Veronica Cruz runs two nonprofits almost entirely on volunteer power, and she's seen people start with fire in their hearts and a cause they believe in... but very quickly reality hits.

✕ The paperwork takes months.
✕ The IRS moves at a snail's pace.
✕ Volunteers don't show up.
✕ Board members burn out.
✕ Grant applications get rejected.

In our episode, Veronica walks through what actually goes into building a nonprofit that lasts:
→ Why diversifying your board's skills matters more than friendship
→ How to structure funding so you're not scrambling every December
→ The compliance steps most founders miss

Starting a nonprofit requires a great vision and mission, but it also means building systems that outlive your own involvement.

Thank you Veronica Cruz for taking the time to talk!

*Connect with Veronica*
https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-cruz-445a4a4/

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
2:14 - Meet Veronica Cruz
3:27 - What GG's Playhouse Actually Does
4:45 - Why We're Talking About Nonprofits Today
5:49 - The Reality of Starting a Nonprofit from Scratch
8:13 - Closing Down Nonprofits: When Vision Runs Out
9:36 - Board Governance and Why Skills Trump Friendships
11:25 - The All-Volunteer Model: Challenges and Structure
13:04 - Avoiding Board Member Burnout
14:20 - Running a Nonprofit Like a Business
16:05 - How Long Does It Actually Take to Get Started?
18:55 - Funding Opportunities for New Nonprofits
21:24 - Standing Out in a Crowded Donor Landscape
23:04 - The Grant Competition Nobody Talks About
26:36 - Monthly Donors vs One-Time Appeals
28:54 - Why Raffle Licensing Is More Complex Than You Think
32:16 - Partnering With Other Nonprofits for Licensing
35:43 - Tax Implications of Raffle Prizes
36:50 - Advice for Anyone Starting a Nonprofit
38:22 - Legacy Donations and Creative Funding Models
42:00 - Making Donations Convenient: Tech and Payment Options
43:44 - Best Practices for Board Meetings and Policy Review
49:04 - Final Thoughts: Building Nonprofits That Last

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This episode is brought to you by Fausone & Grysko, PLC
https://www.thefgfirm.law/