Get Your Copy Early Before the Rush

Every NonProfit wants to learn how to fundraise well and this new resource from Scott Michael Ringo is just the ticket. Just being released in August is his new book “Simple Fundraising”. This book will teach you how to develop step-by-step fundraising strategies and formulas to create and maintain a stable donor base. Never before has the processes to develop continual and simple funding for a nonprofit been broken down so simple that anyone can do it. Scott brings his 12+ years in the developing successful nonprofits and 26+ years in the business arena to the forefront to present easy to understand, and simple to implement fundraising strategies.

As the founder of Ocean Grand, his hands-on approach to helping nonprofits all over the world raise the funds they need is is written so anyone can understand and implement it.  Instead of wonder where the funding  you need is, a few hours in “Simple Fundraising” will help you instantly discover and begin receiving it.

After reading “Simple Fundraising,” with basic effort any nonprofit can finally tap into the funding they need.  Every nonprofit needs this book in their library.  A simple read and you gain over a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising.

Act now because the first 500 copies of the book that are ordered in advance as PDF books are discounted to $19.95. Once ordered and paid for you will immediately be emailed a link to download your copy.

Once the book is released to book stores and internet June 1, the price of “Simple Fundraising” will be $29.95. Get your copy now in PDF format by clicking the button below.

NonProfit Set-up

Are you interested in starting your own nonprofit? Ocean Grand can help you get your very own nonprofit set-up in about 3 weeks very affordable. Then help you to find the funding you need and run it successfully. Click this link to get all the information www.oceangrand.org/start-501c3

Corporate Design Solutions

Running and funding a nonprofit can be an easy task but much like building a house without a hammer and nails, attempting to build a successful nonprofit without the proper tools is just as crazy.  Because we are dedicated to helping nonprofits become successful, Ocean Grand gives every nonprofit the ability to obtain these important tools at up to a 60% discount. Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net

Every NonProfit needs professionally designed and printed marketing materials to make your nonprofit a success.  Why not get those materials designed now at a substantial discount and start your marketing efforts from the beginning looking your best while attracting serious donors.We know from the hundreds of nonprofits we have helped all over the world, there is no better investment or a better price in which to get your nonprofit’s image looking its best.  Ocean Grand Design Studios is a state-of-the-art professional design studio that has designed for top names.  In addition to the 60% savings on the complete design package, Ocean Grand will give you tremendous savings on all your print needs as it is a professional print house as well. Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net

With professionally designed and printed marketing materials it only takes one (1) serious donor to donate back in one month the investment you made in your marketing materials.

It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who They Know

It makes a huge difference in the caliber of donors your nonprofit attracts as to how your nonprofit image looks. When you ask CEOs and successful people to pass on the information about your nonprofit, you want them to have great looking material they are proud to pass on. Handing out professionally designed marketing materials can make the difference, and there is no better time or better price to get those created than with this offer. You are going to need everyone you know talking about your nonprofit, and just like any business, being able to equip others to retell your story right is key. Get a complete corporate branding solution including:

• Logo
• Business Card Design
• Letterhead Design
• Envelope Design
• Website
• Tri-fold Brochure
• Glossy Presentation Folder
• Social Media Package (Twitter and FaceBook)

Some of Ocean Grand’s other services:

Some of our products:

• Custom Photo Books (any amount of pages)
• Wedding Albums
• Graduation Announcements
• Baby Announcements
• Wedding Invitations
• Wedding Announcements
• Personalized Stationary
• Photo Enlargements (canvas, print, framed)
• Photo Packages
• Photo reprints
• Personalized Christmas Cards
• Personalized Holiday Cards
• Family Greeting Cards
• Portrait enlargement and framing
  

Other Services:

• Logo
• Business Cards
• Customized Thank You Cards
• Customized Greeting Cards
• Customized Christmas Cards
• Corporate Letterhead
• Corporate Envelopes
• Flyers any size edge to edge printing
• Brochures any fold
• Postcards with customized mailing services
• Magnets
• Banners
• Websites
• Counter cards, Business Cards, Referral Brochures
• Ongoing Flyer Creation
• Double-sided PDF Brochures for emailing
• Interactive Online Brochures
• Corporate Style Sheets
  

Anything graphic design, branding, and print media related!

Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net

I like to work smart, not hard.  I currently run several nonprofits and have for many years but have never kept any bookkeeping, done any accounting, or ever been to the bank to make a deposit.  I have been able to run these nonprofits from anywhere in the world and not one on my staff does any of these types of activities, but instead devotes 100% of their time to our projects, not office work.  One hundred percent of everyone’s time that is involved in our nonprofits is spent on developing our programs, fundraising, and executing our programs.  In fact, running our nonprofits is so easy that anyone could run a successful nonprofit.  The difference is in how we run our nonprofits, by working smart not hard. Read on and I will explain the easy way to run a nonprofit 501c3 versus the hard ordinary way.  You can then decide for yourself which you prefer.

