A few problems with starting a charity?

Sura_2

I am 20. I have been wanting to set up a charity that I have had the idea for over the past few months.

I will freely admit that I am completely naive to this sort of thing and likely will get taken for a ride. Though, I have read the starting a charity thread.

My main concern would be that I'd need fundraising in order to start (on any level), yet wouldn't I need to already be a charity to fundraise?

Secondly, finding trustees. If your charity would require legal decissions as part of it's aid for people, you'd need to find someone willing to do that when you are not well known, which is fine I suppose, just hard work!

Also, is it only rich people who can set up charities? I can not earn anything from the model I create, am I correct? So I shall be trying to work a full time job as well. So only those with vast amounts of money or time can really do this... I'm worried that this is unfair?

Savvy_Sue

Sura wrote: »

I am 20. I have been wanting to set up a charity that I have had the idea for over the past few months.

I will freely admit that I am completely naive to this sort of thing and likely will get taken for a ride. Though, I have read the starting a charity thread.

Well, you've read the thread, so you'll know that the 'best' advice you can be given is to check that there isn't already a charity covering your intended aims already. If there is, get stuck in to supporting them. If what you want to do is local but with a national 'presence', help with local events and fundraising. If others are doing this locally, but not in your area, pick their brains! make visits, ask questions, learn, learn, learn.

Sura wrote: »

My main concern would be that I'd need fundraising in order to start (on any level), yet wouldn't I need to already be a charity to fundraise?

You CAN fundraise before you are a registered charity, and you CAN say that it is for charitable purposes. What you CANNOT do is say you are a REGISTERED charity before you are one. Also you don't get the advantages like being able to claim Gift Aid, and there are some funders who only give to registered charities. Others, however, will support non- or not-yet-registered charities, as long as they can be satisfied that the organisation is well run and accountable: more below!

Sura wrote: »

Secondly, finding trustees. If your charity would require legal decissions as part of it's aid for people, you'd need to find someone willing to do that when you are not well known, which is fine I suppose, just hard work!

Also, is it only rich people who can set up charities? I can not earn anything from the model I create, am I correct? So I shall be trying to work a full time job as well. So only those with vast amounts of money or time can really do this... I'm worried that this is unfair?

Even before you find 'trustees', use your friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends! You can draft a 'governing document', setting out broad aims, you can set up a fundraising committee before you're a charity. And you can set up a bank account, with at least two signatories, into which to put the proceeds of your fundraising.

To get help with that, I'd google 'volunteer' plus your county or town / city, and find your local volunteer bureau. They'll almost certainly be able to help with this kind of thing. If not, google VOSCUR and look at the resources on their website for setting up, opening a bank account, etc etc etc.

However, be aware that charity trustees have LEGAL obligations, and an increasing level of expertise is needed as a charity grows. You need someone who's not afraid of numbers to look after the money, you need someone who can get their head round employment legislation if you intend to employ staff, you need (above all) people who will stand up to YOU if they think you are wrong about something!

Oh and yes, it is hard work. And not for the faint hearted.

Sura wrote: »

Also, is it only rich people who can set up charities? I can not earn anything from the model I create, am I correct? So I shall be trying to work a full time job as well. So only those with vast amounts of money or time can really do this... I'm worried that this is unfair?

I work for a charity founded over 10 years ago. Our founder is a remarkable person, known throughout our city. The first trustees were people inspired by that person's passion: some of them had had professional dealings with our client group so were aware of the difficulties they faced. Others were friends whose ears and arms were bent until they agreed to help. Not one of them had vast amounts of money. Most of them were employed full-time. They made sacrifices: time, money, but mostly time.

Eventually, our founder was employed by the organisation (obviously stopped being a trustee at that point!) That's not an unusual scenario, at least it wasn't a few years ago, it might be less common now. But you're right that as a Trustee you can't 'earn' from the model you create, although you can be paid expenses.

Without knowing what your aim is, it's hard to comment further. Remember that a charity legally has to have a governing document which sets out what its charitable purpose is: that might be a starting point for you, then how this would be achieved (if it isn't already covered by an existing charity).

Savvy_Sue

BTW, no-one ever said that setting up a charity had to be 'fair'. If someone with lots of dosh wants to do that, great, they've got a head start. However, the charity still needs to be self-sustaining after that money runs out.

markandkate

You can get leaflets and info fromthe charity commission website but the beste advice will be to contact your local CVS as that it part of what they are there for