3 Fundamental Questions to Consider Before Starting a Nonprofit

As the founder of both a social enterprise and nonprofit organization, I have regular conversations with people interested in making a difference. Through these conversations, it’s become apparent that many people hold the false assumption that the only way to make a difference is to start a nonprofit—but “nonprofit” does not automatically equal doing good; rather it’s only one way to make an impact.

With the shift in our societal DNA, business as usual doesn’t cut it—businesses must be charitable because today, consumers expect it. Because of this, nonprofits are no longer alone in making an impact—altruism is embedded in both for-profit and nonprofit companies alike, heightening the way we do business. This is great news for world change, but it also means there’s more to consider when you have an idea to make a difference.

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are more than 1.5 million tax-exempt organizations in the U.S. And while this model is beneficial for the many nonprofits that have chosen to organize this way, know that funding and sustainability remain among the top challenges for nonprofit organizations.