Starting a Nonprofit

Steps to Starting Your Nonprofit

If you’re thinking about starting a nonprofit organization and want to know the key things you should consider before you make your decision, what it really means to be a nonprofit in Hawaiʻi, as well get an overview of the steps to take if you decide to move forward, please see the resource list below:

Partners in Development Child and Teacher

Resources to guide a nonprofit start-up

The National Council of Nonprofits’ “How to Start a Nonprofit“
Launch My Non-Profit program and free business and legal counseling at the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership at YWCA O‘ahu
The Foundation Center’s Knowledge Base on creating a new nonprofit with links to nonprofit-startup resources on the web and in print
The Internal Revenue Service provides in-depth information and resources for applying for and maintaining tax-exempt status

Hawaiʻi nonprofits that solicit contributions must register with the the Hawai‘i Attorney General’s Office
The State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs “FAQs: Guide for Nonprofit Organizations“
New Hawaiʻi nonprofit corporations also must register with the Hawaii DCCA
The Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics “Nonprofit FAQ“

*Please note that HANO’s Starting Smart Webinar is currently being updated and will be added when that is complete.