We all know that working for a nonprofit organization is fulfilling and meaningful work. But many times we run into the question of what kind of impact can I really make?
Well, below are 20 ideas for nonprofits you can create or help out within your community. As you’ll see, you can find a cause that fits your passion and skills.
- Pet Rescue Organization
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Car Donation Organization
- Urban Farming Organization
- Emergency Preparedness Organization
- Cultural Preservation Organization
- Military Veterans’ Foundation
- Children’s Orphanage
- Shelter for Abused and Neglected Children
- LGBTQ+ Equality Foundation
- Black Lives Matter Organizations
- Women’s Rights Foundation
- Rehabilitation Center for Substance Abuse Victims
- Jail Ministry Organization
- Community Theater Group
- Homeless Shelter For Women and Children
- Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility For Low-Income Seniors
- Reading Program For Children
- Soup Kitchen For The Homeless
- Senior Citizen Outreach Program
Importantly, a critical step in starting a nonprofit organization is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Nonprofit Business Plan Template here.
1. Pet Rescue Organization
This is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income families in getting access to pet food and medicine.
The main objective of the organization is to provide aid for pets that are abandoned or neglected by people who cannot afford their care.
Some of the key issues this organization must address include:
- Availability of food and medicine for pets
- Availability of volunteers to work with animals
- Licensing requirements from the local government authorities
- Laws surrounding animal rights, cruelty, and health
2. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
This is a type of nonprofit organization that promotes local food production by providing fresh vegetables and fruit to people in the community.
In exchange, they will get a weekly delivery of farm produce from farmers in the region.
The main objective of this organization is to provide low-cost organic food for families who cannot afford to buy these products through conventional means.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Organic food production and distribution
- Promotion of sustainable farming practices in the community
- Licensing requirements from government agencies and trade groups
- Distribution and logistics for the delivery of farm products
3. Car Donation Organization
This is a nonprofit organization that collects old cars from people who want to donate them for recycling.
The main purpose of this organization is to provide working vehicles for low-income families who cannot afford to buy new ones.
Key areas of focus for this charity may include:
- Distribution of donated cars to the less fortunate
- Providing aid to car repair shops that help with providing affordable parts and labor for low-income families
- Advertising their services to people who need transportation support
4. Urban Farming Organization
This is a nonprofit organization that provides farming support to people in urban areas who want to grow their own vegetables or fruits at home.
The main purpose of this organization is to teach people how to maintain healthy organic gardens and provide support if there are any problems.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Training and support for community farming organizations
- Providing supplies to people who want to start their own gardens at home
- Distributing organic produce to low-income families in the area
5. Emergency Preparedness Organization
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing supplies and equipment to low-income families who cannot afford protective gear during an emergency crisis.
The main objective of this organization is to prepare communities against natural or human-caused disasters that may affect health and safety.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Availability of first-aid kits, emergency tools, and other protective gear
- Distribution of food supplies to families who can prepare their own meals during a crisis
- Promotion of emergency preparedness in the community
6. Cultural Preservation Organization
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on preserving and promoting cultural heritage in various communities.
The main purpose of this organization is to teach younger generations about their ancestral culture and pass on traditional knowledge from generation to generation.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Restoration and promotion of cultural festivals in the community
- Conducting classes on traditional crafts and art forms in local schools
- Promotion of cultural heritage through community events and publications
7. Military Veterans’ Foundation
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on supporting the education and employment of post-9/11 military veterans.
The main objective of this organization is to provide career opportunities for veterans so they can reenter the civilian workforce successfully.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Providing financial support so veterans can receive an education from various institutions
- Helping veterans find suitable employment opportunities with companies that have a veteran hiring program
- Advocating for veteran-friendly policies in the federal government
8. Children’s Orphanage
This is a nonprofit organization that provides shelter for children who are in need of protection.
The main goal of this organization is to provide people with the opportunity to adopt healthy children or contribute financial support if they cannot take care of them permanently.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Providing accommodation, health care, educational opportunities, and vocational training for children
- Helping people find suitable adoption processes if they want to adopt a child permanently
- Conducting regular fundraising campaigns for this organization
9. Shelter for Abused and Neglected Children
This is a nonprofit organization that provides temporary housing for children who are abused or neglected.
The main objective of this organization is to provide these children with a safe place where they can live while their guardians receive treatment for drug addiction, mental health problems, or other issues.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Providing appropriate accommodations and child care services for children
- Conducting information and outreach programs to help find permanent homes for these kids
- Providing healthy food and recreational activities to these children
10. LGBTQ+ Equality Foundation
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on ensuring equal opportunities for LGBTQ+ people.
The main objective of this organization is to advocate for equal rights and eliminate discrimination against people who are LGBTQ+.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
- Providing training programs for companies to ensure they have the tools to support the rights of their employees who are LGBTQ+
- Conducting regular educational seminars about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression for people who want to understand these issues better
- Distributing information to schools and other institutions about the importance of accepting LGBTQ+ people in society
11. Black Lives Matter Organization
This is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the equal treatment of African Americans in law enforcement.
