PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH WRITING BUSINESS PLANS AND PROPROSALS REQUIRED!!!
This would be for a start up nonprofit organization aimed to help low income families and provide support to the homeless community in Washington DC.
-Research data in WASHINGTON DC (example homeless rates, unemployment rate, single parent household rate, how many families are on government assistance such as TANF, Foodstamps etc, research poverty rates in wards 1-7 in WASHINGTON DC. When researching please be SPECIFIC to make sure you are researching data for the WASHINGTON DC AREA!!!!! The nonprofit will be in the WASHINGTON DC AREA!!!
The plan should address the everyday costs needed to operate the organization, as well as costs of specific programs and activities.
The plan may include details about the need for the organization’s services (a needs assessment), the likelihood that certain funding will be available (a feasibility study), or changes to the organization’s technology or staffing that will be needed in the future. What are your nonprofit’s goals and mission?
Why does it matter? Why have you invested your personal wealth, time, passion, and energy into your nonprofit?
Donors: The people who financially support your nonprofit. Whether these donors range from $5 to $1,000 contributors, they all matter. What makes them give to your nonprofit?
– Table of contents
Executive Summary
Your executive summary introduces your nonprofit business plan and an overview of everything inside. This summary convinces readers to turn the page and learn more—it’s where you sell your nonprofit. So borrow ideas from Step 1: Identifying Your Why to drive home the mission and importance of your nonprofit.
While your executive summary is the first document in your nonprofit business plan, it’s best to write it last. You’ll be able to articulate your summary better once you’ve filled out all the other sections.
Nonprofit Description
Explain what your nonprofit does, who it helps, where it’s at, and where you aspire for it to be. This means describing your target audience and making your constituents come to life. You’ll also want to highlight unique opportunities that’ll excite your reader—whether that’s a volunteer, donor, or board member.
Need Analysis
Your need analysis (also known as market analysis) supplies research and data to support your nonprofit. It explains the problem and how your nonprofit provides a solution.
For example, if your nonprofit helps veterans, you might underline statistics concerning: disability, financial problems, unemployment rates, and homelessness. Metrics like this can help readers understand the importance of your nonprofit and the scope of the issues that need resolving.
Products, Programs, and Services
Here’s where you explain how your nonprofit addresses the problems or opportunities presented in the need analysis. Outline what products, services, and programs you provide. Be sure to also detail the pricing and costs (if applicable).
Operational Plan
Your operational plan details the day-to-day operations of your organization. For example, it might describe how you work with partners, suppliers, and volunteers to execute events and fundraisers.
Spotlight the people behind your organization by putting names and descriptions to the faces. Here are a few individuals to consider highlighting in your nonprofit business plan:
Management team: Employees full-time and part-time
Board of directors: Members of your board and their credentials
Volunteers: Nonemployees helping the cause
Donors: People who’ve made very generous donations
Partners: Businesses and organizations you partner with regularly
Marketing Plan
Describe the campaigns, outreach events, and initiatives you coordinate to reach beneficiaries, donors, and volunteers. Here’s where you’ll include all the details about your target audiences.
Your marketing plan includes any of the channels you use for marketing or communication, such as:
Social media
Email
Text
Webinars
Website
Landing pages
Video
Events
Be sure to include channels you currently use and explore methods you’d like to invest in if you had additional staff or funding.
Impact Plan
Nonprofits seek to create lasting change. And your impact plan is where you specify the transformation you’d like your organization to make.
Outline your goals and attach them to numbers (wherever possible). For example, you might want to feed 1,000 struggling families or find housing for 250 immigrants in need.
Also, don’t forget to include the people you’ve helped already. While you might aspire to help more, it helps give perspective to reflect on those your organization has already served.
Financial Plan
Nonprofits need money to operate, but money doesn’t grow on trees. So this is where you’ll plan for raising money (and show donors who want to know how you spend their contributions).
Here’s what to include in your financial plan:
Financial status: Describe your current financial situation and projections. Include all your financial statements: income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement.
Funding sources: List out grants and significant funds you’ve received.
Fundraising plan: Outline how you plan to raise additional funds.
Funding gaps: Explain where you don’t have enough money and how you plan to manage the gap (e.g., fundraise, trim the budget, or forgo).
Spending plan: Detail how you plan to use donations (e.g., services, hiring, and marketing).
