From Blank Page to Real Impact: What Starting to Write a Nonprofit Guide Book Taught Me About Starting Anything

July 10, 2025•2 min read

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt

When I sat down to write my first book about starting a nonprofit, I thought the hardest part would be organizing all the legal steps.

I was wrong.

The hardest part was figuring out how to start—where to begin when you’re staring at a blank screen and your idea still feels bigger than your ability to execute it.

I’ve since realized that this challenge isn’t unique to nonprofit founders or authors. Whether you’re launching a business, naming a new initiative, or just trying to get something important off the ground, the blank page is scary for everyone.

Here’s the truth I learned the hard way:

You don’t need to know every step to get started. You just need to know the first right step. Then momentum builds.

Some “first steps” that work:

Name and frame your idea. Can you describe what you’re doing in 1–2 clear sentences?
Start a ‘What I Know / What I Don’t’ list. It sounds simple, but this has helped dozens of clients identify their next move.
Find one person to talk it through with. Saying it out loud often brings clarity faster than typing ever will.
Set a timer for 20 minutes, clear all distractions, and start working on it. Write first, put in placeholders or blanks where needed, then research and edit the details later. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish in those 20 minutes.

Even if you’re already running an organization or business, this mindset applies. Every next-level project starts the same way - as a vague, sometimes intimidating idea. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Start, then shape.

What’s your blank page right now - and what’s one low-stakes step you can take this week to begin?

Email me with any questions: [email protected].

Michele Whetzel

Michele Whetzel has worked in the nonprofit arena for more than 20 years, also leveraging insights from the 60+ nonprofit experts she interviewed for her award-winning book "So, You Want to Start a Nonprofit, Now What?" She channels this collective knowledge to help startup and small nonprofits launch and continue on a successful path. Michele has founded multiple charitable organizations from the ground up and shares real-world lessons learned through that process in her newest bestselling book "Nonprofit Setup Simplified." It is a practical guide to getting a 501(c)(3) set up and running efficiently and with confidence. She has served on more than a dozen boards in roles ranging from treasurer to board chair, and has led key committees including social, event, annual campaign, grant, and governance committees. Through her company Your 501 Guide Nonprofit Services (www.501Guide.com), Michele provides expert support to emerging and existing nonprofits. Her mission is to empower nonprofit founders and leaders with the tools, transparency, and ethical practices needed to build a lasting impact.

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