How will this non-profit succeed?
A charitable non-profit’s business plan involves many of the same steps as profit based businesses.

Here are some of my first steps to accomplish:
1. Research, research, research.

• I need to become knowledgeable of other organizations that may offer the same services. Can I be successful if there are several other non-profits seeking donations for the same causes?

2. Finish my survey.

• I need to get feedback from the public as to the necessity of this non-profit and it’s chance for success.

3. Get incorporated and file for tax-exempt status

• All donations will be charitable write-offs on donor’s tax return

4. Establish a website

5. After finishing business plan, begin soliciting donations and sponsors.

6. Organize fundraising events

7. Marketing and publicity

8. Start accepting applications for grants and…

9. Begin to choose applicants who will be eligible to receive grant money toward their own personal cause. (This may be months away, but it is the ultimate goal to keep me focused.)

The ability for this non-profit to flourish comes from readers like you. Help to spread the word and at some point, maybe you will be able to make a contribution that allows someone to become a parent.

How did I come up with the idea to start a non-profit? Well, it isn’t an ingenious idea; it’s just that I decided to try and make the time to finally do something to help others. Through my journey of infertility I learned that there was little support for a 26 year old woman. As the years passed and my experiences with infertility treatments and assisted reproductive technology became more and more involved, our pockets were empty and our hearts were broken. I strongly feel that it is such a shame that those who need medical intervention to try and have a biological child cannot get insurance coverage. I know this varies state to state but from my experience, IVF usually is not covered at all. We were able to do six intrauterine inseminations under our insurance with the help of chlomid and then injectable drugs. But, when we had to move on to IVF, it was time to find financing- we were on our own. The cost of our IVF was $9,000 each time. We did not have enough embryos to freeze and do a transfer. We had to start over every single time.
Our decision to end medical intervention was mostly based on my health and the emotional strain on our lives and marriage. But, money was also a factor. We had spent over $20,000 on infertility. And, there was nothing to say that in order to be successful (if that was ever possible) with IVF we wouldn’t have to spend another $20K. That being said, we made the conscious decision to end all medical procedures to have a family.
We turned to adoption with a price tag of $25,000 (which is relatively inexpensive for international adoption). There is the federal tax credit which covers about $12,000, but we still had to come up with ALL the money up front without taking out any loans. How is this possible?
Well, we found a way and others do to. But, there is a better alternative.
There should be a place to turn for grant money. Having a family should not be based on financial capabilities. The grief and emotional burden of not being able to conceive a child is exacerbated by the strain and stress of finding money to become parents. It is a reality for those of us in this predicament, but I want to ease some of that stress. I cannot help everybody, but I want to offer hope that there is somewhere to turn to realize someone’s dreams of parenthood.

I have reached out to many different blogs over the weekend that have their own stories to tell about infertility and adoption. I posted comments on many of these blogs that will hopefully allow new people from all over the country to find my blog about starting this non-profit organization.
Welcome, if you are someone who has reached this blog through my attempt at networking.
It is hard to sum up any experience with infertility, but my story is like many others you may know.
We have male and female factor infertility. I have many medical conditions that make conceiving a child naturally nearly impossible and then keeping a pregnancy to full term all the more difficult. We underwent many different kinds of procedures over a three and a half year stint. There are no positive experiences to speak of while undergoing medical intervention.
We finally decided to adopt in March of 2007. Our son just came home in June of this year.
We are parents at last and loving every minute of it.
Infertility can make one seem like they are all alone in their grief. I hope you find solace in reading some of my entries.

Starting a non-profit begins with a passion to help people. My personal experience with infertility and adoption give me the passion needed to help see this through. A vital factor in any non-profits success is its donors. Can I find people and organizations that believe in this cause as much as I do? I believe so.

Adoption and infertility touch everyone’s lives in some way, even if it is far removed. Maybe your cousin’s wife was adopted or your neighbors daughter underwent IVF successfully. It is important for the public to understand that not everyone can have a family in the “normal” way. Conception and fertility are very difficult for many Americans. Roughly 4 million Americans are going through infertility at this time. Infertility is defined by a couple trying to conceive naturally for at least a year without success (and this can include miscarriage). That is a lot of our fellow Americans.

Adoption often times goes along with infertility. Couples who cannot have biological children, but want to be parents decide to adopt. But, the financial cost is daunting. There is a federal tax credit for adopting, but often times couples need to come up with the money first and then wait for the tax credit (which is about $11,500). And, adoptions for infants, domestic or international often cost at least $20,000.

Many states have limited insurance coverage for infertility treatments. Those couples who need to undergo more extensive procedures are often stopped by the financial burden. It doesn’t seem fair. Infertility is a medical condition. It shouldn’t stop people from being able to go through the medical community in order to conceive a child.
I am seeking to find out the public’s opinion on a cause such as this.
Would you be willing to make a taxable donation to this non-profit? Would you consider paying $150.00 a plate for a kick-off fundraiser to raise capital to get the non-profit going? Money is the underlying necesity to allow non-profits to help their cause.

Success to me means being able to offer grants to people who need financial help to have a family. Success to me means offering social support to individuals and couples going through the difficult experience of infertility and adoption.

To hear about my personal story visit my blog: http://ajanderica.blogspot.com

This is a non-proft organization being set up to help those undergoing expensive infertility treatments or adoption in order to have a family.
The financial and emotional strain for people going through infertility or the adoption process is enormous. This organization will be a source of social and monetary support. We will also provide educational tools to help those new to the process and to pass onto family and friends to help them understand the challenges of being unable to have a biological child and/or the strenuous adoption process.