Want to start non-profit that promotes underpriviliged artists?

Question

My objective is to help pluck out talented artists from obscurity, particularly those with severely limited income (living paycheck-to-paycheck), limited education and resources.

By helping showcase their works in front of prospective large design firms, guild members and other similar organizations, we'd help them get the necessary publicity they'd otherwise never have a chance to get.

To qualify, we'd do a background check of income and work history and we'd check their portfolio to see if it's up to par with presentation guidelines.

I'd prefer to have a showing of their works once a month if some businesses would contribute use of their offices or conference rooms for these events (what they'd charge us to 'rent' out the space would be their tax-exempt cost). They can announce it as charitable goodness on their site and we'd do our part.

I've been browsing several IRS forms but don't know which fits this category...Can anyone with years of non-profit expertise answer?

Answer 1

The best resource for you if you are looking to start a nonprofit org for whatever purpose is the Foundation Center, at http://www.foundationcenter.org - they have a list of free and comprehensive resources on the requirements of starting a nonprofit organziation and the best ways to go about it. As well, they have resources for finding funding, and how to write winning proposals.

Good luck with your new enterprise