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Starting a Nonprofit

Below are links to resources available in the Dallas / Fort Worth area of interest to anyone starting, funding or growing a nonprofit organization.  If you notice omissions or have ideas or suggestions, please send us an email.

1) What does it take to start a nonprofit organization?
2) Where can I turn for training or technical assistance?
3) Funding your organization.
 4) Staffing your organization.

1) What does it take to start a nonprofit organization?

Generally, starting a nonprofit involves taking some or all of the following steps:

  • File articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State;
  • Convene a meeting of the board at which by-laws are adopted;
  • Apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for Federal, tax-exempt status;
  • Obtain any required municipal or State operating permits / licenses;
  • Register a DBA (Doing Business As) name with the County;
  • Register with the State Comptroller's Office to receive exemption from State taxes;

It is important to have your application for tax-exempt status and other legal documents reviewed by an attorney with appropriate expertise.  Reading the nonprofit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, online at the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, is also recommended. Here are some additional resources:

Note that Dallas's Center for Nonprofit Management regularly offers a free seminar called, "Before Starting a Nonprofit Organization."

Online publications

books

The following are just a sample of the many books on law, nonprofit management, grantsmanship, foundations, proposal writing and related subjects that can be found at the Dallas Public Library. Most are located on either the Government Information Center (6th floor), where the Library's Grants Information Service is located, or in the History & Social Sciences  (8th floor).

  • Budgeting and financial management handbook for not-for-profit organizations by Edward J. McMillan (658.15 M167B 2000)
  • How to form a nonprofit corporation by Anthony Mancuso (346.73064 M269H 2007) 
  • How to form your own profit or non-profit corporation without a lawyer by Benji O. Anosike (346.73066 A615H 1999)
  • Legal answer book for nonprofit organizations by Bruce R. Hopkins (346.73064 H793L)
  • Nonprofit enterprises : corporations, trusts, and associations  by Marilyn E. Phelan. (346.73064 P538N 2000)
  • Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (658.048 H985N 2006) 
  • Not-for-profit accounting made easy by Warren Ruppel (657.98 R946N 2007) 
  • Starting & managing a nonprofit organization: a legal guide by Bruce R. Hopkins. (346.73064 H793 2005)
  • Streetsmart financial basics for nonprofit managers by Thomas A. McLaughlin (658.15 M161S 2002)
  • West's Texas Forms (346.764 W541 / 8th floor only)  

NOTE: The foregoing is provided for information only and are not meant to be comprehensive or to convey legal advice. Other laws and regulations may apply, and you are advised to seek the assistance of a competent legal attorney.

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2) Where can I turn for training or technical assistance?

There are several organizations in the Dallas / Fort Worth area that provide training and technical assistance to non-profit organizations.  Courses are offered in nonprofit and volunteer management, including workshops and programs leading to an academic certificate.

nonprofit agencies

colleges

Useful Websites

These websites provide information and advice on practical and legal issues.

MAGAZINES

The Grants Information Center subscribes to a number of magazines and journals of interest to the nonprofit community.  These and other titles are available on the 6th floor of the Central Library:

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3) Funding your organization.

The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library hosts a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection on the 6th floor.  See these web pages for details: 

Databases at the Library

These databases, together with many printed directories available on the 6th floor of the Central Library, can help to research foundations that are interested in funding organizations like yours. 

  • FC Search (The Foundation Center): "A comprehensive listing of active U.S. foundations and corporate giving programs and their associated grants. It includes a Grantmaker File of more than 72,000 records, and a Grants File with more than 300,000 grants of $10,000 or more awarded by the nation's largest funders. You may also link directly to the Web sites of approximately 3,700 of the nation's top foundations, as well as more than 1,900 corporate Web sites."
  • Foundation Grants to Individuals (The Foundation Center): "Foundation Grants to Individuals on CD-ROM is an electronic version of the Foundation Center's classic print publication. Its fast-speed format allows you to quickly search through a comprehensive database of over 4,000 foundations and public charities that fund a wide range of needs for individuals."

NOTE: To access these databases, you must come to the Central Library's Grants Information Service; there is no access available from other Library Branches.

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4) Staffing your organization.

The following sites provide nonprofit job seekers and/or volunteers access to nonprofit organizations and employers:

Search for volunteer opportunites with local agencies in the Library's Community Information Database using the keyword "volunteer opportunities". We would be happy to list your organization as well.

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