Am I Ready?
CNDC accepts projects that are beyond the idea stage, including groups currently operating under another organization, and can prove through research, community support, and other factors that their nonprofit venture is needed and viable.
Before applying to CNDC, we encourage you to:
• Research what other nonprofit organizations exist locally and nationally that provide services to meet a similar need. You may find a better opportunity exists by partnering with an existing organization or that the nonprofit marketplace is already crowded with similar-type organizations. A national search may lead you to effective, proven models that can be replicated rather than reinvented.
• Form the leadership team that will be intricately involved in developing and governing the project. Similar to a board of directors, CNDC requires all projects have an advisory board that provides project governance and oversight and ensures financial and human resources are raised to support the project.
• Ask for commitments from individuals, businesses, and foundations that you believe will financially support your project. See if your project plan will be financially supported in the community. And see how comfortable you are raising money.
Comprehensive fiscal sponsorship works well for many social ventures, but not all.
CNDC accepts legal and fiduciary responsibility for all project activities. To uphold CNDC’s nonprofit status and ensure compliance with the law, CNDC staff must monitor and maintain project finances, contracts, leases, human resources, payroll, and insurance. Project directors must be willing to follow CNDC’s policies and procedures and not operate separately from CNDC.
Once accepted, CNDC projects must agree to wait a minimum of six months prior to submitting to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status or filing its incorporation paperwork with the state. There is no maximum amount of time an active project may stay with CNDC.
If operating within our legal framework is not a good fit for your project, here are other resources to help with your social venture.
