Question : How can I establish a charitable organization in the state of Florida?
My late mother who died in 2001 (I was 18 yrs old high school senior at the time) along with my father taught me to serve my community and to try to help those in need. I am also inspired by the Social Gospel movement. How can I establish a charitable foundation to help children, elderly, and the poor around North Central Florida (possibly spread out later to other geographic areas)? Please give me your insight as I feel this will finally find me the happiness and peace that I have lost when my mother died. Thank you for your sincerity and help. :)
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Best answer:

Answer by A F
For info on forming a FL nonprofit go to www.dos.state.fl.us and click on corporations. May I suggest however that you consider working with an established non profit that does some of the things you want to do to help to gain practical experience. That will make you stronger as you start your organization and give you some immediate oportunitioes to make a difference. If you want something people can donate to and have it tax deductible you need federal nonprofit status from IRS as well. It’s called 501 c 3 status. Cost is about $ 450 or was last I knew and takes 6-24 months after forms are filed.

12 yrs ago my husband and I formed Caring Hands Ministries in Cleveland GA “the gateway to Appalachia” which provides practical demonstration of Jesus’ love by meeting ppl at their point of need. We help homeless and at risk kids and their families, senior ctizens and others in need with food, meds, utilities, rent etc.. You can take a look at what we do at http://caringhandsmin.tripod.com Maybe you’ll find some info that can help you. Doing this kind of thing can be very satisfying and very frustrating. It can give peace in one sense and sheer rage and frustration in others like when I see a homeless child who has been told he can’t go to school because he doesn’t have a permanent residence in the school district which btw is totally contrary to the law yet it happens or an 80 yr old sitting in the dark bec they had to choose between lights and food. Some days you’ll feel,like you’re bailing a flooded boat with a thimble and other days you’ll see a kid smile for the first time in weeks and tell you he feels good now because of something you helped happen or be able to take a donated wheelchair to someone who has been in bed because they couldn’t get around their house and you’ll know there is no mountain you can’t climb. So I can’t promise you happiness and peace just from this. I know that without Jesus I could never do what we do and that really it’s His love that even makes me want to. With Him there’s inside peace even on the bad days.

I belong to a Christian message bd. www.iljboards.com We have a member there by the member name doule who is in the N Central FL area and has done some of the kinds of things there that you’re wanting to do. You might like to come by the boards and talk with her, She may be able to suggest some groups there that you could check out or have some other useful ideas.