Does anyone have any experience with starting a local non-profit organization?

I want to create an organization that provides swim lessons and promotes aquatic safety to kids AND adults that may not have resources to receive this information on their own. There are minimal cost basketball camps, soccer camps, but I haven't been able to find anything that says 'hey kids and adults if you want to learn how to swim, we'll teach you for free.'

I am beginning my research on the web but would like some real world experience. I'm just not quite sure where to start. There is already an organization that I am interested in (swimforlife.org), but I think I'd rather start from scratch in Raleigh, especially since the organization I'm interested in doesn't have clear objectives.

I've been reading the following page and it looks correct but intense http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-501c3-Nonprofit-Organization. Are there any other resources locally that I may be able to contact?

1/13/2011 7:11:29 PM

http://ncnonprofits.org/

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/statutes/StatutesTOC.pl?Chapter=0055A

http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/

http://www.hurwitassociates.com/l_s_initial_nc.php

http://nonprofit.chass.ncsu.edu/

p.s. - like the idea a lot!! especially since you will be catering to adults, too. i think that is really neat.

[Edited on January 13, 2011 at 7:16 PM. Reason : .]

1/13/2011 7:14:11 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0mUPr68x2U

1/13/2011 7:56:42 PM

Unfortunately, this natural adaptation to water quickly diminishes, especially after 1 yrs old and no re-entry into a pool.

1/13/2011 8:22:12 PM

Sounds like a cool idea.

I know guidestar lists a lot of non-profits if you're looking for others that might deliver similar services.

One of my classmates in the public administration program co-founded a non-profit a few years ago that connects potential volunteers to non-profits that need them. Here is her work e-mail if you wanted to reach out to her to bounce some ideas off of: amber@me-3.org I'm sure that since her non-profit thrives off connections to other non-profits, she'd probably be cool with giving some tips for getting a new one going. Here is a little more info on her non-profit:

http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/amber-smith-making-volunteerism-cool-again-with-me3/Content?oid=1827420

http://www.me-3.org/boardofdirectors.html

1/13/2011 9:08:01 PM