The New (not so new) Way of Starting a Nonprofit

Many spend weeks, months or even years wading through the process to start, learn to fund and run a successful nonprofit.  Many refer to starting their own nonprofit as a “dream” because it seems like getting a nonprofit formed is such a hard thing to accomplish.  However, starting, learning to fund and running a successful nonprofit is something we help people do every day with just a few easy steps.  Running an independent nonprofit, for many, has become outdated, cumbersome and not very agile to make quick effective changes when needed.  Yet there is a sleek, sexy, and streamlined form of nonprofit coming on the scene.

Let’s explore a process of starting a nonprofit you may not have known even existed.  There is an easy way to start and run a nonprofit and then there is the ordinary way which is a lot more difficult.  After reading this post you may decide that anyone could run a nonprofit, and I believe they can.  Many who I talk with do not know that a nonprofit can be started and  efficiently ran with 501c3 status through an entity called a fiscal sponsorship.  Simply put, a fiscal sponsorship allows a nonprofit project to be created inside of an already existing independent 501c3 nonprofit.  This eliminates the creation hassle and IRS approval that takes many months including the absorbent fees to do so.  By starting a nonprofit through fiscal sponsorship, an organization can have nonprofit status in a few weeks without much in the way of start up fees.  This enables those that want to do nonprofit work an easy and inexpensive way to form and run a nonprofit while having it up and running within weeks, with many added benefits.

Fiscal Sponsorships are becoming a quite popular and a much sought way of starting and running a nonprofit.  In this short post I will introduce you to the Fiscal Sponsorship way of setting up and running a nonprofit to help you explore this option as a viable and less expensive way to have your nonprofit organization up and running with less hassle than you ever thought possible.

What Every NonProfit Needs

The main reason an organization would want to have tax exempt nonprofit status is to appeal to its financial contributors by granting them tax deductions on their gifts.  The second reason tax exempt status is appealing is to gain access to grants (free money that does not have to be repaid) that is available from any number of government and foundation organizations.  Fiscally Sponsored nonprofits as well as independent nonprofits both enjoy these two sought after benefits.  However, there are more things to consider when starting a nonprofit.

The Painful Part of a NonProfit Business

A main consideration in starting either a fiscally sponsored or independent nonprofit is in the amount of administration that can be associated with running either of them.  A real factor in running any business is the time or ongoing expenses you will spend accomplishing the administration.  Many times a fiscally-sponsored nonprofit frees up the majority of the employees’ time to do the actual projects instead of the administration and paperwork.

The administration for a nonprofit is a real consideration, and you are either going to do it yourself, hire staff to do it, or outsource it to professionals (bookkeepers, CPAs, etc.).  Many find that doing the administration for a nonprofit is time consuming, tedious and labor intensive.  Those that decide to hire staff or outsource the administration find that option expensive.  What if there was a way to get all the administration done at a fraction of the cost while not having to do it yourself?

All the Fun, None of the Paperwork

Many find, by setting up a fiscally sponsored nonprofit, they can have all the benefits of a nonprofit they desire and none of office work they don’t. Ocean Grand understands that office work can get in the way, while consuming large amounts of time, and instead has a virtual staff that takes care of all the nonprofit’s administration, accounting, bookkeeping, banking, and even the quarterly and end of the year filings.  Imagine the ease of starting a nonprofit and not needing to worry about any of the office work and instead are free to spend all your time doing fundraising and programs, leaving the office work to a highly trained and efficient staff.

Through a fiscal sponsorship, Ocean Grand sets your fixed costs on administration at 8% which is much lower than outsourcing it would ever be.  In addition, the virtual administration staff that will be working on your nonprofit paperwork is highly experienced in nonprofit administration so you know the work will be done right every time.

Work Smart Not Hard

For many years I have enjoyed the benefits and joys of running several fiscally-sponsored nonprofits and never once had to think about the time or expense of their administration.  Instead, I have been able to concentrate 100% of my time and energy on the continued success of the programs and fundraising and leaving the administration and office work to a highly trained staff that only costs a fraction of what hiring professionals or even my own in house staff would cost.  A fiscally-sponsored nonprofit affords me all of the pleasure and benefits of a nonprofit without all the hassle usually associated with running a business.  Along with me, thousands around the world enjoy this simple and effective way of running a nonprofit.  Through Ocean Grand, in just a couple weeks you could have your own nonprofit operational at just a fraction of the cost of setting up and running an ordinary much more difficult nonprofit.

NonProfits that are fiscally sponsored have been around for over 40 years and the reason you are not familiar with them is that they operate, do the same great nonprofit work, enjoy the same benefits and look just like any other nonprofit.

Click here to learn how you can Start and run a NonProfit the Easy Way

Your Junk is Your Responsibility

Communication to your business or nonprofit is like wind is to a kite.  A kite can look great lying in the grass however, when the wind sends it soaring in the sky, it dances effortlessly with such delight.  Communications is what connects your business to the outside world and can send it soaring into the sky or falling to the ground.  You are the one holding the kite string so lets, briefly in this first of the “Communications Series,” cover some basics and in the next few articles we will cover all aspects of what you should have in place to communicate effectively with everyone.  Make sure you grab the RSS or email feed above to receive all the articles.

