So I'm thinking of starting a non-profit... Need some input

[Prodyson]

So I'm thinking of trying to starting a non-profit organization. Basically right now it would have two functions.

1. Beautifying low-income areas with large minority populations in order to increase property values and promote better living conditions. Living in Georgia there are actually programs that allow you to pay a fee for them to turn areas "green" and maintain it on a monthly basis. But of course the areas i would be targeting don't have people willing to make that investment ($.03 - $.05 per sqft per month for maintenance by the county and around $.75 per square foot for the initial work). I would also seek the services of maybe local urban developers to come up the lower cost ways to improve the appearance of the area and work with local businesses to put the plan in action, offering to take on some of the costs.

2. Establish a larger presence of black-owned businesses in black communities by providing lease subsidies to said businesses to allow for greater probability of success (of course some research and vetting would be done to be sure these businesses have sound business plans and business practices). For example, why are the beauty supply stores and salons around HBCUs owned by Asians? Well this organization will subsidize a portion of the lease to a black owned business in that community for some set period of time with the hopes of creating a larger black owned business presence in that area (and possibly pushing others out).

Hopefully these two functions could work in conjunction with each other as almost some sort of counter to gentrification. Improve our areas and give black owned businesses the inside track to getting established in these improved areas.

With that said i would like to have more ideas to consider and to flesh out which ones make the most sense. I also welcome questions and challenges to allow me to think of all of the possible setbacks and obstacles of doing something like this.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

 

[Prodyson]

I'm not sure what you're getting at by posting that video?

 

[theworldismine13]

first piece of advice is dont

create a for profit organization instead

 

[Bilz]

#1 can work if you are good at gathering support. It is a good cause and can benefit everyone in the community by increasing land value and making it a more desirable area for business.

#2 might be difficult to fund. Are individuals or businesses going to offer up their own money to subsidize black business owners? That type of fundraising may even cross some legal lines depending on how it is worded.

 

[wheywhey]

In order to increase home values you need quality schools, low crime, and proximity to jobs and shopping.

If you did increase home values in minority areas then property taxes would go up. If a person wanted to take advantage of their home's increase in value, they would have to sell the house and move somewhere less expensive. In a state like Georgia where you can buy a McMansion on a large plot of land for $200,000, I don't see why buyers would be flocking to the poor areas.

 

[Prodyson]

first piece of advice is dont

create a for profit organization instead

Based on what?

My ideas aren't really profit machines. What have i outlined to make you think this could function as a for profit business? I'm all ears

 

[Prodyson]

#1 can work if you are good at gathering support. It is a good cause and can benefit everyone in the community by increasing land value and making it a more desirable area for business.

#2 might be difficult to fund. Are individuals or businesses going to offer up their own money to subsidize black business owners? That type of fundraising may even cross some legal lines depending on how it is worded.

As far as #2, I've heard someone mention this before, but based on what I've read so far I'm not sure how it would cross legal lines. Starting a 501(c)(3) has restrictions on that it can't be for petal inurement and can be politically driven, etc. But i haven't found anything that says i couldn't be specific to black owned businesses, or the like (i.e. desriminatory). It especially says that these types of non profits can be for underserved communities. But I'd like to hear more of why you would think it might cross some lines. That's definitely something i don't want to fall victim to.

As far as funding, i actually see it the same as you. I'm not sure how willing people would be to donate for this cause but I'm going if i was to target more affluent donors of color and other social cause organizations, i could start off small, maybe one or two businesses and go from there. But this phase would probably come much later than the first.

 

[Prodyson]

In order to increase home values you need quality schools, low crime, and proximity to jobs and shopping.

If you did increase home values in minority areas then property taxes would go up. If a person wanted to take advantage of their home's increase in value, they would have to sell the house and move somewhere less expensive. In a state like Georgia where you can buy a McMansion on a large plot of land for $200,000, I don't see why buyers would be flocking to the poor areas.

1. Through the government program i mentioned, they would being cleaning up and reparing streets and medians which can increase values by up to 15% in that area, although it's not likely by that much in most cases.

And by beautifying the area, we would hope to attract the other things like shopping, lowering crime (which is said to be a by product of improving the look of an area), etc. Probably can't affect schools, but that's another problem for another organization or the community to tackle.

Also these improvements wouldn't improve property values so much as to force people out. We're not building a stadium in their backyards. These are small improvements that in most cases would simply bring their values up to their original valuations or maybe slightly higher.

And don't be fooled. The days of getting a "McMansion" for $200,000 are gone unless you live in the middle of nowhere. A quality $200,000 dollar home will either be in an "ok" area at about 2500 sqft. Or a large house in a bad area.

 

[theworldismine13]

Based on what?

My ideas aren't really profit machines. What have i outlined to make you think this could function as a for profit business? I'm all ears

if its not a profit machine then dont do it

 

[Prodyson]

if its not a profit machine then dont do it

The primary focus isn't to make money. It's to improve black and other underserved minority communities.

 

[theworldismine13]

The primary focus isn't to make money. It's to improve black and other underserved minority communities.

the fact that you think those are separate things is your problem, again dont do it

focus on money and profits, that is how you help the black community

 

[Prodyson]

the fact that you think those are separate things is your problem, again dont do it

focus on money and profits, that is how you help the black community

So what you're saying is... don't help the black community unless you can profit from it? Then you can come in here with all of your smilies and claim he's just pimping the system for a come-up, right?

Me and my wife make good money right now. This would be a side project, and if it did well I could very well pay myself a salary. I think you're a bit short sighted bruh. This isn't about money but you think it should be. That's YOUR problem.

 

[theworldismine13]

So what you're saying is... don't help the black community unless you can profit from it? Then you can come in here with all of your smilies and claim he's just pimping the system for a come-up, right?

Me and my wife make good money right now. This would be a side project, and if it did well I could very well pay myself a salary. I think you're a bit short sighted bruh. This isn't about money but you think it should be. That's YOUR problem.

what i am saying is that black people making money is what helps the black community, if you guys are making money already then you should start investing your money and building a profitable corporation to make more money, that would increase the number of blacks employed and increase the revenue base and increase the number of other profitable black corporations

your focus on non profits is misguided

 

[Prodyson]

what i am saying is that black people making money is what helps the black community, if you guys are making money already then you should start investing your money and building a profitable corporation to make more money, that would increase the number of blacks employed and increase the revenue base and increase the number of other profitable black corporations

your focus on non profits is misguided

Are you not understanding that the purpose of part #2 of what I'm proposing is to do just that? Or did you not even read what i wrote? The plan is to subsidize black business to give them a leg up on the competition. I'm essentially bypassing myself to help other black businesses succeed, giving them funds and opportunities that they would otherwise not have access to. My plan would be alot more far-reaching concerning black businesses than what you're suggesting. What you're suggesting almost sounds like trickle down economics. And we all know how well that works. And i could very well stay a business if i wanted to. But i don't have a business idea to work with, that makes sense. In the meantime, how about i try to help those who already have their businesses prosper?