VCPlan – The Path to Success

Several months ago I was at a meeting for a new non-profit . I was invited there to give my opinion of the whole setup.? They wanted to help farmers in a Central American country however, they had no business plan and it was clear that they need one. I suggested they needed to do a proforma, because at the very least, they needed a plan on how much they were going to give, how much it would cost them to give, and how much they were going to get.? I even offered to do it under my donation program (I do it for a reduced rate and donate 100% of the money minus any out of pocket expenses [there are usually none] to another charity). They balked wondering why I would charge their charity when they were a charity. Why would I not donate my time?? Here is why:

1. They did not have a real charity, business, or anything. It was a nice idea.
2. When people are not paying for your time (especially doing a proforma), they do not value it.
3. My charities exist and have a history.? They also need money since they do not have the sexiness of the big charities.

I might have mentioned this before on this blog, but there is also number 4:

4. If you are in the spirit of donations, why are your charities more important than mine??

a. In other words, if I am working for a charity just like you, then I have to keep my charity in mind as well.

b. Are you not supposed to be in the spirit of giving money??? You are getting people to be in the spirit if giving money, so if you do not?get in that spirit how do you know what it is?

c. Do you believe in your charity ?

4b was expressed today by Seth Godin in his blog. Today’s post is “Watch the money”

He says that money is a statement of belief, and the fact that these people would not even put money behind their own idea and in the same vein help another charity, how valid is their cause?

It is not valid.