Get out of my dreams and into a 501(c)(3)!

Veterinary technician students from Pima Medical Institute help distribute pet supplies at an event hosted by Vets for Vets' Pets. Photo courtesy Julie Carlson, CVT

1. Partner up

Find someone you trust-a veterinarian, a clinic, maybe even the local Humane Society-and build a partnership.  They can be a second set of hands and provide valuable resources.

Pitfall to avoid: Choose partners carefully. Make sure that your goals-and theirs-are very clearly defined. Discuss how you plan to achieve those goals and outline what role each of you will play.

2. Solicit sponsors and invite volunteers

Contact people and companies to solicit donations or volunteers. You can write to pet food companies, veterinary schools and clinics, veteran's groups, charitable organizations like The United Way or Kiwanis, and veterinary bodies like the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) or your state organization.  You'll be surprised at the number of people out there who are looking for a charity they can work with. Some companies even pay their employees to work with nonprofits.

Another way to solicit help: Post about your organization in groups on Facebook. Find the Facebook pages of other animal organizations and local charities and let them know what you're offering.

Pitfall to avoid: Be respectful when posting in others' Facebook groups. Contact an administrator and ask for permission.

3. Establish a home base

You don't necessarily need to have a storefront, but even if you're an organization that travels around distributing pet food, you'll need somewhere to store it. Contact local storage facilities and ask them to donate the use of an empty space to your group. It can be a tax write-off for them and gives you a central hub. If you're planning to provide free spay or neuter services, you'll need to connect with a clinic willing to help. This is where step one really helps.

Pitfall to avoid: Be careful whom you trust. Donations can really add up, and I know of more than one group that's had a volunteer make off with them.

4. Get 501(c)(3) status

Being declared a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will allow people to give you donations in return for a tax write-off. This also means companies will be more likely to give you donations and services. The process can be daunting, but just take it one step at a time. Start by visiting irs.gov and downloading Publication 4220. This document will walk you through the steps required and offer answers to your questions. You can also ask for advice from members of other 501(c)(3) groups you know.

Pitfall to avoid: Don't skip steps during this process. Make sure you complete each document precisely and file them with the IRS correctly.

The Vets for Vets' Pets Facebook page is seeing increased traffic as a result of making connections with other community organizations. Photo courtesy of Julie Carlson, CVT5. Reach the ones you hope to help

Getting the word out about the services you provide is harder than you'd think. When I started my group, Vets for Vets' Pets, a nonprofit organization providing supplies and medical care to the pets of homeless and at-risk veterans, I thought I'd open shop and people would start pouring in. But it takes a lot of time.

Start social media accounts in your group's name and talk about what you do. Ask your friends to share your page. Post frequently-at least once every 48 hours will help keep people involved. Have a booth at public functions, such as charity walks and pet festivals, and give out information about your group. Create partnerships with other service organizations and promote each other. Print business cards with the name of your group, what services you provide, your contact information and social media connections.  Build a website you can update frequently with an event calendar and photos of recent activities.

Pitfall to avoid: Be mindful of what you post on social media. When you get a large following it can be tempting to post about your kids' achievements or a Go Fund Me page you found, but people are following your group to hear about your services and events-not to be solicited for other things.

Starting your own charitable organization can be a daunting task, but by nurturing partnerships and making connections, you can create a program in your own community to bring together needy pets and their people with the services that will enrich their lives and strengthen their bond.

Julie Carlson is a freelance author and a Certified Veterinary Technician. She is the winner of the 2015 Hero Veterinary Technician Award from the American Humane Association and the Founder of Vets for Vets' Pets, a nonprofit organization providing supplies and medical care to the pets of homeless and at-risk veterans. Julie has five cats, two Chihuahuas and one fish and lives in Phoenix, Arizona.