Guides
Free Guides for Small Nonprofits
Practical how-to guides for service clubs, food pantries & shelters, youth sports leagues, and small nonprofits. No fluff — just the steps.
48 guides
Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for running a chili cook-off fundraiser — judging rules, contestant signup, scoring, and post-event wrap-up.
Does My Nonprofit Need a Website?
An honest answer to whether small nonprofits need a website — what a website does that Facebook can't, and what it actually costs to get one.
Fundraising Ideas for Small Nonprofits and Community Clubs
More than 30 community-tested fundraising ideas for small nonprofits and volunteer clubs, organized by type with notes on what makes each one work.
How to Accept Credit Cards at a Fundraiser Event
How to set up credit card payments at a nonprofit fundraiser — mobile readers, fees, offline mode, and reconciliation. Includes Square, Stripe Terminal, and PayPal comparison.
How to Ask for Donations on Social Media Without Annoying Everyone
How to write social media donation posts that actually raise money — what to say, what to avoid, and how to make it easy for people to give.
How to Build Your Nonprofit's Online Presence (Without a Tech Person)
How small nonprofits can build a real online presence beyond Facebook — including a website, email list, and local search visibility.
How to Build an Email List for Your Nonprofit (and Why It Matters More Than Your Facebook Page)
How to build an email list for your nonprofit so you own your audience and stop depending entirely on Facebook to reach your supporters.
How to Collect Club Dues Without Chasing People for Three Months
How to collect club dues without chasing members for months — the systems, reminders, and policies that actually work for volunteer organizations.
How to Create a Facebook Page for Your Nonprofit or Community Club
How to create a professional Facebook Page for your nonprofit or community club — step-by-step setup, photos, contact info, and what to post first.
How to Create a Nonprofit Newsletter People Actually Read
How to create a nonprofit newsletter people actually read — the right format, length, and content to stop wasting hours on something nobody opens.
How to File a 990-N for a Small Nonprofit (The 10-Minute IRS Postcard)
Step-by-step guide to filing the IRS 990-N e-Postcard for small nonprofits. Takes about 10 minutes. Missing it can cost your tax-exempt status.
How to Find Volunteers on Facebook (and Actually Get People Under 40 to Show Up)
How to recruit volunteers on Facebook — what to post, how to reach people under 40, and how to convert likes into people who actually show up.
How to Find and Keep Event Volunteers
How to find and keep event volunteers — simple written systems that prevent burnout, stop the same six people from doing everything, and bring new volunteers back.
How to Get Local Business Sponsors for Your Fundraiser (Without Chasing Checks for Three Weeks)
How to get local business sponsors for your fundraiser — a process for making specific asks, following up, and not chasing checks for three weeks.
How to Get Local Media Coverage for Your Fundraiser (Without Hiring a PR Person)
How to get local media coverage for your fundraiser — what reporters want, how to pitch them, and the difference between a calendar listing and an actual story.
How to Get Your Nonprofit Found on Google
Practical steps to help your nonprofit show up in local Google searches — Google Business Profile, your website, search console, and what actually moves the needle.
How to Get an EIN for Your Nonprofit (Free, Online, Takes 15 Minutes)
How to apply for a nonprofit EIN online through the IRS — what you need before you start, how to complete the SS-4, and what to do with the number when you get it.
How to Handle Cash Donations Properly (and Protect Your Volunteers in the Process)
How to handle cash donations properly and protect your volunteers — the two-person counting rule, documentation, and deposit procedures for nonprofit events.
How to Handle Event Cancellations and Refunds for a Nonprofit Fundraiser
How to handle nonprofit fundraiser cancellations and refunds — when to cancel vs. postpone, how to communicate with ticket holders, and a simple refund policy.
How to Open a Bank Account for Your Nonprofit (and Set It Up Right the First Time)
How to open a bank account for your nonprofit or community club — what to bring, what to avoid, and how to keep the organization's finances clean.
How to Plan a Community Food Drive
How to plan a community food drive that actually fills pantry shelves — coordinating with the receiving pantry, collecting the right items, and transport logistics.
How to Plan a Fundraiser Event (The Complete Checklist)
A complete fundraiser event planning checklist for small nonprofits — goal setting, venue, promotion, ticket sales, day-of logistics, and post-event closeout.
How to Price Your Fundraiser Tickets
How to price fundraiser tickets so you actually make money — the one calculation most clubs skip, and what to charge for food events, seated dinners, and raffles.
How to Promote Your Fundraiser Without Spending Money on Advertising
How to promote your fundraiser without spending money on ads — personal outreach, Facebook tactics, local media, and what actually gets people to show up.