Many Flavors

It is important that people can communicate with your nonprofit in the flavor that is comfortable with them.  You may prefer old fashioned methods like email or postal mail, but the world is changing and you need to change with it. Yes, email and postal mail are old fashioned.  I remember the days when people would give you a blank stare when you asked them for their email address or web site address, and have no idea what I was talking about. Well it’s time to update to the year 2009.  Read on and I will explain how you can move your nonprofit into the current year and help people connect to you better and more efficiently.

Your Junk is Your Responsibility

First lets talk about your current means of communication paths.  I will assume you have a postal address and an email address.  If you are attempting to run a successful nonprofit, then a blog or at least a website is also necessary.  My choice of words in the last sentence is important, you should have a blog and at the very least a website.  This day and age, the blog is the most important means to communicate rather than a website or newsletter.  The blog affords you everything the other two do plus the ability for everyone to read the latest news about your nonprofit, not just those that subscribe to your newsletter.  To keep this post shorter, if you want to know more about blogs and why your nonprofit should have one, read the post Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog oceangrand.org/top-10-reasons-nonprofits-should-blog/.

Your Junk

Now about your email.  The most common thing I hear from others regarding the message I sent them on email is “I did not receive your email, could you resend it?”  To which I reply “could you check your junk mail?”  Many times the person has no idea how to locate or check their junk mailbox.  99.9% of the time if they did not receive my email it is sitting in their junk mailbox along with other important mail.  I mention this because if I resent the email it would also end up in their junk mail.  My email ending up in their junk mail is not my problem and there is little I can do to prevent it. I realize that a junk mailbox is there to catch spam and mail you do not want so you do not have to look at it.  Instead, once and for all locate where your email program sends junk mail.  Every couple of days check your junk box like it is your second inbox and skim the senders names and subject lines to make sure there are no messages there that you should have received. I check mine several times a day because as much as I wish that it only collected junk, many times important messages were moved there automatically by my email program.  Take responsibility for the mail you receive and get on top of your junk mailbox.

Welcome to 2009

It is the year 2009 and communication is not as simple as it was last year. Or is it easier?  Social Media has transformed the world and as a nonprofit your responsibility is to give people the ability to communicate with you like they want in all the flavors of the rainbow.  Especially with the ease of communication on mobile devices, many find it easier to Tweet than to email you.  At the very least your nonprofit should have communications set up on FaceBook and Twitter.  Last month we did a whole series of articles on Social Media for the NonProfit and you can find all the articles below.  The first and most important one to read is Tweet or Not to Tweet oceangrand.org/tweet-or-not-to-tweet/ which gives you a brief overview and then the steps to set up a FaceBook and Twitter Account.
Other articles you will want to read are:

• Tweet or Not to Tweet
• Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
• Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
• Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
• 14 Advanced Twitter Tips

Take some time this week and make sure your online communications are up-to-date.  This allows people to stay in contact with you how they feel comfortable.  To some it is easier to drop you a note on Twitter and others will prefer email.  Whatever their preference, it is easy enough to accommodate them.  Finally, check your email, Twitter, and FaceBook accounts on a regular basis it shows you care and want to be connected.  Nothing is worse than unanswered communications with someone who wants to be connected to you and your business.

In the next articles in this “Communications Series” we will discuss all the aspects of keeping those that want to be connected to your business informed, connected and happy.  Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS or email feed above so you don’t miss our step-by-step guide to making the most of your communications.

You are walking on the beach, and there in front of you is a genie lamp.  The inscription reads, “Rub me”.  So you rub the lamp and out pops a genie and says, “I will grant you one wish, any wish. But there are two conditions.  Your wish has to be focused towards helping others and not yourself, and you have to be committed to seeing your wish come true.”  Of course, you are wondering what happened to the other three wishes, since isn’t the offer supposed to be for three wishes?  However, the genie explains that even his economy is tight right now but he should get the benefit of the doubt since, “When did anyone ever offer to grant you wish in the first place?”  Today your wish is granted, read on to learn how to get your wish.

I spend a lot of time talking with people about cool ideas they have come up with to make the world a better place.  Many of them are amazing and I am privileged to be one of the first to hear about them and spur them onto success.  This day and age anyone can have a great idea to make the world a better place, but the process to take that dream and make it a reality is often confusing.  Ocean Grand has made a commitment to help those who have a dream, a wish, and turn it into reality and we are counting on the rest of the technology, nonprofit and philanthropy world to join us in seeing dreams come true.  Continue on and find out how you can be part of a new revolution.

From extreme makeovers, building homes for those that need them, losing excessive amounts of weight, to even finding the perfect job, television is transforming peoples’ lives by giving them the once-in-a-lifetime chance to change their world.  Many times these complete solutions are the collaboration of hundreds or even thousands of people all bringing a piece of the puzzle to the table to make the dream come true.  Granted, most of the time these transformations are created in the form of a competition and while some win, many lose.  But for that one lucky person, their life could be turned upside down for the good.

