“The Nonprofit Startup Challenge is aimed at anyone who has ever dreamt of starting their own socially-impactful organization but didn't know where to start. Our mission through this workshop is to offer the information, resources, and access to networks necessary to hit the ground running,” says Victoria Alleyne, CEO of the Career Skills Incubator (CSCI).
The Nonprofit Startup Challenge is a one-day boot camp on July 25 for people who have aspirations of running their own nonprofits but still need a hand getting started. “We hope our participants will leave feeling well-informed and confident whether they should grow their nonprofit idea into a formal organization. For those who have just started organizations, hopefully they will learn a few things to look out for and can be prepared for them.”
Alleyne cites her own experience with CSCI as the reason for the workshop. “There are so many little things along the way that we learned and wish someone told us. You can get the high level anywhere. We want to share all of the unexpected details. We had to go back and document all of the little—and big—weird things that happened as we incorporated.”
The day will cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from the nitty-gritty to the macro. Questions about HST registration will come alongside discussions on how to define a nonprofit’s mission and values. CSCI will also cover topics like avoiding burnout throughout the often lengthy and time-consuming process of starting up and incorporation. Along with the in-person course, CSCI is building a wiki on how to start a non-profit, which may the first of its kind. “We were unable to find anything like it, so hopefully others will add to it both in Toronto and beyond,” says Alleyne.
The impact of the course could be far-reaching. “Everyone attending our workshop will walk out of it with the next steps for their idea or organization figured out. That means there will be 25 more initiatives possibly added to the nonprofit landscape, locally and abroad,” says Alleyne. Even if the participants don’t launch their own nonprofits, the knowledge they gain will create a positive impact. “It benefits the entire industry when everyone has an increased understanding of what they need to do.”