I love my life; I have everything I could ever want. My favourite dish is cooked and I enjoy the pleasant meal. But somewhere, a child is wailing because they do not have food.

They know they won't have anything to eat. Do they care if they got their favourite dish or not? They want to have some grain to nourish themselves and keep them alive. And when I see them, I feel the sorrow of people who are suffering and do not have any support.

I can't solve their problem, but I can aid them and reassure them that human life and problems are valued around the world. I work with and created a non-profit; here is a guide for individuals who, like me, want to give back to the community but are just getting started.

Starting and operating a non-profit organisation is similar to raising a child. Not even joking. You treat it like a baby, similar to how Elon Musk responded when asked why he worked 16 hours a day.

Starting a non-profit organisation is similar to starting a business, except for profit and competion. And let me be clear: I had really poor talents.

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Everyone told me, "It's okay; some people aren't born for it. You can't do it; forget it." But later on, I didn't just work with a well-known international NGO; I also founded one at my school and eventually mentored over 17 student-led NGO's in my region.

Again, I'm not bragging, but the advice and tips you'll get today come from someone who wasn't born intelligent or excellent, but had to work hard to build all of her skills. The most important part of beginning an NGO is to remember that you will put in a lot of effort and attention.

This is also an important aspect of personal growth. You must be incredibly ignorant of others around you. When I first started working with non-governmental organisations, practically people did criticise me, but today, that criticism has become a stepping stone for me, and has taught me.

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The 6 Basics to Start With

We have six basic stages to get started, which also help us design a plan. It is the simplest way to plan and achieve.

A. Specialisation and Objectives

B. Vision

C. Team

D. resources

E. Popularity scale

F. Building connections

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A. Specialisation and Objectives

Now, similar to how a business begins, the business specialises in one industry rather than all. One company specialises in cutlery, the other in skin care. why? Because when a business specialises, it works more successfully and has specific goals.

Do not compare the large industrialists. I am talking about starting a completely new business.

The same notion applies here. Your non-profit organisation should concentrate on a specific sector. You can work on attaining UN SDGs, deforestation, sustainability, child rights, women's rights, men's rights, mental health, industrial pollution, government policies, sustainable energy, wildlife preservation, animal rights, and more.

When starting an NGO, you should specialise first. Then, once you've established yourself, expand your focus to other topics. This is the format.

Because, first and foremost, the NGO needs to identify its main ideal. When you understand what it is, you may work to take appropriate action. Your objectives are then established immediately after that. Why are you doing this? What is your goal? What do you hope to achieve?

Objectives appear to be your ultimate goals in your area of expertise. Be quite realistic. I held my first event and expected a large presence; while it had an impact and I carried it off successfully, having such unrealistic expectations left me really angry.

This is quite crucial. Don't skip this step at all. If you do not have these two when you partner or draft documents, your organisation will appear baseless and unprofessional.

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B. Vision

Vision is seeing your ideas put into action. Where do you see yourself in the next two years? This is the notion you want to implement.

What do you anticipate yourself doing in the next two years when the NGO is established? Initiatives, events, campaigns and more, help you visualise and write down your goals.

This is so immediate after specialism and objectives, and it comes down naturally if you place yourself in that state of mind. Please plan for yourself and stop expecting ChatGPT or any A.I to do it for you.

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C. Team

The most pressing difficulty I am currently facing, despite being well-established, is having a good team.

First, you have highly skilled people.

Second, you keep them motivated.

Third, discover team members who match your division level. Motivation could ignite a fire in them to work hard, but in the long run, dedication prevails, and they gradually fade, leaving you to do all of their work.

People often wonder, "Why should I do this?" They don't want to work in this industry, so when you're putting together a team, look for people who are just as dedicated as you are. This way, you'll have a team that works well and can be relied on in any situation.

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D. Resources

This is a key aspect. Resources mainly include funds and the availability of materials. Unfortunately, money is so crucial that nothing can be accomplished without it.

Honestly, you'll need a lot of money. But one thing I did was be a really cheap person and work so inexpensively that I was able to save a significant amount of money. Financing must also be effective in this context.

You must document all purchases, including the sum and how you intend to proceed with those purchases. These are the values we are working with. Most importantly, you must have a sponsor. Having a reputable sponsor, such as a business, will be an excellent approach to raise funding.

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E. Understanding the Needs of the Society

The most important concern is how effectively your proposal will work in the non-profit sector. This is a major issue that prevents many people from working. Assume your city has a lot of trees and is less dirty; will advocating for deforestation there look good? No.

Before addressing an issue, you must first comprehend the demands of society. Based on that issue, you will need to align everything accordingly. This is the most effective technique to address the issue. If you want to give back to the community, you want to do something powerful and meaningful, such as solving the issues on the board.

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F. Building Connections

There is no competition in non-profit organisations; we are all working together to make our communities better. So, make links with all types of NGO working on diverse problems. Call them when you begin an event, and they will contact you when they do so. You have an impact on society in this way and can make a difference.

This is quite effective. You also send a message of solidarity to the entire society. This allows you to form a partnership with them. Partnering with any group is a wise move because you may have additional volunteers, finances, and connections.

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Conclusion

It is quite tough to start a non-profit organisation. These are things to bear in mind; how you get started is entirely up to you. Taking such significant initiatives requires a great deal of forethought and guts.

People will insult, criticise, and dissect your character. You will make blunders and stupid decisions.

But giving up is not something you should do. Trust in the process. Believe in yourself and continue to work hard. One day you will shine, but the effort and patience required must be remarkable.

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Serving your community is the biggest and most rewarding job you can perform. Starting your initiative is a blessing for you. Not everyone has the ability and opportunity to do so. Do not be discouraged; instead, work hard and believe in yourself.

My first event took place at a government school, and the smiles on the children's faces made all of the hard work, sleepless nights, planning, disagreements, and bloodshed worthwhile. It motivated me to do it all over again. Trust me, you will have this experience as well, and nothing will ever feel more better.

"Activism is my rent for living on the planet"

- Alice Walker

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