Perhaps more than ever, with the aid of the internet, more and more people are finding that it only takes a little collaboration from a few others to make another person’s dream come true.  It no longer takes meeting in person, complicated meeting schedules or years to create a strategy for success.  For years I have run companies virtually and outsourced highly technical solutions to enable companies to run smoothly and much more efficiently.

One Lucky Person

What if I said, “Come up with an idea for a project to make the world a better place and no matter what your idea, I would help you put it in place?”  In addition, I would not only help you put the project in place, it is yours to keep, and I will help you learn to easily fund it and make it a stunning success.  You might think you stepped onto the stage of a TV reality show and all your dreams are coming true.  In reality, (not reality TV), that is what I have the joy of doing each and every day.  If you need someone to help you put your nonprofit project in place, learn for free how to fund it and have support in making it a huge success, then this invitation is open to you.  It all begins with a short application to start a nonprofit and I will step you through the rest of the process.

Your Wish Granted in One Step

1. Decide whether or not you’re committed once and for all to seeing your wish granted.
2. If you are still committed, and want to make your wish come true.
3. Take a minute and make sure you know what your wish is.
4. Say your wish out loud 3 times and click the button below.

Most Popular Posts of February

February has been a big month for great posts that help nonprofits learn to fundraise, brand their image, and use social media to get their messages out. We thought a nice post to round out February would be a link to many of these articles on the same page for easy reference.  Maybe you dream to start a Nonprofit but don’t know how.  There are even links to great articles on how to start a nonprofit.  Whatever your depth of knowledge in the nonprofit arena, there are quick and timely articles for everyone below that are sure to help you increase the success of your nonprofit.  Read on and enjoy the free information, all we ask is that you pass the web site address on to at least one other nonprofit that could benefit from the information also.

Fund Raising

Every Nonprofit wants to know more about how to fund raise successfully.  The 4 articles below will guide you with step-by-step instructions on how to build stable and dependable financial support even in a challenging economic economy.  Great articles for the beginner to the expert.

• Simple and Effective NonProfit Fundraising
• A Simple Fundraising Formula
• Fundraising Ideas
• $2K in 2 Hours

NonProfit Branding and Design

Nothing increases your success in running a successful nonprofit more than its image.  A great looking image and professionally designed marketing materials helps retell a nonprofits story with class.  A professional image is one of the keys to running a successful nonprofit and the articles below can help you step through that process with ease.  Whether you are a church or other type of nonprofit, these articles can help you.

* Is Your Image the Problem?
* The Secret to NonProfit Success

Philanthropy

These are great articles to get to your donors and those interested in your nonprofit, as well as great encouragement to you if you’re involved in a nonprofit. These articles will help your donors and supporters understand the importance and best way to get involved with your nonprofit.  Hopefully we have made your job a little easier just by having your supporters read these articles.  Feel free to direct those involved in your nonprofit back to these articles.

• What Have You Done Lately That You’re Proud Of?
• 6 Steps to Making a Bigger Splash
• The Wonder of a Star
• 401K Alternative

Social Media

Never before has it been so easy to connect with ongoing relationships and build new ones with a couple clicks of the mouse.  The 5 articles below give you step-by-step instructions on how to use the internet and social media to connect better to your supporters and donors while

easily finding 1000’s more who would enjoy being involved in your nonprofit.  Read the 5 articles below and apply them, and you will be on your way to connecting your nonprofit to others in a highly visible way.

• Tweet or Not to Tweet
• Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
• Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
• Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
• 14 Advanced Twitter Tips

Start a NonProfit

Have you dreamed of starting a nonprofit but don’t know how to get started?  You might already have a nonprofit but are not seeing the success you had hoped for.  Either way, the articles below will guide you step-by-step through the process of easily starting, funding and running a successful nonprofit. Starting a nonprofit does not have to be expensive, and funding and running it does not have to be hard.  The articles below take the guess work and difficulty out of starting and running a successful nonprofit.

• Rebranding the NonProfit
• The Secret to NonProfit Success
• 3 Most Common NonProfit Hurdles
• 6 Steps to NonProfit Freedom
• NonProfit One Stop Shop
• NonProfit Job Listing
• Start a NonProfit | Medical

Types of NonProfits

There are hundreds of charitable causes that nonprofits address.  In the articles below, we explore 5 charitable causes that you may not have thought of as being a cause to start a nonprofit around.  While reading the articles you may think of friends, family or acquaintances that could enjoy the benefits of having a nonprofit directed toward one of these causes.  We would be glad to help them start, learn to fund and run a successful nonprofit directed toward one of these charitable causes.

• Actors Are People Too!
• Medical Foundation Success
• Start a NonProfit | Medical
• Family Foundations
• NonProfit Adoption
• NonProfit Memorials and Tributes

We Are Committed to NonProfits

As always, Ocean Grand is committed to helping those around the world who dream of starting a nonprofit do so with ease and efficiency.  Likewise, we are committed to those that run nonprofits to better fund and run successful nonprofits. For the last 12 years, we have helped thousands of nonprofits make their dreams a reality and in the next years we will help thousands more.  Join the Ocean Grand Network and let us help your nonprofit connect better, be better funded and see the success you have always hoped for.

