Keys to Starting a Non Profit

Why I Desire to Win $25,000.00 and Give More Than Half Away

This year I set a big hairy audacious goal for myself. I want to be a blessing to more people. Every new year I focus on myself and things I want to do to make myself better, put myself in a better position. However, this year, I am thankful that I am thinking outside of my own situation.

I see people around me that are in need and their need is motivating me to grow and do things even better. I know a person who donates her time, baby sits for her friends, volunteers in the community, and gets around at 6am any of day of the week. She does all of this without complaining and always in a cheerful spirit. I wondered “how does she get around with no car?”

I know of a single mother who has to make a choice between feeding her children and paying the rent. She earns too much to get assistance from the government but not enough to avoid this predicament. It is a choice, I believe, that no one should ever have to make.

Some may say, Calvin, “who are you to help these people and are you rich to do so?” I would answer them, “what my finances can not do, my faith and favor will.” So, I set 3 public #2010Goals:

1.  Buy this young lady a car
2.  Pay rent one month for an individual in need
3.  Pay mortgage one month for an individual in need.

How am I going to do this? Honestly, I am not sure, I have my bills and obligations that I have to meet, but I am going to sacrifice, save, and pray that opportunities, automobiles and my network can help to achieve this goal. Now, I saw an opportunity to win $25,000 from CarMax so I entered in the drawing.

Now, am I putting all of my hopes on that CarMax awards me the prize, No. I am putting all of my hopes in God and his ability to bring it to pass. But, just in case someone at CarMax reads this, I would want them to know that my desire to enter and win this prize is not so I can pocket all the money for myself; instead, to give away more than half of it by buying someone in need a car, paying one month rent and mortgage for someone in need.

This maybe foolish or silly to some but I think I am just continuing to have faith, that I will achieve the goals that I have set out and be able to bless those who I see are in need.

I’m Collecting Donations for Haiti – List of Items Needed

If you have not yet given to haiti, please take this as an opportunity to either look around your house at items you can give or go out and purchase. I am collecting items at my office and through my church will give to Haiti.

Please see the list of items below:

• Blankets
• Baby food
• Batteries
• Canned tuna
• Soap
• Toothpaste
• Flip flops
• Plated
• Dust mask
• Sleeping bags
• Flashlights
• Feminine hygiene products
• Powdered evaporated milk
• Band aids & first aid
• Toothbrushes
• Towels
• Cups
• Utensils
• Medical supplies
• Clothes

Please bring items already bagged or boxed as that would make it most easy for me to transport again. You can drop them off at my office (turn by turn directions provided) between the hours of 12pm and 5pm on Friday, January 29, 2010. Please call ahead to ensure that someone will be there, 336.510.9642.

Lets all take this opportunity to give to those in need.

Get Paid to Help in Haiti

For those looking to make an impact in Haiti, here are a few positions that this company says they are hiring for. This was sent to me by a friend and I am sharing it with you. If it works out for you that is great! But I am not held liable for anything that happens from contacting the individual listed below throughout you potential or actual time in Haiti. Just saying folks, have to put your disclaimer out there.

Great DC Condo For Rent

A friend asked me to share this with my network and friends so I am… feel free to share to anyone else…
—————
Message From Him:
I’ll be moving to LA in a couple months to start a new job and will be vacating my spot in a 2 bedroom condo in NW DC. The condo is owned by a friend. Here is the website with the listing on the units.

http://www.738longfellow.com/index.html

The complex is located 3 miles north of Howard off of Georgia Avenue. It is five minutes from the Georgia Ave/Petworth Metro Station (Green/Yellow Line) and 5-10 mins from Fort Totten (Red, Yellow Line) both of which are bus accessible.

Great location and price! The $800 includes monthly rent, utlities, cable, and internet. There is free street parking and also a garage that costs an additional fee if used.

The space will become available in March. The lease comes with an option to sign for 9 months with an option on the last three.

Of course friends get first consideration for the spot if you are interested. If you can not use it let friends know. I would love to leave the spot for a friend that could use affordable DC housing.

All the best!
—————
so there you have it… happy renting!

Group Business Plan: Finances, Finances, Finances

Many people are very worried about the financial piece of a business plan, they dont know where to start or how to complete it. But to keep in line with much of what we are doing here (a bare bone business plan FOR YOU so you can conduct business better in 2010).

Well, I went ahead and prepared a template budget. Now this isn’t perfect but this is a start. What you will see in this budget is 7 areas.

• Administrative
• Salaries
• Communication
• Professional
• Operating
• Cost of Goods
• Other

The xls spreadsheet is set to do the totals and averages for you. Just enter in how much you expect or want to spend in January and then the rest of the spreadsheet will do the math for you.

The big thing for you to look at is the bottom line number. Each column serves as a month so at the bottom you will see how much you need to bring in to meet this goal.

Questions:

• Calvin, where is the cost of goods?

Being how I didn’t know what your direct costs were, I just made a section called cost of goods. Costs of goods is the actual cost (labor/parts) that it costs to create your product/service. It could be per hour or per product but that cell is for the total amount that you project you will spend on costs of goods.

• Calvin, I produce the work, I dont pay anyone?

Then you have to see yourself as an owner and as a employee. If you were an employee and you had an hourly salary ($30.00/hr) and on average you have 100 billable hours per month, then that means that your Cost of Goods is $3,000.00. That is the fee just for you as the employee.

The Salary part is what you are paid as the owner of your business. So you might bill out 100 hours a month and take a $750.00/month salary. This way no matter how your billing is, you will pay yourself something (if you are just starting out). Then as you see the bottom total you will see how much you need to bring in.

To treat your business like a business, you have to begin to pay yourself a set salary. If $750.00 is too big, start small. No one will know but you.

• Calvin what is Exchange Server?

I use an exchange server to manage my email (www.mailstreet.com).

• Calvin, can i add or delete rows?

Yes, please customize to your hearts content. If you have questions please do not hestiate to ask.

• Calvin, why do you start your questions to yourself with Calvin?

Because I can and I am cool! just playing.

• Calvin, what is Savings in Operating?

This may not be the best place for it but I feel it is important to build a savings in your business. Whether you are padding your account or moving the money to a business savings account. It is good to begin to build up a cash reserve and the only way to do that is to plan for it.

I would start with the following goals and when you achieve it, work your darnest to never fall down to the goal below.

Goal 1: $1000.00 Pad or 1 Month’s Bills (whatever is greater)
Goal 2: $2500.00 Pad or 3 Month’s Bills (whatever is greater)
Goal 3: $5000.00 Pad or 6 Month’s Bills (whatever is greater)
Goal 4: $10,000.00 Pad or 12 Month’s Bills (whatever is greater)

When you reach $10k then it is time to speak with your banker about other ways to store your money and getting a better return.

So have fun and let me know if you have questions.

C.

PS. There is one more part of this bare bones business plan and we are good to go.

Mind you this isn’t perfect but hopefully for those who haven’t ever planned for a year you can use this as just a general tool to figure out how much you need to gross per month.

There are more sophisticated tools and always a CPA :).