The main objective of this nonprofit is to raise awareness about black people being killed by police officers, even though they have not committed any crimes.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Providing resources for black teenagers who are facing discrimination from law enforcement
- Initiating public protests to address the issue of black people being killed unjustly by police officers
- Conducting research studies about the history of racism in the U.S. and developing strategies to address these problems
12. Women’s Rights Foundation
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on ensuring equal opportunities for women.
The main objective of this organization is to advocate for the better treatment of women in society and eliminate discrimination against them. Â
Key areas of focus for this nonprofit may include:
- Conducting research studies on the current state of women’s rights in society and developing strategies to improve these conditions
- Providing support services that teach women how to defend themselves against sexual harassment and other threats
- Developing programs for schools to increase the number of young ladies who are involved in STEM industries (science, technology, engineering, and math)
13. Rehabilitation Center for Substance Abuse Victims
This is a nonprofit organization that provides treatment and rehabilitation for people addicted to drugs.
The main objective of this nonprofit is to provide treatment for people who are struggling with addiction and to help them recover from drug dependency.
Key areas of focus for this organization may include:
Providing counseling programs for patients who have a problem with substance abuse
- Creating support groups where people addicted to drugs can share their experiences and advice
- Developing training programs for healthcare professionals who are looking to advance their knowledge about drug dependency
- Creating public awareness programs about the need to start rehabilitating people addicted to drugs as soon as possible
14. Jail Ministry Organization
This is a non-profit organization that provides counseling and rehabilitation services to inmates who are incarcerated in prisons or jails.
The purpose of this organization is to help people achieve a successful reintegration into the community after they have served their time behind bars.
Key areas of focus include:
- Rehabilitation and counseling for prisoners and their families.
- Support programs to help ex-convicts find jobs.
- Legal advice and services for those who want to appeal their convictions.
The organization may also provide free or subsidized housing as well as food, clothing, and other needs of the people that they support as needed.
15. Community Theater Group
This is a nonprofit organization that focuses on promoting and empowering the art of theater.
The main goal of this nonprofit is to provide local communities with affordable entertainment and art performances.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Conducting information and outreach programs to help find permanent homes for these kids
- Organizing theater events for local communities to watch and enjoy
- Developing outreach programs to help educate young people about theater
- Promoting local theaters as a source of entertainment and art in local communities
16. Homeless Shelter For Women and Children
This is a nonprofit organization that provides temporary housing for women and children who are without homes.
The main focus of this type of organization is to provide basic needs for women who are struggling with poverty so they do not have to sleep on the streets.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Offering temporary shelter and finding permanent homes for homeless women and children
- Providing free food, clothes, and other necessities to those who cannot afford it themselves
- Ensuring that women and children live in a safe environment while they are being housed
- Providing counseling services for those who need help with rebuilding their lives
17. Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility For Low-Income Seniors
This is a nonprofit organization that provides assisted living for senior citizens who can no longer take care of themselves. The main focus of this nonprofit is to provide seniors with a stable and comfortable environment in the latter stages of their lives.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Conducting outreach programs to find permanent homes for low-income seniors
- Providing training and support to staff members and other caregivers for the elderly
- Providing transportation services to and from the elderly care facility
- Offering educational seminars on how seniors can prepare for their later years of life when they may no longer be able to live alone
- Making sure that all seniors living in this type of facility receive quality care and attention in a comfortable environmentÂ
18. Reading Program For Children
This is a nonprofit organization that provides free literacy lessons to children who do not have access to formal education.
The main objective of this nonprofit is to give every child the opportunity for an education, which can help them become successful in their future careers and personal lives.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Conducting outreach programs to find children who are not in school
- Organizing literacy lessons for these children to help them learn how to read and write
- Providing basic necessities, such as books and school supplies, to these children
- Ensuring that these children receive the help they need to get on track with their education
- Offering counseling programs for parents who are struggling with poverty so they can learn about resources available to them
19. Soup Kitchen For The Homeless
This is a nonprofit organization that provides free meals to the homeless.
The main objective of this company is to provide nourishment for people who can not afford to buy food or are in need of help.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Conducting outreach programs to identify the homeless, especially those who are most in need of help
- Organizing volunteers to serve the free meals on a regular basis
- Providing education and training to staff members so they can serve the public in a safe, effective, and efficient manner
- Making sure that the food is nutritious and healthy for those who are eating it
- Offering other resources to help people get back on their feet again
20. Senior Citizen Outreach Program
This is a nonprofit organization that provides services for senior citizens, including transportation to medical appointments and grocery stores, companionship for those who live alone, etc.
The main objective of this company is to promote healthy living and active lifestyles for seniors.
Key areas of focus for this type of organization may include:
- Conducting outreach programs to identify seniors who are in need of help
- Organizing transportation services to take seniors where they need to go
- Taking seniors grocery shopping so they can get the food they need without having to go on their own
- Monitoring the health of seniors while providing companionship and friendship
- Offering other resources to help increase the quality of life for seniors
Starting a nonprofit organization to help your community is an admirable goal. When you have the desire to improve your community and provide a valuable service, you can turn that goal into a reality by starting an organization of your own.
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