Create a safe space for the community to gather while providing a venue for the improvement of the community. Provide support and resources to unemployed members of the community through classes, workshops, and job fairs. Give legal aid to the local immigrant community.
High unemployment Pollution Obesity Lack of green space Safety issues Low literacy rates High rates of alcoholism or drug abuse
How well does your community rally around a common cause? Does your community have certain traditions that bring them together? What kinds of networks exist in your community? This includes religious groups, sports teams, businesses, non-profit organizations, and clubs. What types of skills do the members of your community have? Who can you rely upon during the process of starting your community center?
Adult education classes Legal aid Exercise programs Community events such as movie screenings, festivals, or dances Support groups
Will the community center require staff? If so, what positions might be required? What kind of building will it need? Will it need an outdoor area for a garden or sports? What kind of equipment will it need? How will the center support itself financially? Will it depend solely on donations? Will it charge for classes and events?
What is the average property cost in your area? How much will it cost to buy or rent a building? How much will it cost to offer certain services, such as classes, to the public? How much will it cost to fundraise? This includes the cost of events, mailing campaigns, and advertising fees. What kind of equipment will you need? Is there any special type of technology that you will need to invest in?
Local businesses Sports leagues Corporate foundations Religious groups Charities Media organizations Professional networks Philanthropists
In the US, you can search for funding on the Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance. If you are offering services to a certain population, you may qualify for different types of funding. The USDA offers loans to help rural areas develop community facilities under their Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program. [2] X Research source In the UK, you should contact your local council for information on community funding schemes. Gov. uk offers a tool to help you locate nearby resources. [3] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source In Australia, your community center may qualify for government funding under the Community Development Grants Programme. The Canadian government offers a listing of funding options on their website.
Mailing solicitations for donations Telephone campaigns Media coverage on the news, radio, or in newspapers Door to door fundraising[4] X Research source
Gala dinner where participants pay by the plate Music event with ticket sales benefiting the community center Outdoor movie screening Wine or beer tasting event
You can have volunteers stand outside of shopping centers to ask pedestrians to sign. You can also take names and email addresses from any mailing campaigns that you might have started. You may be able to pass around a petition at a community meeting, such as a town hall meeting, PTA meeting, or a local society meeting.
Good places to hold meetings include schools, houses of worship, or a government building such as the town hall. Call ahead to reserve a room. At the beginning of the meeting, clearly outline your goals for the evening. Have multiple speakers present the different aspects of the community center, such as financial backing, potential services to the public, and government support. You can use this meeting to solicit donations from the public.
Name: What name is your organization known as legally? Purpose: What does your center do? What is its aim? What types of services does it provide? This is where you should list your center’s tax status. Board of Directors: Who runs the community center? What powers does the board of directors have? How are directors elected or appointed to their position? How can directors be removed from their position? Finances: How do you manage the finances of your community center? Who has access to its funds? You may also want to include policies on how the center will share information with the public, how records are stored and kept, and how meetings will be conducted. [8] X Research source
If you are providing one on one support to your community members, you may want a building with smaller offices where consultants can meet privately with people. If you are looking to host events, you will need at least one large room to hold people.
If you are in the United States, you will need to submit Form 1023 to the IRS. [9] X Trustworthy Source Internal Revenue Service U. S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code Go to source You should request an Employer Identification Number for your center through Form SS-4. [10] X Trustworthy Source Internal Revenue Service U. S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code Go to source As a non-profit, you will be obligated to disclose your tax records to the public if requested. In the UK, you must register with the Charity Commission and with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You can register with the HMRC online. [11] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source In Australia, you should register with the Australian Tax Office, where you will need to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN). You may need to pay certain taxes such as the goods and services tax or the fringe benefits tax.
Posting an announcement in a newspaper Contacting the local TV station Putting up flyers Mailing announcements
