Creating a Nonprofit

Creating a Nonprofit Organization in Virginia

Planning:

• Identify competitors; opportunities for partnership and collaboration
• Use needs and market analysis to determine what services and populations the organization will serve (geographic area, community stakeholders)
• Draft a mission statement

Creating an Organization:

• Draft Articles of Incorporation. Example available here.
• Submit completed Articles and fee to Virginia State Corporation Commission. Forms available here.
• Develop board structure and standard operating procedures including mission and purpose, criteria for selection of board members, identifying leadership and officer positions on board
• Draft bylaws
• Discuss budget/financial planning
• Hold meeting of Board of Directors

Tax Exemption:

• Apply for 501(c)(3) status

IRS Form 1023 - Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

IRS Form 1023-EZ - Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Organizations with total assets less than $250,000 can file the EZ form.

• Apply for Employer Identification Number (EIN)

EINs are issued for the purpose of tax administration.

Apply here.

• Apply for Virginia Business, Professional and Occupational Licenses (BPOL)

New business in Virginia must file a business license application within 75 days of the date the business began.

Apply here.

• Apply for a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number

DUNS Numbers are used by the government to track how federal money is allocated.

Apply here.

• Apply for Virginia Tax exemption status

Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemptions for Nonprofit Organizations.

Apply here.

• Charitable Solicitation Registration

For nonprofit organizations engaging in fundraising activities. Register with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Register here.

Organizational Summary - Namibia Nature Foundation

Dendrology

Invasive Plants and Animals

Web Soil Survey

This was my first experience using the USDA Web Soil Survey. I found it to be user friendly and simple to navigate as a novice. The survey does not cover international locations, so wasn't able to search data related to my study area, Namibia, and instead chose to explore Arlington County, Virginia.

As a beginner, I appreciate that the survey has a variety of data to pull from. It would have been much harder for me to make sense of the data if it only included very technical information. The four basic steps on the home page were a helpful hint to starting the survey. Overall, I had a positive experience with this tool, and will continue to use it as a resource.

Below are image captures of Arlington County, VA. Top: Depth to Water Table. Bottom: Surface Texture.

Climate Resources

The World Bank has a handful of really great Open Data Climate Change Resources (1). Two of the resources I found particularly relevant to my study area, are the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, and Climate for Development.

The World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (2-3) is a great resource for Global Climate Data. The portal covers both temperature and rainfall, but also describes climate impacts on resources including water and agriculture, and outlines vulnerabilities caused by climate, including population growth, decline, and gaps.

Climate for Development (4) is similar, but looks at projected temperature and precipitation changes by 2100. It predicts temperatures of global croplands, changes in agricultural yields and how that affects GDPs, and populations impacted by floods and drought.

Climate data specific to Namibia can be found at the Namibia Meteorological Service (5), and the Namibia Weather Network (6). Both sites have data on annual climates, as well as daily updates on active weather patterns. 

The World Resources Institute, CAIT Data Explorer (7) is another great open source climate tool. In addition to climate data, this tool also focuses on global emissions data.

Links:

(1) WB Climate Change Resources 
(2) WB Climate Change Knowledge Portal Home
(3) WB Climate Change Knowledge Portal, Namibia 
(4) WB Climate for Development
(5) Namibia Meteorological Service
(6) Namibia Weather Network
(7) CAIT Climate Data Explorer

Mapping Tools

The maps below were created to practice using two types of mapping tools. The maps highlight popular Namibian biodiversity hot spots.

 

The first map was created with Google MyMaps. As a new user with little to no experience using basic mapping or GIS tools, I found MyMaps pretty easy to use. The instruction video is helpful, and the design is intuitive enough to get you started. I was comfortable identifying and marking places, but it was a bit harder for me to manipulate the line tools and clearly outline regions or parks.




The second map was created using ArcGIS Explorer. I was excited to try this tool, but found it was a lot harder and not nearly as intuitive as MyMaps. This program isn't compatible with Mac OSX, so had some difficulty there, but was able to find a Windows computer to use. I was able to understand most of the basic functions offered in the program, but then had a difficult time trying to share the completed map.

As a user, I found MyMaps much more enjoyable to use. It was a good introductory mapping tool, and feel like with a bit more practice, I'd feel pretty comfortable using it. I'd be willing to use ArcGIS Explorer again, but would need to spend time understanding how it works, so am not as easily frustrated.