Six Must-Haves for Launching a Nonprofit

Building a nonprofit from the ground up is a journey fraught with challenges, lessons, and moments of profound growth. As the co-founder of Project Alpaca , a tech career prep 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New York City, my journey has been deeply intertwined with the mission of addressing diversity gaps in the tech sector. Having worked as a software engineer and product designer across various industries, I witnessed the stark underrepresentation of Black and Latinx professionals firsthand. It was this firsthand experience, coupled with meeting a few Hostos college students referred by Catherine, that ignited the spark for Project Alpaca.

In this blog post, I’ll share the invaluable lessons I’ve learned along the way, offering insights into 6-must haves when launching and running a nonprofit.

1. Co-founders and solid volunteer base

While it is undeniably rewarding to start a nonprofit, there were moments when the financial strain and its impact on my health made me contemplate giving up many times. Having co-founders Catherine & Claire to share the burden with has been essential. However, in the early days, I, along with my co-founders, found ourselves dedicating countless unpaid hours, each exceeding 20–30 hours per week, on top of our full-time work; in my case, managing a design studio and building a FemTech startup . It wasn’t until last year, in 2023, that we had an honest conversation about our burnout. Recognizing this flaw, learning to assemble a dedicated team — especially our talented group of designers — around our mission through platforms like Catchafire and We Make Change , and trusting in their unwavering support has been a profoundly enlightening experience. It has alleviated the burden of managing everything alone.

2. A strong board of directors

Forming a board of directors is pivotal in establishing a nonprofit organization. Initially, when we filed the paperwork, we enlisted friends to occupy board positions, and we were hesitant to seek assistance from them. However, merely filling seats for administrative purposes proved inadequate. We came to understand the significance of assembling a diverse and dedicated board that wholeheartedly supports our mission and is actively involved in contributing their time, talents, and treasures. Our board members now play integral roles in finance, fundraising, marketing, strategic decision-making, and, crucially, hands-on involvement in the operations of our small but growing nonprofit.

3. Guidance and support early on

One of the most critical lessons I’ve learned is the importance of seeking guidance and support early on, especially from experienced nonprofit leaders. As a woman, I often feel the need to shoulder burdens independently, but there’s immense value in reaching out for assistance. Whether connecting with seasoned veterans in the nonprofit sector or tapping into resources offered by local organizations like the Queens Borough President Nonprofit Network , led by the amazing Susie Tanenbaum, seeking guidance can provide invaluable insights and help navigate the complexities of nonprofit management. For example, it wasn’t until three years in, with Susie’s help, that I scheduled a 1:1 consultation session with Susan Shiroma, who enlightened me on the importance of getting our board to donate as a show of support to convince future funders.

4. Diverse funding sources beyond donations

Securing funding is a fundamental aspect of building a sustainable nonprofit organization. While the mission-driven nature of nonprofits may lead us to prioritize altruistic goals over financial considerations, the reality is that economic stability is essential for long-term success. In my journey with Project Alpaca, I realized too late the significance of seeking seed funding and establishing diverse revenue streams beyond traditional donations early on. Through three years of fundraising endeavors, I’ve learned that relying solely on the generosity of friends and family for donations is insufficient. Additionally, expecting financial support from individuals who resonate with our mission and have disposable income, considering the demographics we aim to serve and the climate we are in, is unrealistic. It is important to encourage board members to contribute financially and leverage their networks, explore income opportunities through services or partnerships, and actively seek grants and other funding sources aligned with the mission.

5. Community involvement

We have been cultivating connections and partnerships within our local ecosystem. This includes collaborating with fellow nonprofit organizations, joining communities like Queens Borough President Nonprofit Network to brainstorm and share resources, and forging relationships with local businesses, like our partnership with Trader Joe’s for nutritious sandwich donations to our Alpacees (replacing the less healthy cold pizzas we initially provided with our own funds in the first two cohorts). These efforts have bolstered community involvement, amplified our impact, and advanced our mission.

6. Tools for collaboration

Being part of a nonprofit involves taking on multiple roles. As volunteers, we balance our responsibilities with dozens of others, all managing day jobs and personal commitments, maybe only could realistically dedicate 2–5 hours per week to Project Alpaca without feeling burnout. Working with a diverse team with very little time presents challenges. To ensure sustainability, I prioritize implementing efficient tools. To streamline our processes, we rely on Notion for comprehensive organization documentation, such as documenting file links scattered across Google Drive for easy access like decks and one-pagers, and Metricool for multiple people collaborating on social media postings and campaign impact analysis.

To find out more about Project Alpaca, please visit our website and follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn .