Getting Started

Is your organization looking for funding sources or good ideas for improving services to farmworkers and people living in colonias? Then this is the toolkit for you.

Becoming a Nonprofit

If you want to get grants to help you do your work, you may need to form a nonprofit. You could find a sponsor that will serve as an "umbrella" organization for your group. Or you can incorporate and make your nonprofit a separate legal organization. In that case, you will need to file articles of incorporation. You also may want to file with the federal Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal taxes.

This may sound complicated, but you have help. Here are some resources to help you decide if you want to form a non-profit and how to proceed, if you do:

	Questions? Call the HUD contact for your state.
	Free Management Library
	Tax information for nonprofits

Building Your Organization

So you are a nonprofit - but you need help deciding how to organize your staff and develop a strategic plan. There are national, state, and local "technical assistance" organizations available to help you.

	National technical assistance providers
	Local technical assistance providers   Arizona   California   Florida   New Mexico   Texas   Washington/Oregon

Suggestions?