How to start a charity and why I want to

[Allrounder]

Hi all

 

Have any of you gone through the process of setting up an official charity?

 

I would like to know where do you start, fees involved, requirements and more. 

 

I have recently heard of a community with children between the ages of 7 and 15, who only has 1 or 2 sets of clothing, neither the boys or girls have underware. And then we have not even started on the things they need for school. 

 

I have spend quite a large amount of money at PEP and bought a few things, but it is not sustainable. 

 

This is the reason for me asking. I am able to help them, but not on my current system.

 

I do not know how to get started. 

 

 

[mikeking]

Hi all

 

Have any of you gone through the process of setting up an official charity?

 

I would like to know where do you start, fees involved, requirements and more. 

 

I have recently heard of a community with children between the ages of 7 and 15, who only has 1 or 2 sets of clothing, neither the boys or girls have underware. And then we have not even started on the things they need for school. 

 

I have spend quite a large amount of money at PEP and bought a few things, but it is not sustainable. 

 

This is the reason for me asking. I am able to help them, but not on my current system.

 

I do not know how to get started. 

http://dgmt-commons.co.za/establishing-an-ngo-legal-compliance-and-registration/registering-a-pbo-why-with-whom-and-how/

 

Try as well to get a local Lions, Rotary or Round Table club involved. Good luck!

[Allrounder]

http://dgmt-commons.co.za/establishing-an-ngo-legal-compliance-and-registration/registering-a-pbo-why-with-whom-and-how/

 

Try as well to get a local Lions, Rotary or Round Table club involved. Good luck!

Thanks Mike. 

[AryM]

Hi all

 

Have any of you gone through the process of setting up an official charity?

 

I would like to know where do you start, fees involved, requirements and more. 

 

I have recently heard of a community with children between the ages of 7 and 15, who only has 1 or 2 sets of clothing, neither the boys or girls have underware. And then we have not even started on the things they need for school. 

 

I have spend quite a large amount of money at PEP and bought a few things, but it is not sustainable. 

 

This is the reason for me asking. I am able to help them, but not on my current system.

 

I do not know how to get started. 

 

HI,

 

Yes, I've been involved in the Non-Profit/ Charity sector for the last 10 years.

If you would like to chat privately, no problem at all.

 

What s your intention? How long would you be willing to keep this sustainable on your own?

 

IF you want to expand & make it more official, then go this route:

I would suggest you start a NPO/ NPC if your have the funds available. (Plenty admin work getting everything compliant)

Next step is to apply with SARS for a PBO (Public Benefit Organisation) which makes the organisation Tax Exempt. (Section 18A)

Then you can open bank accounts, and can ask for Donations and give Section 18A certificates for all donations. Has to be run like a corporate and submit to SARS etc yearly.

With this structure, you can source funding from the business/ corporate sector, government ( ) and the general public.

 

Or if you can just gather a few mates, get them to sign debit orders every month even if its starts small, and go from there! Well done on this initiative, please shout if you need help & all the best!

[Allrounder]

Thanks AryM. I will be in contact later today. 

 

To answer the one big question, I want to be able to support as long as much as possible. It is not possible on my own income, hence the solution. 

 

I did do a small charity drive last year for a boy with cancer and raised some funds, but there where a number of individuals and companies who did not want to get involved, because it was not "official" and as you say, not tax deductible. 

[JScottP]

Start by registering a non-profit with CIPC:

non-profit-company-without-members-standard-moi

 

Once registered you will then need to register with SARS as a Public Benefit Organisation in order to give s18 certificates for donations.

 

The easy part is CIPC, SARS can take some time for approval etc. 

[Allrounder]

Cool Thanks JScott

[Uni]

Might be possible to get added to the Santa Shoebox initiative - i know it's only once a year but every little bit helps right.

 

https://santashoebox.org.za/how-to-become-a-beneficiary/

[johannrissik]

What about finding out if there isn't an existing organisation doing similar work and join forces with them?  Avoid duplication?

 

Good luck.