Navigating the Nonprofit Maze: Your Midweek Guide to Starting Strong

Good morning. Happy Hump Day to all of you amazing nonprofit hustlers! 💪 We’ve hit the mid-week mark, and guess what? I've got a cool guide for you on how to kickstart your very own nonprofit from scratch.

Let’s be honest: nonprofits are like those giant, twisty roller coasters at the amusement park — thrilling but can really toss you around. And, based on our newbie survey, it looks like a bunch of you are running the show at smaller orgs.

So, as we dive into today’s treasure trove of tips, remember: your mission might seem like navigating a maze blindfolded sometimes, but hey, that’s where the adventure is! You’re not just making a difference; you’re embarking on an epic quest. Let’s keep it breezy, chuckle through the chaos, and plow ahead. After all, we’re on this zany journey together, turning big dreams into even bigger realities. Onward, brave heroes!

—Ryan Almusawi

• How to Start a Nonprofit from Scratch 🧑‍🍳

• It’s Go Time: Grassroots Fundraising 💰

  • Ways I Can Help You

• One Quick Favor, Please 🙏

How to Start a Nonprofit from Scratch 🧑‍🍳

In another post, I covered how to start a nonprofit from a legal standpoint.

That is, incorporating your nonprofit entity with your secretary of state and obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Today, I want to dive into the more nitty-gritty details.

The specifics of how my (small) team and I built our organization, dream: success.

After my rant on technology in Monday’s Nonprofit Hustle, you won’t be surprised to learn that much of what I credit our success to has been learning and leveraging technology.

If I started a new nonprofit tomorrow, this is exactly the tech stack I would deploy:

Website: Squarespace
Pricing: Starts at $23/mo.

Professional Work Email & Office Suite: Google for Nonprofits
Pricing: Free for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations

Project Management: Google Sheets
Pricing: Free for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations

*If you need more advanced project management features, check out Asana.
Pricing: Starts at $0 and goes up to $30.49/mo./user, if more advanced features are necessary. Asana provides eligible nonprofits with a 50% discount.

Design/Graphics: Canva
Pricing: Free for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Must apply through Canva Nonprofits.

Donation platform: Fundraise Up
Pricing: Free (just pay 4% per transaction + credit card processing fees)

It is the best donation platform on the market — bar none. I JUST became a Fundraise Up Partner, and I’m super excited to onboard charities to the platform. See the “Ways I Can Help You” section below if I can help your organization have its best fundraising year!

CRM: Bloomerang [NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY; READ NOTES BELOW]
Pricing: Starts at $83/mo.

A CRM, or Customer Relationship Management system, is a tool that helps organizations track and manage interactions with their donors, volunteers, and other key stakeholders. It centralizes information about your supporters, streamlining communication, fundraising efforts, and overall relationship building. This can be especially helpful for nonprofits as you work to cultivate strong relationships with those who fuel your mission.

The DREADED 😩 CRM talk, eh? Don’t overcomplicate it. Here’s precisely what I advise charities on CRMs: KISS. Keep it simple — (and) sustainable. (I re-branded it to be more friendly, lol. If you’re confused, click here.)

Anyway, if you’re a newer charity, you really don’t need a system that is going to break the bank or cause some hectic journey that enrages, irritates, infuriates, confuses, and disgusts you. Really.

Save your time, money, and energy on gaining new donors, building connections, and stewarding relationships. Don’t give in to pushy sales folks who are trying (so hard) to sell their crappy CRMs to unknowing nonprofit leaders.

Initially, using a Google Sheet or spreadsheet to track a few donors is perfectly fine. If you’re using Fundraise Up as your donation system (among a few other platforms), you’ll already have a place where your donors will be, anyway.

Now, please don’t mistake my words: Fundraise Up is NOT a CRM — and there are certainly feature limitations on what it can do if you’re trying to use it as such. For example, you can’t send marketing emails, manage volunteers, or log calls or emails via Fundraise Up. (However, Fundraise Up does have automated donation-related emails.) Fundraise Up is software that just allows you to collect donations via your website.

