Starting an educational nonprofit is no simple task. There are numerous regulations in place that control the nonprofit sector, all of which must be taken into consideration before delving into the process of founding an NPO. For the truly dedicated, the commitment to a nonprofit can be a satisfying and life-changing opportunity. Before making this decision, though, it is best to reflect on some fundamentals of entering the not-for-profit sector. Some good questions to deliberate on are:
· What is my unique expertise? Do I have a strong desire to share this expertise with others?
· Non-profit organizations are heavily reliant upon team dynamics – am I comfortable working as a part of a team?
· How comfortable am I in dealing with excessive paperwork?
· In what field do I most want to work?
· How does this field support the public good?
· Is this field distinct or interesting to others?
· Nonprofits typically take a fair amount of time to establish – how willing am I to wait?
· A non-profit is by definition a business that does not have turning a profit as its main goal – how important is money to me? What is my ideal income?
· What is my motivation for starting a non-profit? The legacy of family name? The respect of my peers? My desire to impact the community?
