Sponsoring a Nonprofit Organization

As the executive director of numerous nonprofit organizations, I have been approached by well over 100 MLM'ers who wanted to secure my organization's future via MLM. No one has ever signed me or the organization I was responsible for up.

Can it happen? Yes. But, if you want to sponsor a nonprofit organization you have to do your homework. Following a brief check list of the issues you need to be aware of if you are going to successfully approach a nonprofit organization.

Virtually ALL nonprofits need auxillary or even basic funding.

Boards of Directors and executive directors are extremely skeptical and need to be conservative in fiscal matters.

Find out everything you can about the nonprofit before you call the Executive Director for an appointment. What is the organization's Mission Statement? Vision Statement? Who do they serve? What kind of support do they have ... A donor list? A Supporters list? A volunteers list?

Do the people they serve have an on-going relationship with the organization?

Don't ask the nonprofit to promote a product or service unless you know who's on the board ... any board member may have an interest in a competing product or service.

Don't ask the nonprofit to promote a product or service unless you know the politics of the community the non profit is operating in...frequently you will be asking a nonprofit to endorse something that is in direct competition with one of their staunchest supporters.

E.D.s (in legitimate nonprofits) are extremely overworked and underpaid...you must present a program that will take NONE of the E.D.s time ... offer to form the basic organization for the nonprofit.

You must be willing to take ALL the risk. Nonprofits are operating with Public funds.

Understand the "Unrelated Business Income" aspect of operating a nonprofit ... many have gotten themselves in deep doo-doo with the IRS. If possible help them form a SEPARATE, profit-making company that will donate ALL the profits back to the nonprofit.

Understand time. You must first convince the E.D. that this is a viable venture. The E.D. must then present it to his/her board of directors. The board will listen and ask for more information at the next meeting (in two weeks or a month usually). The E.D., if really sold on your program, will ask you to make a presentation at the next board meeting. The board will probably allow you 15 minutes on the agenda ... talk a little and schedule further discussion for the next board meeting with a request for clarification of some additional issues from the E.D. Think in terms of FOUR MONTH process if you want to work with nonprofits ... it is certainly worth it if you get them involved.

Good luck ... it's worth the effort and truly rewarding if you help a nonprofit.