Running a charity is one of the most rewarding ventures as you commit your time and effort to making the lives of other people better.
There are plenty of personal benefits to running a charity, including meeting new people, feeling a sense of self-worth and doing something that you have a vested interest in.
The number of charities in the UK has been steadily rising so now appears to be as good a time as any to get involved.
Quite a lot goes into getting a new charitable organisation off the ground, so here are the main things you’ll want to consider.
Decide your purposes and structure
How your charity will be set up is the vital first step. Whether you refer to a purpose an objective or a mission, clearly defining what your charity is going to do and who it is going to help goes a long way.
Secondly, will you appoint trustees to run the charity or will you invite members to join and have a say in the activities of the charity? Similarly, will you decide to establish your charity as an incorporated organisation? Doing so can be a more complicated process but can strengthen your charity’s ability to make a difference.
Find trustees that share your passion
No matter the structure of your organisation you will need to appoint trustees.
These people should always look out for the best interests of the charity as well as ensuring that it is operating in an effective and legal way. Appointing at least one trustee with experience of the process is just as important as recruiting those who have a connection to your charity’s mission.
Research the financial side of things
Fundraising is the lifeblood of just about any charity as money can help to provide equipment or provisions for those that you are trying to help out.
Accounting is very important for charities and handling that side of things can be tricky as strict laws apply. Finding specialised charity solicitors to help with the legal side of things can make this process go much more smoothly.
Get registered
Once you have everything in place, it’s time to get your charity registered. Once registered with the Charity Commission you will be able to begin activities and start making a crucial difference in the lives of people who need it the most.