How to Recruit Younger Members for Your Club
How to recruit younger members for your club — what actually works, what chases people away, and how to stop running a club that nobody under 60 wants to join.
How to Run a 50/50 Raffle (and Keep It Legal)
How to run a legal 50/50 raffle — licensing, ticket sales, drawing procedures, cash handling, and the one phone call that prevents a last-minute scramble.
How to Run a Bingo Night Fundraiser (Including the Licensing Part Nobody Tells You About)
A step-by-step checklist for running a nonprofit bingo night fundraiser — licensing requirements, equipment, staffing, game operations, and cash handling.
How to Run a Community Car Show Fundraiser: A Checklist for Small Nonprofits
How to run a community car show fundraiser — registration, judging, categories, sponsors, and the one change that eliminates day-of no-shows.
How to Run a Golf Outing Fundraiser: A Checklist for Small Nonprofits
How to run a charity golf outing fundraiser — course booking, sponsor holes, registration, format, and day-of operations for volunteer-run clubs.
How to Run a Nonprofit Board Meeting That Doesn't Waste Everyone's Time
How to run a nonprofit board meeting that actually ends on time — the agenda structure, member roles, and simple rules that keep things moving.
How to Run a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser: A Checklist for Nonprofits
A checklist for running a pancake breakfast fundraiser — batter quantities, volunteer roles, equipment, morning-of operations, and how to not run out of food.
How to Run a Silent Auction for a Small Nonprofit (Without the Chaos)
How to run a silent auction for a small nonprofit — item procurement, bid sheets, bid numbers, check-in, and closing the auction without disputes.
How to Run a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser: Checklist for Small Nonprofits
A step-by-step checklist for running a spaghetti dinner fundraiser — food quantities, volunteer roles, kitchen setup, and service without the chaos.
How to Run a Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser (Pledge Drive Included)
Step-by-step checklist for running a nonprofit walk-a-thon or fun run fundraiser — route planning, pledge collection, permits, promotion, and day-of logistics.
How to Run a Yard Sale Fundraiser (And Actually Make Money at It)
A complete checklist for running a nonprofit yard sale fundraiser — collection, pricing, permits, promotion, setup, and cash handling.
How to Set Up Online Donations for a Small Nonprofit (Without Giving Away 3% of Every Dollar)
How to set up online donations for a small nonprofit — what platforms charge, how ACH lowers fees, and what to look for before you sign up.
How to Set Up Recurring Donations for Your Nonprofit
How small nonprofits can set up a recurring monthly donation program — platform options, how to ask, what to say, and how to retain monthly donors.
How to Update Your Nonprofit Bylaws
How to update your nonprofit bylaws — when to do it, what to change, and how to catch the outdated provisions that quietly cause problems for years.
How to Use Facebook Events to Promote Your Fundraiser
How to create and promote a Facebook Event for a nonprofit fundraiser — setup, promotion tactics, RSVPs, and what Facebook Events can and can't do for you.
How to Use Instagram for a Small Nonprofit (Without Spending Hours on It)
How small nonprofits can use Instagram effectively — what content actually works, what wastes time, and how to grow without paying for ads.
How to Write Nonprofit Meeting Minutes (What to Include and What to Leave Out)
How to write nonprofit meeting minutes that protect your organization — what to record, how to document votes correctly, and what to leave out.
How to Write a Fundraising Letter That Actually Gets Read
How to write a fundraising letter that people actually read and respond to — including the one change that can more than double your response rate.
How to Write a Nonprofit Donation Receipt (IRS Requirements)
What to include on a nonprofit donation receipt to satisfy IRS requirements — required language, format, timing, and what happens if you get it wrong.
Nonprofit Insurance: What Your Club Actually Needs
Nonprofit insurance basics for small clubs — event liability, D&O coverage, general liability, and what a $150 policy covers that most volunteer orgs never buy.
The 30-Day Setup Checklist for a Community Fish Fry Fundraiser
A 30-day setup checklist for a community fish fry fundraiser — permits, supplies, volunteers, and event-day execution for small nonprofits.
The Nonprofit Annual Meeting Checklist: Everything You Need to Run It Right
The nonprofit annual meeting checklist — what must happen, in what order, and what most organizations skip until something breaks.
The Nonprofit Treasurer Transition Checklist: How to Pass the Books Without Losing Everything
The nonprofit treasurer transition checklist — what to hand off, what to demand when taking over, and how to build a system you can actually pass on cleanly.
The Small Nonprofit Admin Guide: Filing, Finances, and Staying Legal
The essential admin guide for small nonprofits — what you need to file, how to handle money correctly, and what to put in writing before something goes wrong.