January 2025 Issue
Career Development: Getting Started With Nonprofits
By Alexandria Hardy, RDN, LDN
Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 27 No. 1 P. 8
Discover the Steps Required to Positively Impact a Community
In a postpandemic world, the landscape of traditional dietetics work has shifted dramatically. Remote and hybrid positions are becoming more common, as dietitians explore alternate career options that prioritize flexibility and align with their values. One of these career pathways is nonprofit work. Many dietitians are combining their passions, experiences, and strengths by taking bold steps to create nonprofits that serve their communities in meaningful ways.
The Trend Toward Nonprofit Work
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, around 50% of RDs are branching out into roles beyond traditional inpatient, outpatient, and long term care clinical settings.1 This trend reflects an increasing interest in diverse career paths, including private practice, academia, and nonprofit work. Many RDs are driven by a desire to make a broader community impact—but knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
The Journey to Nonprofit Formation
For some dietitians, personal experiences and a drive to address disparities in health care access spark the journey toward forming a nonprofit. For example, Tamara Melton, MS, RDN, cofounder and executive director of Diversify Dietetics, was inspired by her work in academia, where she saw many Black and Hispanic/Latiné students struggling to overcome barriers to becoming dietitians. “I wanted to create an organization that would help students and young professionals across the country,” Melton shares. She believed that establishing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit would be the best way to create lasting impact.
Diversify Dietetics is an educational nonprofit dedicated to empowering underrepresented students and young professionals to enter the nutrition field. It also provides resources to educators and dietetic internship directors to help recruit and retain students of color, ultimately working toward a more diverse profession. It’s been a fulfilling and rewarding career choice, but not without its challenges.
The Challenge: Where to Begin?
Navigating the nonprofit world can be daunting. With complex regulations, fundraising obstacles, and the need to define a clear mission, it’s easy to feel lost. The following will aim to be a step-by-step guide, breaking down the process of setting up a nonprofit as a dietitian so that you feel confident in bringing your vision to life.
Step 1: Do Your Research
Before diving into administrative tasks, it’s essential to evaluate whether a true need exists for the nonprofit you want to create. Melton recommends researching similar organizations. “A nonprofit is a business, and just like any business, there will be competition—primarily for funding. If other organizations are already fulfilling the same mission, you may have difficulty establishing relationships with donors and securing grants.”
The National Council of Nonprofits provides a helpful directory to assess if a similar group already exists in your area.2 If no one else is working on your particular cause, and there’s support from donors or agencies, you have the foundation for a successful nonprofit.
Step 2: Clearly Define Your Mission
Once you’ve confirmed the need, the next step is to clearly outline your mission, purpose, and value statements. These should concisely define your core principles and how your nonprofit will serve its community. Establishing this clarity early on will make it easier to communicate your vision to potential partners, donors, and beneficiaries.
Step 3: Seek Mentorship
A mentor can be invaluable when starting a nonprofit, offering guidance to avoid common pitfalls and prevent costly mistakes. Connecting with someone experienced in nonprofit management can save you time and energy. They can also help you navigate complex regulations and funding opportunities. Ashley Carter, MS, RD, LDN, recalls how another Florida-based nonprofit provided support and guidance before she and her partner, Jasmine Westbrooks-Figaro, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, launched Eatwell Exchange, Inc in 2017.
Per Westbrooks-Figaro, “Eatwell Exchange is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the primary goal of bridging the gap in health outcomes by guiding communities in making positive lifelong changes while respectfully maintaining their culture.” Community is at the core of nonprofit work, and building a network will support long-term growth and sustainability. Carter recommends talking to others that have done the work, and to “remember the power of community. You don’t have to take the journey of starting a nonprofit alone; build a team of incredible board members to do it with you.”
Nonprofit Management Resources
The e-book Create a Nutrition-Based Nonprofit by Carter and Westbrooks-Figaro provides an excellent roadmap. As the founders of EatWell Exchange, Inc, they share their firsthand experiences and practical advice on nonprofit development. This resource is a step-by-step guide for dietitians looking to establish a nonprofit focused on community nutrition.
Balancing Passion With Practicality
Creating a nonprofit is rewarding, but it also requires careful time management. Westbrooks-Figaro emphasizes the importance of balancing your time to prevent burnout. Allocating time for personal well-being is crucial for long-term success, especially when tackling a cause you’re passionate about. This is particularly practical advice if you’re already working a regular nine to five and setting up your nonprofit in the margins. It’s important to “be realistic with yourself,” Carter says, and to have strategies in place to maximize the time you have available.
Having realistic funding goals in place is also key. A common challenge according to Melton, Carter, and Westbrooks-Figaro is securing sustainable funding. Carter shares that it took five years for them to receive their first grant, and that they are able to stay financially viable thanks to supporters and family foundations. Other ideas for nonprofit income streams include making and selling a variety of products and services, paying dues, and soliciting donations.
Navigating Legal and Administrative Steps
Forming a nonprofit involves understanding state regulations, drafting articles of incorporation, and filing for tax-exempt status. To keep their tax-exempt status, they must meet IRS requirements, reinvest their profits into the organization, hold board meetings, and keep detailed records.3 There are three main types of nonprofits, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c) (7). Each type has its own benefits and limitations, making them suitable for different purposes such as charitable groups, political or lobbying organizations, and social or recreational clubs.
Most nonprofits also need a board of directors for oversight, which can be a resource for brainstorming ideas, providing accountability, and enhancing fundraising efforts. Understanding these legal and business requirements is crucial for compliance and sustainability.
Melton recommends that before moving any further with the administrative and legal steps of starting a nonprofit, dietitians do their homework. “Research to see if there are any other organizations who are fulfilling the same mission or working to solve the problem that you are seeking to address. Instead of starting your own organization, consider partnering with the established organization. If you do find that there’s no organization addressing the problem you’re looking to solve, and if you find there are donors or agencies who care to fund your cause, then that’s the ideal scenario you need to build a successful nonprofit.” She also encourages RDs to invest in an attorney and accountant who are familiar with their state’s nonprofit laws and bookkeeping.
Final Thoughts: Making an Impact
Setting up a nonprofit can be a deeply fulfilling endeavor, allowing dietitians to leverage their skills to make meaningful contributions to their communities. “Working in a nonprofit provides insight into public health and the general community. Community work requires a lot more engagement and relationship-building. You have to understand your community and demonstrate cultural sensitivity no matter what community you decide to partner with,” Westbrook-Figaro says. Although the process involves challenges, it’s also an opportunity to shape the future of nutrition in ways that extend beyond individual clients or patients.
This aligns with the SNAP-ED Evaluation Framework, which provides a set of evaluation tools aimed at reducing disparities that lead to poor diet, physical inactivity, food insecurity, and obesity in many different sectors, including at the community level.4 With mentorship, planning, and a clear mission, dietitians can overcome obstacles and successfully start and lead nonprofits that make lasting community impacts.
— Alexandria Hardy, RDN, LDN, is a writer and the owner of Pennsylvania Nutrition Services, an insurance-based private practice located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
References
1. Dosedel E. Compensation and benefits survey 2021. JAND. 2021;121(11):2314-2331.
2. Champions for the public good. National Council of Nonprofits website. https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/. Accessed October 2, 2024.
3. How to start a nonprofit in 5 steps (2024 guide). Forbes website. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/how-to-start-a-nonprofit. Updated May 6, 2024. Accessed October 2, 2024.
4. Naja-Riese A, Keller KJM, Bruno P, et al. The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: demonstrating the impact of a national framework for obesity prevention in low-income populations. Transl Behav Med. 2019;9(5):970-979.