If your dream is to start, fund and run a successful nonprofit and want to do it in the least expensive, most efficient and quickest way, while having the most support, get started today by visiting us on the web http://oceangrand.org/start-501c3/

Don’t Forget

Make sure you take a moment and subscribe to our RSS Feed or by email subscription so that you do not miss another article.  Our subscribers get timely articles delivered to them for free plus other information and tips that help them to implement strategies to make their nonprofit as successful as it can be. Subscribe to our blog and get a free bonus copy of my book – “Simple and Easy Fundraising” once it is published.

So you are ready to Tweet?  Great.  If nothing else, give it a try and see if it is for you.  As a nonprofit or any business, the more avenues in which you can make yourself available to others the better your chances of developing relationships that stick.  For more on building relationships that stick, read  http://oceangrand.org/building-nonprofit-relationships-equals-success. Twitter is an avenue that can make a huge difference in your knowledge about how to run a successful nonprofit and is a great way to stay in touch up-to-the-minute with supporters, donors, volunteers and grant makers.  Read on to learn how you can use Twitter to make a difference in your nonprofit.

Last week we talked about whether “To Tweet or Not to Tweet”, read that here. Hopefully you’re reading this because you have decided to tweet.  Take it from us, for an organization that stays in touch with lots of people, nonprofits and others all around the world on a minute by minute basis, you can’t get better than Twitter.  By using Twitter, we can keep in touch with all the nonprofit news, initiatives, info on nonprofits we work with, while keeping all that want our information informed up to the second.  It’s awesome and once you get the hang of it we believe you will agree.  I will briefly run through the benefits to you and your nonprofit using Twitter, then list the steps on how you can get started “Tweeting” yourself.

Real Simple

Twitter is messaging that uses only 140 characters per message, called Tweets.  It is easy to send and receive tweets from your computer or mobile phone.  Because the messages are short, reading and writing them are quick.  People that want to keep in touch with you “Follow You” and receive your tweets.  You follow people that you want to keep in touch with.  Several short tweets a day is all it takes to keep everyone up-to-date with what you or your nonprofit is up to.  Twitter is short conversations that keep everyone in your life connected.

How it Could Help You

As a nonprofit, keeping your supporters, donors and volunteers up-to-date with daily updates and many times minute by minute reports have huge benefits.  The more you can keep your organization in front of those that are involved with your nonprofit the more they will be involved with you.  Likewise, staying transparent and keeping people more informed will let them know exactly the kind of help you need and when you need it.

Several tweets a day from you can:

• Update those following you on on projects status
• Tweet your fundraising and program events for those that cannot be there (play by play)
• Let others know of fundraising needs
• Keep grant makers updated with progress
• Quickly find volunteers
• Find others who would like to involved with your nonprofit

How You Can Start Tweeting

When using Twitter, “less is more” and keeping track of your and other people’s tweets can be managed easily on your computer by using TweetDeck http://www.tweetdeck.com.  Throughout the day,  “tweet” several times and let people know what you’re up to; you will be amazed at how interested they are in the little things you do each day.

Twitter Steps:

1. Go to http://www.twitter.com.
2. Sign up and create an interesting profile. Definitely add a photo.
3. Use the site’s “find friend” feature to search your email address book for people you know.
4. To find people you maybe interested in following, go to Twitscoop http://www.twitscoop.com/ and search topics you’re interested in.
5. Search websites that you are interested in to see if they have a “Follow Us on Twitter” link.
6. You may find more people to follow by reading the posts of those you are already following whose conversations seem interesting.
7. Keep the number of people you follow to less than 150 so that you can actually keep up with all the posts.
8. The number of people you allow to follow you depends on you but the more people following you, the farther your tweets will go out to the masses.
9. Try to think of ways to allow those that follow you to get to know you and your nonprofit.
10. Think of ways that you can introduce what your nonprofit is doing without giving a sales pitch.
11. Get all your donors and those interested in you and your nonprofit (donors, volunteers, board members) signed up and promote your Twitter link so people can connect to you.
12. Put your Twitter link on your email signatures, your web site, your literature and every place you, can making it easy for people to follow you.
13. A few “What I am doing” updates a day goes a long way.  Likewise, reply and respond to other people’s updates.
14. Give it a couple weeks to find those to follow and to find a “following”

Above all have fun and see what Twitter can do for you and your organization.

Later this Week in our Twitter Series: Tweet Like a Pro (sign up for our RSS so you don’t miss an article)

Advisory: All the information, pictures, video and updates on Twitter are able to be seen by all your followers and your profile can be seen by anyone, so keep that in mind when you put information on the internet.

Half the battle starting a NonProfit is setting up the company, filing all the right forms and then doing all the paperwork. It takes many people months or even years to figure out how to start a nonprofit, then longer saving up to pay to get the nonprofit set up. (cause it is usually expensive). You know what I mean if you have ever ran across one of those lengthy pages explaining all the steps to starting a nonprofit.

