but we will cross that bridge when it comes. For now things are moving right along. As the incorporation is waiting to be finalized and we have a Board to start on a strategic plan, resource development and program planning together, it's not so lonely. Tip: the 3 mentioned above one could do on their own, in fact you should probably have an idea and draft in mind, however engaging the Board is the best way to go. The Board is what will drive and control the organization, so choose wisely and choose carefully. I know so far I have :)
Anyone interested please don't hesitate to contact me. You don't have to love furry creatures, non profits or even have a pet, you just have to want to succeed and carry out a mission. Is that YOU?
Hi everyone! It's been awhile. Busy trying to recruit Board members and learning in general about this great non profit process. It's been mostly frustrating the past few weeks; with no responses from people, people doubting what I am doing, questioning my ability, and the worst not wanting to help/share their experiences with me. I look at it as we are all in it together to help one another as much possible. I am open to sharing and helping others, wish people felt the same way. Don't get me wrong there are people out there who are willing to share, but it surprises me how many people are not willing to share. Well folks, I AM willing to share, in fact I am going to share as much as I can so whoever wants to try this crazy, fantastic idea of building a non profit can try and relate to this blog. It doesn't have to be animal related, it's all non profits! :)
Some things to keep in mind (or back of your mind if you are getting started)not necessary in this order. Steps you can start doing right away, there are no timelines for these. Some may seem obvious, but never assume! I learned some of these along the way, now you got a heads up! Most of these are FREE too!!
1) NETWORK, NETWORK! One of the best advice I have received, even though it's obvious. Talk to other people besides yourself! :) 2) Have your paper work in order first and foremost 3) Work with the Board members 4) Check for name duplication 5) Get a EIN (employment identification number) number from the IRS 6)Start a Blog, a website, business cards, join all social media networks: FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc 7)get ideas and start writing the by laws, articles of incorporation, strategic plan lots of sites out there to help. Refer to previous blogs for references. 8)Connect with a mentor 9)Volunteer 10)Organize your thoughts way beforehand and then do it again, and again! 11) Set realistic goals for yourself and IDEAL goals, what would you be OK with? 12) Do your research before, during and after 13) Understand it WILL take awhile for it all to happen 14) Save and budget for capital start up and in general (i.e. the paper work submitting process is not free) 15) Be open minded to change/edit your mission/purpose as the idea evolves-example in previous blogs, it already happened to me! 16) We'll start there, more to come, stay tuned...:)
Don't get worn down or out! Find a support system, come visit my blog, remember WHY you are doing it and strive on! "Every artist was first an amateur" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hi All! I had my meeting today with my mentor, long awaited! I am discouraged and encouraged more then ever! I told her one of my feelings were that I am scared. She stated " you SHOULD be scared, this isn't easy". I know it's hard work, but with the new information I received today I feel...a little bummed. She told me, which I should have figured out for myself; the non profit world is just as cut throat and territorial as the for profit world. She encouraged me to keep thinking in a business frame of mind more then anything. It is frustrating because I sincerely just want to help and people won't share with me or even respond to me on their steps, experiences and expertise. I have reached out to a few people and that has been my experience. I know we are probably all going after the same 'pot of money' resources, and demographic, but in the end we are in a similar mission! I don't care I AM going to share my steps and everything along the way. Enough of me venting. I gave my mentor my drafts and she is going to tweek them and get them ready for applying for an incorporation. Which is about $100 or so with the state. It is recommended that you work with an attorney on this. This is one of the first steps of money to the non profit status road. YES! :) Applying for this first then a 5013 C. Why a 5013 C you ask? Well you can get tax exempt, apply for grants, donations can be tax exempt. Just remember if you solicit funds in any other state you must file within that state as well-cross commerce. My mentor really encouraged me to 'talk to other people besides yourself, MyLy' It was quite funny and true at the same time. I don't know very many people personally with a passion for animal rescues like me. I need to expand my search and find these people!!! Are you one of them?! I need to have people on D.O.G.S team that can run a business, they don't necessary have to be absolutely passionate about the animal rescue world, but passionate about succeeding, about following through on the mission statement and doing what's best for D.O.G.S. I need those types of people on D.O.G.S board. I learn more and more every day and lots from my mentor then I could in any book. My next step is to recruit for more board members. It has been in the back of my mind and unfortunately I have not been concentrating on it enough. I could either make a strategic plan, bylaws, resource development and program planning before I recruit a board or engage the board and do these with them. Either way be prepared. Be prepared to have your vision and plans scrutinized and possibly fired from your own creation. Lots to learn hope this can help, inform, interest you in some way. In between the incorporation and recruiting. I have to check on D.O.G.S name to make sure no one is using it. To do this you can go to the Secretary of State. If you want to be national that's a different story. For now I am going to keep it local. I should also be applying for an EIN (employment identificaion number) with the IRS. Simple you can do it online or call them, google it. Below is a video that is pretty informational about starting a non profit that is just as beneficial as reading almost any book. It's quick and to the point.
Hope you all had a great holiday weekend with your furry friends. This is what we did over the holiday weekend with our babies, lots of walking :) They always have to be side by side or else they tend to be 'crazy' walkers. For those who have 'peas in a pod' doggies you know what I mean. Jasmine and Leche are inseparable. I just wanted to check in with all of you regarding D.O.G.S It is well on it's way just so much to think about and do, which is a given, however still can be discouraging, frustrating, exciting, scary, nerve wracking, all in one. Over the weekend I was able to go over some more details of what exactly may be needed for D.O.G.S from forms, application forms, to job descriptions and duties, to public relations, to what other locations could I expand the gumball machines to be located, what are my current capital funds, all this for starters. The list goes on and on. Sure the books tell you the main points but leave out lots of details that one would have to pick up along the way, talk to others, research about, or just plain brainstorm about. It can be overwhelming. I started a check list awhile back and it has been growing constantly of what needs to be done. Slowly however surely I am working my way down the list as well *whew*. All these ideas, questions all in my mind at once since day one, but now it seems so REAL and daunting at the same time. Because now I am ACTUALLY doing it and it gets more and more exciting and more and more scary. My mind is all over, it's like nascar or the lottery bowl in my head. I am realistic, but boy am I also a dreamer. I know I can make $25 for D.O.G.S to the possibility of $25,000 one day. I am ready for either, I will be ready for either. There is no end to my hope. One thing has changed is my purpose. My mission is to be a resource for rescues and I would like to cultivate that into whatever that may be, whether a rescue or whatever. The possibilities are endless. The impact of supplies, financial aide, policy changes, advocacy and creating awareness, D.O.G.S. can be involved in so much. In the end I want to be a resource for rescues period.
