What we have are a very particular set of skills. Skills we have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make us an asset for people like you…
What is the K9 Non-Profit Startup Program?
Click here to download the 40-step check list for launching a local K9 Non-Profit organization.
Fun Fact:
Non-Profits keep the K9 world moving. The vast majority of small-town, local, and low-population county agencies across the country rely partly or entirely on non-profit support and the donations of community members.
The Backstory:
Long before we ever met our first K9, we were working with non-profit organizations (all the way back to 2008). In the years since, education became a driving force in a lot of career and personal decisions. After a decade of teaching and curriculum development at private institutions, public schools, and non-profit continuing education programs, and we began to develop a particular skillset: Helping dedicated creatives, do-gooders, and driven specialists bring their passion to the public.
Bringing It All Together:
We began working with K9 non-profits in 2018. After providing a range of supportive services for small to national organizations and even helping to establish assorted local non-profits, we began to see the need for a unique method to help support K9 teams across the country. After over two years of development and research, we are beyond excited to announce…
The K9 Non-Profit Startup Program
What is it:
It’s a comprehensive program, designed to establish 501(c)(3) organizations, that are ready to support local K9s as seamlessly and as quickly as possible.
Who Does This Benefit:
The K9 Non-Profit Startup Program is specifically designed for small-town, rural, local agencies that face funding issues or rely on donations to keep their K9 programs functioning. During our time in the K9 world, we regularly talk with handlers or agencies that have to navigate financial limitations of emergency veterinary care, training opportunities, essential supplies, and regular costs associated with maintaining a well-equipped K9 unit. This program establishes small-scale non-profit organizations, positioned to fundraise, provide resources, and invite the community to directly aid in the support of their local K9s.
What’s Included:
(Click the items below for a description)
501(c)(3) Registration Walkthrough
This is the back-end process of establishing your non-profit as a registered organization and gaining 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. We’ll walk you through the timeline and assist with the checklist to put your organization in the best position when filing the official tax-exempt paperwork.
–Note– Specific regulations regarding non-profit incorporation vary by state and can change from time to time. Additionally, you will need to select a “registered agent” to be in charge of all official filing. We will walk you through the entire process and get you 95% ready to file. Your selected agent will be the individual that actually files the official 501(c)(3) application.
Mission Statement and Organization Identity Design
These are the core goals of your non-profit. Crafting this description and narrative about the organization’s aspirations will create a framework you’ll use to explain the necessity and benefits of the non-profit to the community, donors, media outlets, and throughout the assorted digital and print mediums.
Logo and Brand Identity Package
This is the face of your non-profit. You’ll start out with everything an established organization needs in order to display professionalism and a polished look. This includes a polished with variations and filetypes for an array of uses, a color/texture library for brand harmony, and a font family for consistent outreach materials.
Website
This is the essential on-line presence where your supporters and community members can learn about the organization’s goals and founder, get in touch and offer support, or donate to your assorted fundraising campaigns.
Your website will launch with a collection of active pages (Home, About, Donate/Sponsorship, Contact) as well as “standby” pages, that will be ready to launch once you begin community outreach (Programs/Fundraising, Sponsors, Media, Events).
In order to ensure functionality and editability by 3rd party designers in the future, all websites are built using default WordPress construction (no proprietary plugins or inaccessible coding patches).
Social Media Setup
This is often one of the first interactions most people have with an unfamiliar organization. You’ll start out with consistency across essential platforms, including branding, visuals, social handles, organizational overview, and connected links between platforms and website. We’ll also walk you through best practices to establish good social habits for a new non-profit.
Demographic-Tailored Fundraising and Engagement Plans
This list sets you up for future fundraising, big and small. Each community and regional demographic is suited to its own set of effective outreach campaigns. We’ll build an assortment of fundraising plans, designed to support a range of goals.
Initial Fund-Raising Campaign Materials
This ensures you’ll hit the ground running with fundraising campaigns right from the start. We’ll help identify a range of goals, from small and easily-achievable, to large and requiring support of your community. The best way to establish a non-profit’s presence is by involving your supporters in the mission. Early awareness brings early results.
Introductory Letter for Donation-Sourcing
This is the first step in a wide-spread approach, letting established businesses and community groups know about the goals and spirit of your new organization. You can’t fundraise if people don’t know you exist. This is all about introducing yourself.
Online Payment System Integration for Donations
This is one of the primary ways you’ll process donations. Outside of large sponsor checks and in-person fundraising events, online donations can make up a large portion of a non-profit’s financial support. We’ll help you establish the necessary platforms and link donation pathways to your website and social media.
How Much Does the Program Cost:
The K9 Non-Profit Startup Program works as a whole or in pieces and the cost depends on your needs. In reality, many local K9 units have filed the official Articles of Incorporation and Tax-Exempt Status Paperwork and only have a need for a logo and a website. Other units have a functioning non-profit, but need an overhaul to improve reach and effectiveness. Some units might be starting from square one. Wherever you are in the process is where we can help.
What’s the First Step:
Like everything else that’s specially tailored to specific needs, it starts with a phone call. Click the button below to get in touch.