Organizing and Starting Out

Publications

• Nonprofit Kit for Dummies . By Stan Hutton & Frances Phillips. NY , NY : Wiley Publishing Inc., 2001. Part of the “for dummies” series and a great step-by-step guide to the various hurdles in the nonprofit process. It also includes a CD with federal and state documents and examples you will need.
  
  
• Management and the Arts . By William J. Byrnes. Boston : Focal Press, 1999. Textbook giving general overview of issues to consider and current trends in managing an arts organization.

Websites

• http://www.aact.org -- American Association of Community Theatres.  This website features 1) basic requirements for organizing a nonprofit, 2) effective mission statements from other theatres, and 3) a model article of incorporation and by-laws.  Also a helpful section titled, "How to Start a Theatre Company".
  
  
• http://www.communitytheater.org/articles/startcompany3.htm -- The site offers its take on starting your own company.
  
  
• http://www.uwex.edu/li/learner/sites.htm -- Nonprofit Management Education Center. Offers links to numerous topics of importance to new nonprofits.
  
  
• http://nonprofit.about.com/od/nonprofitstartup/a/how_to_start.htm --A virtual clearinghouse of many how-to resources. A good starting point.
  
  
• http://www.nonprofit-info.org/ -- Run by the Evergreen State Society, this Internet Nonprofit Center is information for and about nonprofits, including a helpful FAQ section.
  
  
• http://www.mapnp.org/library/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm -- MAP for Nonprofits publishes this library of information on getting started.
  
  
• http://www.idealist.org/tools/starting-org.html -- Idealist publishes a great job bank, but their library of starting resources is a hidden treasure.
  
  
• http://fdncenter.org/learn/useraids/nonprofit.html -- The Foundation Center offers a User Aid for starting a nonprofit, complete with suggested reading.
  
  
• http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html -- Dealing with the IRS is a large component of starting a non-profit – this government website gets you started.

Writing a Business Plan and Mission Statement

Websites

• http://www.sbinformation.about.com -- Small Business Information with Darrell Zahorsky. Helpful information, specifically, the Frequently Asked Questions and Critical Steps to Writing a Business Plan.
  
  
• http://www.tgci.com/magazine/98fall/mission.asp -- The Grantsmanship Center will help those starting out to write a mission statement.
  
  
• http://management.about.com/cs/generalmanagement/ht/MissionStatemen.htm -- A step-by-step guide to writing a mission statement.
  
  
• http://www.scoreknox.org/library/steps.htm -- Steps to creating a nonprofit business plan.
  
  
• http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html -- The U.S. Small Business Administration. Offers a basic business-plan writing series. The site also has information on marketing, taxes, finances and other essentials for new businesses.
  
  
• http://www.bplans.com/dp/ -- They call themselves the “business planning experts.” You can decide for yourself after you view their extensive site devoted to writing this important document. The site also offers many calculators, including the Cash Flow and Starting Costs calculators.

Funding

Websites

• http://www.grantstation.com/grantstation/index.asp -- All things grant-related. There is a fee to use some services, but many useful pieces of information are free.
  
  
• http://fdncenter.org/funders/ -- A funding page from the Foundation Center.
  
  
• http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2arts.htm -- A site geared towards nonprofits looking for funding sources in the arts.
  
  
• http://www.mindspring.com/~ajgrant/guide.htm -- A Grant-Seeker’s Guide to the Internet.

Technology

Websites

• http://www.grassroots.org/do/Home -- Grassroots offers free web hosting for non-profits.
  
  
• http://www.npower.org/tools/index.htm -- This web site’s mission is “putting technology know-how into the hands of non-profits.”
  
  
• http://www.profitquests.com/MakeAWebsite.html -- Profit Quests offers fundraising information for nonprofits, including this guide to starting a website.
  
  
• http://www.networkforgood.org/Npo/ -- Network for Good’s mission is “helping nonprofits enhance their effectiveness through online technology.” Their site includes detailed information on building a web presence.

Audience Building

Publications

• "The Value of the Performing Arts in Five Communities" a study by the Pew Charitable Trust, March 2003. This report contains valuable information about participation rates [of those who attend theatre], characteristics of arts attendees, value of the performing arts to communities, and barriers to attendance.

Websites

• http://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/news/newsletter/article/22 -- You’ll need to build an audience to see your new work! Fractured Atlas tells you how.
  
  
• http://www.census.gov/ -- Research the demographics of your area with the US Census Bureau.
  
  
• http://www.artsconsulting.com/pdf_arts_insights/insights_nov_2003.pdf -- An article on creatively building arts participation.

Management

Publications

• Arts Boards: Creating a New Community Equation . By Nello McDaniel and George Thorn New York : ARTS Action Issues, 1994     Excellent book detailing how to select and make the best use of an organization's Board of Trustees.
  
  
• Managing the Non-Profit Organization.   By Peter F. Drucker.   New York : Harper Business, 1990. One of the pioneer books in non-profit management
  
  
• Nonprofit Boards: Roles, Responsibilities and Performance (Non-profit Law Finance & Management)   By Diane Duca. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1996. Recommended reading for board creation and management.
  
  
• Producing Theatre: A Comprehensive Legal and Business Guide (second edition) . By Donald C. Farber. Limelight Editions, 2004. This book, written by lawyer Farber, was recommended by several start-ups as the seminal book on production.
  
  
• Toward A New Arts Order: Process, Power, Change. By Nello McDaniel and George Thorn. New York : ARTS Action Research, 1993.    Explores new ways of creating healthier, more productive organizations in today's environment

Websites

• http://www.boardsource.org/ -- A website for building nonprofit boards of directors.
  
  
• http://www.ncna.org/ -- National Council of Non-Profit Associations. Thirty-nine states have councils of nonprofit associations, and their national organization has a thorough clearinghouse website. Geared towards activism and lobbying.
  
  
• http://www.new.org/index.html - Nonprofit Enterprise at Work’s mission is to help new nonprofits succeed. Their web site offers information on training programs to build your company’s management acumen.
  
  
• http://nonprofit.about.com/od/managinganonprofitorg/a/evaluating.htm -- An article on evaluating your nonprofit organization.
  
  
• http://www.allianceonline.org/ -- The site for The Alliance for Nonprofit Management.

Contributors: Nancy Halverson, Stephanie Lash Kilpatrick, Judy Matetzschk-Campbell, Ruth C. Mercado, Bruce Merill, Kassie Misiewicz and Megan Ann Rasmussen.