starting a non profit organization

I am seriously thinking about starting a non profit organization to improve and encourage volunteering at psychiatric hospitals and raise awareness i just want to know where can i go or do to help get started?What my group will do is they would encourage people to volunteers in psychiatric hospital such as getting patients flowers get well cards and help collect money to be used to improve individual psych hospital around the country and maybe open up a gift shop or thrift store run by volunteers and use profits that will use research new treatments for different disorders. any suggestions will be appreciated?

Boy have you got a job ahead for you, give me a little time and I will get some info for you, we incorporated our non-profit group 3 yrs ago
Angie

Todd, here are a couple places to check, you should also check with lawyers in your area to see if they will do work Pro-Bono for you to incorporate
www.mhself.org
www.tuc.edu/lrc/grants.htm
will send more info soon
Angie

wgat if I can't afford lawyers?Is it expensive to start a non profit organization?thanks for websites

Check with Business lawyers see if any will do Pro-Bono work, (work for free, you only pay for paper work) you will need a small board of directors, at least 3 people, you'll need a set of By-Laws, the lawyer can help with that, get incorporated, contac the sites they can help too
Angie

ok i try do that

When I was the American Red Cross Volunteer Director at a non-profit hospital, we had limited access to the psychiatric ward. Only those volunteers that had nursing or psychotherapy backgrounds were allowed on the floor.

You can find non-profit information on your State's website (you are in USA?). Usually only 3 people are required for the board... but beware! Everyone listed on the non-profit papers WILL BE AUDITED BY THE IRS that year!!!! Also, there is a difference between not for profit and non profit... it takes a little extra work and explanation but the non-profit charity is worth the lable, for then you can ask for donations and those donations are tax deductible for the donator.

(Alot of businesses are not for profit, they weren't planned that way... they just don't make it! LOL)

Don't forget the cost of liability insurance. It's very easy and cheap to establish a non-profit... but the addendums get cha! Also, plan on NOT having any real operating funds for 5 years... so a grant or funding from a larger company is necessary. (Unless you're independently wealthy.)

Hope this helps. I've owned 2 corporations.

Todd,
That is incredible but a dauting task. Just starting a non-profit is the beginning... I work for one and it seems like we are always afraid of going out of business especially with the economy the way that it has been lately. Non profits run on the kindness of others and when money is tight all around they are usually the first to suffer.
I commerate you for your plans~!!

Jessica