Community Based Services Initiative

The Commission’s Community Based Services Initiative exists to assist faith and community based groups implement programs to alleviate socio-economic deprivation in minority and poor communities. This includes providing technical assistance and training for capacity building.

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Would your non-profit organization like to increase its capacity or run more efficiently?

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The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affair’s Community Based Programs Initiative exists to assist faith and community based groups implement programs to alleviate socio-economic deprivation in minority and poor communities. Because many of those groups are in their infancy, capacity building is the major focus of the Commission’s work in this area.

Our Community Based Services Initiative conforms to President George Bush’s faith based approach to providing community services closest to the people who need them. This work includes providing technical assistance and training in the following areas:

• Process for becoming state charter
• Qualification and selection of Board Members
• Non-Profit board training
• Community partnerships
• Funding opportunities
• Technical assistance

Applying for 501c3

1. Appoint the Organization’s Officers and Governing Board
2. Develop the Organization’s Mission Statement
3. Apply for Non-profit Corporation Status
   • complete Non-profit Corporation Articles of Incorporation form (include 501 c 3 attachment)
   • filling fee of $25 must accompany the form, Articles of Incorporation
4. Establish By-laws which include the following:
   • membership/terms
   • officers, their duties and terms
   • the organization’s fiscal year
5. Complete Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number)
6. Complete Form 1023 (Application for Recognition of Exemption)
   • filing fee is either $275 or $600

Sample Mission Statement

The Mission Statement
A good mission statement should accurately explain why your organization exists and what it hopes to achieve in the future. It articulates the organization’s essential nature, its values, and its work.

An effective mission statement must express the organization’s purpose in a way that inspires commitment, innovation, and courage.

Your organization’s mission statement should answer three key questions:

1. What are the opportunities or needs that we exist to address? (the purpose of the organization);
2. What are we doing to address these needs? (the business of the
3. What principles or beliefs guide our work? (the values of the

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America

“The mission of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America is to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, primarily through a professionally supported, one-to-one relationship with a caring adult, and to assist them in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent, and caring individuals, by providing committed volunteers, national leadership and standards of excellence.”

The purpose: to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth so that they’ll achieve their highest potential;

The business: providing and supporting committed volunteers who have one-to- one relationships with children and youth;

The values: individuals who are confident, competent, and caring; leadership and standards of excellence.

Role of Non-Profits Board of Directors

What Is a Non-profit Board of Directors?

• A non-profit board of directors is a group of persons chosen to govern the affairs of a non-profit organization and to protect the public trust.
• The officers of the board are usually Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer.

How Important is the Board of Directors?

• A non-profit organization is required by law to have a board of directors.
• The board is the key to the success of a non-profit organization.

What are the Board’s Responsibilities?

• The non-profit board of directors responsibilities include the following:
  • Defining, protecting, and advancing the mission of the organization;
  • Exercising moral and legal oversight;
  • Safeguarding the organization’s assets;
  • Recruiting and hiring staff;
  • Acting as ambassadors for the organization.

Who Should Serve on a Non-profit Board of Directors?

• Persons who serve on a non-profit board should bring the following to the board:
  • Passion
  • Vision
  • Expertise
  • Connections
  • Money

Sample Bylaws

Download the Sample Bylaws (.doc) for your use.