subject: Writing a charity business plan [print this page] Writing a charity business plan Writing a charity business plan
Your charity business plan is a article that defines your charity business with its objectives and shows how those objectives ought to be achieved.
Lacking a business plan it is doubtful that potential "angel investors" and the like will invest in your charity business if that is what you require to start-up or if you need to take it to the next level
The plan should be modified for the likely lender or the financier. The substance of the business plan ought to reflect the would-be interests of the lender and encourage support for your charity business venture.
After completion,your charity business plan also provides a powerful tool for scrutinizing the progress of your charity business. It will help you to conentrate on the objectives set up in the charity business plan.
Do not fill your plan with convoluted text for the sake of it - your financier might not have a clue about the prospective business - just a sack load of cash that they want to throw at new businesses - they aren't necessarily going to known the charity business acronyms that you use on a day to day basis. Don't be afraid to use diagrams in your plan - this will break it up as well making it easier to read.
Endeavor to make the business plan as optimistic as possible but don't shy away from any noticeable troubles there may perhaps be in setting up your charity business as your financier will more than likely have thought of them anyway; so if you can get their firstly and answer the likely questions before they think of them so much the better.
Arrange your charity business plan in a reasonable manner with clear and precise headings - do not be afraid to fritter away paper - start new headings on a clean fresh piece of paper - it will make the document look more convincing and make it easy to find stuff for your financier.
Monetary projections will be shown between the main body of the business plan and the appendices. Profit and Loss statements, Balance Sheets, Cash-flow forecasts etc. should be given in a separate section of documents. This will ensure completeness without destroying the flow of the text.
If your business is a new venture then give background information as to why you intend to start it. State the major advantages of your product or service. Point to possible markets and put in plain words your pricing policy and advertising strategies. Identify the competition and outline your proposals for dealing with it. Be positive and quick to the point.
It is crucial that your backer (if that's what your plan is to begin with used for) believes in you and your team (if you have one). If you come to an financier having just thought..."wouldn't it be splendid to have my own charity business" - you're going to get laughed out the door. You must make plain your expertise and show your knowledge and skill-sets as well as any other managers involved in the charity business. If you need any workers highlight these in the appendices - it's crucial that any critical roles in the charity business are ironed out before you meet your investor - if it is an essential role you require for your charity business then you will not get the capital you need.