If you’re a small to medium-sized charity and feel you need a CRM, I strongly recommend Bloomerang, as it is the most user-friendly nonprofit CRM on the market. It has everything you need, from reports to donation tracking to volunteer management and the ability to send email blasts. It also has a direct integration with Fundraise Up, whoop, whoop!

Understand that Bloomerang DOES come at a relatively high cost: STARTING at $83/mo., and you will likely spend more. This is why I recommend using a simple Google Sheet or Spreadsheet initially, as it IS an investment that may not be warranted financially so early on.

On the topic of not investing in things too early on, here’s a warning ⚠️:

Do. Not. Use. Salesforce. Don’t. UNLESS you have someone well-versed in Salesforce (like a Salesforce Certified Administrator) who can commit to helping and training you. SO many charities see that Salesforce has a donation program called “Power of Us,” where the company donates ten free licenses of Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud (it used to be called Nonprofit Success Pack [NPSP]), and think it’s an incredible offer.

For the right clients, it is.

However, many charities fall for this honey trap and realize Salesforce is like a free puppy. It is NOT “FREE.” It’s pretty expensive regarding time (setting up the platform and learning how to use it) and cost (if you have to pay an agency, developer, administrator, etc., to help you learn or set up Salesforce). The base donation of Salesforce requires TONS of setup and tremendous resources.

If you’re SUPER technically savvy, enjoy learning, are obsessive, and are a glutton for punishment, you CAN learn it on your own. As a self-taught Salesforce “person,” I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this. However, I know not everyone is like this, so I want to give an unambiguous warning about spending time on Salesforce.

It’s Go Time: Grassroots Fundraising 💰

Building Momentum with Grassroots Fundraising

While having a solid tech stack is important, fundraising for a new nonprofit goes beyond technology. It's about building trust and demonstrating the impact you'll make. Here's where grassroots fundraising comes in — a powerful approach that leverages your network to generate initial support.

Start Strong with Your Inner Circle

Yes, reaching out to family and friends is a great first step! They are your biggest cheerleaders and understand your passion. However, frame your request as an opportunity to get involved in something meaningful, not just a straight-up ask for money. Share your organization's story, the problem you're addressing, and the positive change you envision. Also, share why you care so much and would love their support.

Expand Your Reach Authentically

Once you've engaged your inner circle, encourage them to become advocates. Ask them to share your mission with their own networks through social media or word-of-mouth. Offer them resources like compelling social media posts or infographics they can easily share. They can simply reshare your posts.

Focus on Proof of Concept

Remember, you're not just asking for money; you're asking for belief in your potential. Showcase your progress! Did you secure a critical partnership? Did you achieve a small milestone towards your goals? Share these successes in your communications. They demonstrate your commitment and build trust with potential donors.

By combining personal connections, impactful storytelling, and early wins, you can build momentum with grassroots fundraising. This early support establishes a foundation for future success and positions your organization for long-term growth.

Remember:

• Express gratitude — Thank everyone who contributes, big or small.

• Be transparent — Update supporters on how their donations are making a difference.

• Keep it personal — Maintain a warm, engaging communication style that fosters connection.

By building trust and demonstrating your worth through grassroots efforts, you'll be well on your way to becoming a thriving nonprofit! Use the following section to craft the perfect “ask.”

NEW: Script to Success 🙋

Script to Success is a weekly segment here in Nonprofit Hustle meant to turn conversations into contributions ($$$). We know asking for money can feel daunting, but fear not! This segment empowers you to transform from a fearful fundraiser to a fundraising champion. Here's today's (powerful) script you can use to raise money for your cause:

One Quick Favor, Please 🙏

If you found this newsletter remotely helpful, please forward it to a friend or colleague who would benefit from it.

I’m on a mission to help 100,000 nonprofit leaders become more effective, knowledgeable, and resilient.

I’m just getting started. 💪

Ryan Almusawi
Founder, Nonprofit Hustle
Founder & CEO, dream: success
Owner, Clarion Tax & Accounting