Those that come to us have their nonprofit set up and doing business in about 3 weeks. Just a quick two page application, with just 5 quick questions and in 3 weeks you will have a brand new shiny nonprofit.

The Faster and Easier Way to Start a Nonprofit through Fiscal Sponsorship

We set your nonprofit 501c3 up through fiscal sponsorship. Fiscal Sponsorship means your nonprofit is set up under the umbrella of an already existing nonprofit, which is really a great way to learn the ropes of running a nonprofit. The great news is not only is the setup quick even all the accounting and bookeeping is taken care of. All you have to focus on is fund raising, and running a successful programs rather than becoming overwhelmed with paper work, filing reports, and bookkeeping. You still have all the benefit of a nonprofit but with non of the hassle.

Through this route of setting up the nonprofit, the cost to get started is a mere $385 and includes all your ongoing:

• Administration
• Bookkeeping
• Banking
• Staying within the IRS guidelines
• End of the year taxes

Read more about the benefits and ease of a nonprofit with Fiscal Sponsorship here.

Three Quick Steps to Submitting Your Online Application

1. Pay the Application Fee Online*
   

   Name of Your Proposed Nonprofit

   

2. Fill Out the Online Application
   Click Here for the Online Application
3. Sign the Agreement
   Click Here for the Online Agreement
   

If you would rather fill out the 501c3 Application from a PDF and submit it by mail, fax or email print the application from the link below:

Print Out the 501c3 CDP Project Application
Click here to print and fill out, Mail or Fax Application.

Mail us

You can also Mail your application to: Ocean Grand 1340 Great Neck RD STE 1272-212 Virginia Beach, VA 23454

What People Are Saying

My non profit will have great recognition and to know i don’t have to worry about paper works and to have professionals working and mentoring me is a great comfort to me. I would recommend your work to others. Scott, i thank you so much.
Danielle, magnificent butterflies, inc.

Setting up a non-profit project through Ocean Grand is as fast, easy more then one can imagine!
Clinton Ezeigwe, Sign of Hope

I love your way of not forgetting your old friends.
The greatest thing you did for me was to help me set my organization… you also helped me to fundraise online.This was so good too.
Rose Nabisalu, Luteete Women of Uganda (Uganda, Africa)

About the CDP program

The reason we can quickly set up your nonprofit through the CDP program is that CDP is an already existing independent 501c3. CDP empowers others that wish to pursue nonprofit activities to set up their nonprofit activities within their already existing program. In addition, CDP has a permanent staff that provides your organization with all the administration benefits listed above so you can spend your time focused on developing your program. Setting up your nonprofit activities through CDP is the easiest and most cost effective way we know of to get your nonprofit operating in a ways that is easy to maintain. Thousands of nonprofits all over the world agree that setting up a nonprofit project through the CDP program put them on the fast track to living their nonprofit dreams. It is easy if you should decide at anytime you want to move your nonprofit operation to an independent 501c3.

* The application fee is nonrefundable

While I help people set up a lot of new nonprofts, I also get a lot of phone calls, emails, and tweets from nonprofits who have been struggling for years.  The struggles come in all shapes and sizes but the most common struggle is fundraising.  Successful fundraising for many nonprofits is an elusive dream that is overshadowed by many failed attemtps.  Some in the nonprofit arena even believe the nonprofit market is too saturated and leaves no room for new nonprofits because of their lack of success raising funds for their nonprofit.  This can be no farther from the truth and whether you are a new nonprofit start-up or an old one, in just a few simple steps, I can help you get on track to finding the nonprofit funds you need to see successful fundraising.  Read on and I will give you some simple steps that you can follow to regain your faith in the nonprofit model.

Rebranding The NonProfit

Over the years, the nonprofit arena has become complicated and just down right confusing to many who are already involved and even more so to those wishing to embark in it.  I will not spend a lot of time speculating on why the industry has become so hard to understand, but I will give my two cents.  I believe the majority of the confusion has come from an assumption that “it looks difficult, so it is difficult.” Many times new and old nonprofits make it much more difficult than it really is by making it complicated for themselves.  You have heard the phrase that “you cannot see the forest for the trees”.  I like to help nonprofits rebrand their efforts and focus on the individual trees and then they can stand back and enjoy the forest.  Especially when it comes to nonprofit fundraising, simple is the best and once you make it simple it can be down right fun. There are 3 simple steps below.

KISS

(keep it simple, stupid)

When rebranding the nonprofit to make things simple the old adage “Keep it simple, Stupid” reigns supreme for me.  Simple works, and helps those that are volunteers, employees and donors follow along easily.  By keeping it simple your efforts are easily duplicated by others.  When you discover the strategy that works, you simply duplicate it so that others can also do it.  Then repeat, repeat and repeat those efforts.  There is no need to make it any harder than it has to be.  I think that many times those running nonprofits believe they have to keep adding elements to their fundraising efforts until they get so confused they cannot remember what worked in the first place.  Let me give you an example that I will take from my article http://oceangrand.org/simple-and-effective-non-profit-fundraising/.  There is no substitute for a stable donor base.  A stable donor base does not come from grant writing, it comes from having a great story, building relationships with donors and retaining those donors month in and month out.  Grant writing has its place, but not until you have the simplest form of support and that is individual donors and corporations that have a great relationship with you and your nonprofit.  They are the ones that will come through for you time and time again.  You build that loyalty in donors by cultivating real and genuine relationships with them.  Building relationships with people + keeping them involved in your nonprofit work + them giving time and finances to your nonprofit= simple, stable and effective fundraising.  If it sounds too simple it is because you have convinced yourself that funding your nonprofit has to be complicated and difficult.

Forget the Competition

Forget what the competition does to attempt success; instead do the things that you know will work.  By trying to duplicate another nonprofit’s efforts, especially if theirs is complicated, you are setting yourself up for a complex matrix of activities.  Instead stay simple in your efforts and focus on your nonprofit, your donors and your program.

Overrated Activities

Grant writing is overrated for most nonprofits, and instead of spending hours and hours trying to find a grant, capitalize on that time by building relationships with the people the other nonprofits forgot and left in the dust.  Many very capable donors are left in the dust of the flurry the nonprofit makes in trying to find the “big money.”  There is not a ton of competition in building relationships with donors.  With a little effort you may be able to build genuine relationships with individuals, long forgotten by other nonprofits, who would love to donate more than any grant would provide.  All grant funding organizations are run and founded by individuals, most of whom would enjoy finding a nonprofit who valued their relationship as much as their money.  You never know where a solidly build relationship with a donor may lead.  It is possible his best friend runs a successful grant funding foundation.  Relationship building is one of those simple activities that most nonprofits forget.  However, they are the key to great success when it comes to the continual success of a nonprofit.

Does your nonprofit need rebranding?

Whether you are just starting out in the nonprofit world or you have been at it for ages, nonprofit fundraising and work does not have to be complicated.  My advice for anyone in any business would be if you do not have fun at it, find something that you can enjoy.  Nonprofit work can be some of the most satisfying work (or play) you have ever done, but I believe simplicity is the key.  Look at everything surrounding your nonprofit: administration, bookkeeping, fundraising, and programs.  If the processes are too complicated, simplify them or outsource them.  Make your nonprofit activities simple and straightforward and they will be fun.  It’s the reason I switched to a Mac computer- it simplified my life and made sitting at a computer fun again.  Above all, relationships are your most important asset.  When all the “cards are down,” if you have good stable relationships, you will be ok.  Have a blast living your nonprofit dream, and if you need some help getting back to simple, let me know.

I was thinking this morning about all the great people who have big hearts I’ve come across in the last 12 years.  People that only needed a few simple pointers and then were able to launch a nonprofit and run it successfully.  I was thinking about this because I wake up in the mornings with a passion to see everyone that wants to do great nonprofit work do it and do it successfully. I’ve learned throughout those 12 years that I know there are some simple formulas, if followed, enable anyone to start and maintain a great nonprofit.  I also know that from the questions I am asked when people approach me about starting a nonprofit that there are only a few hurdles people need to get over.  I wanted to take a minute and create a quick resource that outlines those hurdles and how to get over them.  Read on and hopefully this will outline the 3 most common hurdles you are facing and how to overcome them.

Many years ago I created the Ocean Grand organization because I continually ran into those that needed a simple resource to take the confusion out of starting and running a successful nonprofit.  There are hundreds of articles on the web that instruct people on the steps, but few that actually take them through the steps.  In addition, it seemed to me that most people wanting to do nonprofit work needed a simple sign-up process and then continued steps to fund and then run their nonprofit.    While it is true that there are several ways to set up, fund, and run a nonprofit, there are simpler ways than others to actually do these steps.  I wanted to give people a resource that helped them get their nonprofit dreams launched in a way that was the simplest and least expensive.  If you want a simple, easy and effective way to start, fund and run a nonprofit, then I want to show you a way to do it in three simple steps.

Rebranding the NonProfit World

Throughout the many years we have been helping nonprofits, we have seen many many nonprofits get so worn out and overwhelmed with funding and running their nonprofit that they give up.  However, we have seen lots of nonprofits follow some simple information and tips and become highly successful.  So several years ago we set out to serve the nonprofit and try to simplify information for nonprofits, steps to get their nonprofit set up, and the ongoing work necessary to run a successful nonprofit.  We are attempting to “rebrand” nonprofits and the nonprofit arena into a simpler environment so that even the “mom and pop” who have a heart to help can do so successfully.We work with thousands and thousands of nonprofits all over the world and we simply want to give away all the information we can about how to successfully run a nonprofit. If that is you, there are three simple steps to make that happen.

3 Hurdles

1. What is the easiest method to create the nonprofit organization?
2. How do we get the nonprofit organization funded?
3. How do we assure the continued success of the nonprofit?

Below I would like to help you get past these 3 hurdles once and for all.

