I would like to know if there is anyone at your organization that could help me open my own Non-Profit org? Where do I start? Who do I talk to? Please help direct me to the right places. I have always been interested in helping people, and over the years have kind of turned into that person that actually needs help myself. I would like to open a non-profit to help single women and their situations and try to help them understand that there is help out there! I want to help them find resources to help them. Everyone of them deserve a chance to better themselves, and to live a normal life and help their children to become whatever they want! Thank you for taking the time to help me.

I was raised by a single mother — never knew my father — and so I am personally interested in your idea. And I know that my mother has always felt the need to support that group of people. Plus at Ask Amy I hear from so many single moms— and actually what I have identified as a huge need is helping women successfully transition through a divorce.

In terms of starting a non-profit — I think that you should first make sure that nothing similar exists or see if you can become a project of another organization — for instance I think this would make a great partnership with the YWCA. Starting a few group certainly requires a lot of resources and thus I think before you expend too much energy on starting from scratch you should do on your own.

If you decide that you want to start something on your own — I would recommend the non-profit support center, based in New York City. Though I fear they had a name change and I can't remember their new name. But I think they would be a great resource from you.

Besides the structural elements, I think you have to be very clear about what your goals are and what specific tools you are going to use.

— Amy