Creating the Non Profit

Creation of a non profit is traditionally done in two ways;  either by forming an independent 501c3 through the IRS or forming a fiscal sponsorship alongside an already existing 501c3.  Both can be highly effective and the difference is mostly in the cost and time to get it set up and the amount of administrative paperwork and “back office” work you want to do.  Many people doing non profit work are mostly interested in the actual non profit work and do not mind leaving the paperwork to trained bookkeepers and CPAs.   Whichever way you decide to set up your non profit, look into the costs of putting the paperwork and accounting into the hands of trained professionals.  If you would like to read more about the differences between setting up a non profit in either of the ways mentioned above see our archived articles http://oceangrand.org/start-a-nonprofit-fiscal-sponsorship and http://oceangrand.org/fiscal-sponsorship .  Either forming an independent 501c3 or a fiscal sponsorship is fine for doing nonprofit work.  If you want the easiest, quickest and least expensive method the fiscal sponsorship is the method to use and will cause you the least headaches.  If at some point after forming a fiscal sponsorship you decide you want an independent 501c3 the transition is easy enough to start with the fiscal sponsorship first.

Funding Your Non Profit

While funding is an important part of making your non profit successful, it is not the most common question or challenge we are asked about.  Funding can be very simple and straight forward.  When many contact me about developing a fundraising plan for their nonprofit the next question they ask is about how they can learn to grant write.  While grant writing can be an important part of funding a nonprofit, it should not be the primary nor is it the most stable way to fund a nonprofit.  Funding a nonprofit is best accomplished by cultivating and establishing a stable donor base of individuals and corporations.  Once the nonprofit is stably funded then grant writing is a great supplement to the funding efforts.  Rather than adding pages to this post I will point you to a couple great articles on simple fundraising below.

6 Steps to Nonprofit Freedom
http://oceangrand.org/6-steps-to-non-profit-freedom/

Simple Fundraising Formula
http://oceangrand.org/a-simple-fundraising-formula/

$2K in 2 Hours
http://oceangrand.org/2k-in-2-hours/

The Most Common Hurdle

With two of the three hurdles down I will quickly address the most common hurdle I am asked about when it comes to running a successful nonprofit.  That hurdle is “How do we assure the continual success of our nonprofit?”  That is not a simple question nor an easy hurdle to get over.  In fact, there is no simple answer but instead one that is many times answered on a day to day basis.  The same steps it takes to get a nonprofit to a successful operating level are the same steps in assuring its continual success.  It is one of the main reasons that the Ocean Grand site continues to pump out great content on a daily basis.  The question about the ongoing success of the nonprofit was so prominent that we created Ocean Grand to continually address the solution.

Many of our followers simply sign up for the RSS or email feeds, then implement the ideas and tips we give them and begin seeing success simultaneously.  Likewise, others who have taken a more difficult route in running their nonprofit simplify their path and begin having fun again while seeing great success.  We believe that nonprofit work should be fun, highly contagious, and not at all hard.  As you read through the articles above you will see that the steps for funding and running a successful nonprofit are not difficult but must simply be duplicated again and again.

Above all get your nonprofit successful by simplifying the way it is funded.  Make sure your donor base is stable and can support the operating and program budget and that the grant writing your organization does is strictly supplemental and for ongoing development.

NonProfits Can Be Fun

Unknown by many in the nonprofit world, nonprofit work can be fun, stress free and well-funded.  The nonprofit simply has to remember that just because they are a charity, they must operate as a business.  Establish the nonprofit with simple, effective and stable fundraising methods; duplicate those again and again.   Worn-out nonprofits are the norm and I established Ocean Grand to address those concerns and began to rebrand the nonprofit arena to be once again fun and exciting.  By becoming part of the Ocean Grand Nonprofit Network by subscribing to the ongoing information we produce and implementing some simple strategies, you can begin to rebrand or brand your nonprofit into a fun, exciting and challenging endeavor.

Ocean Grand has made a commitment and pledge to help 400 new nonprofits get started and support them to being a success in 2009.

Are you tired of reading about nonprofits who do great things when really you would like to start a nonprofit yourself and develop your own program?

The nonprofit rally at Ocean Grand www.oceangrand.org is exactly that, we want to help 400 new nonprofits get started in 2009. Regardless of whatever circumstances has kept you from making your nonprofit dream into a reality, Ocean Grand wants to help. Let us help you once and for all to get your dreams off the shelf and start living them.

Ocean Grand has pulled out the stops and we are committed to you to help you make your nonprofit a success in 2009. We will help you with everything you need and set up your nonprofit organization in about 3 weeks.

We will then give you all the education to run your nonprofit, grant write, develop donors, including nonprofit training videos. We want you to look back at the year 2009 as one that you decided to start a nonproft and it was one of the best decisions you made.

Here is how we can help:
* Quick and simple program to start a nonprofit
* Administration help running your nonprofit
* Fund raising How-to
* Grant writing help
* Ongoing support to help you be successful

Come and join the Ocean Grand Rally to start a nonprofit in your city and be one of the next 400 nonprofits to make a difference in the world.

We are committed to seeing you get a nonprofit set up and see success and will walk you through the process step by step.  At the end of this year you will be able to look back and be glad you know run your own successful nonprofit.

Visit the rally at www.oceangrand.org