These are some tips if you are considering starting a social enterprise or organization behind a cause.

Define Your Cause:

• WHAT does it stand for?
• WHO benefits?
• HOW do they benefit?
• WHY should others should support it?
• WHEN will you move forward on launching it?

Branding:

• Pick a name in which the cause is inherit in it's name
• Visit the registered trademark office online to see if it's available. (State and Federal levels, International if appropriate)
• Check to see what domain names are available.
• Whether you choose to go non-profit or become a social enterprise file out the appropriate legal paperwork.
• Go back to the registered trademark office to submit the appropriate 'evidence' to support your ownership of the name, entity, domain name, etc...

Responsibilities:

• Pick a team that you will brainstorm with and that will hold you accountable, as well as encourage you.
• Communicate with the team their roles and rewards (on paper) for legal protection and clarity to avoid misunderstandings.
• Define tasks and timelines to the mission of the social cause, and it's various 'projects'. (Microsoft Project is terrific for that)
• Create diversified forms of sustainable funding options to ensure the endurance of the entity.
• Create a positive outcomes strategy to inform sponsors, on a consistent basis (monthly, quarterly), what their investment is supporting.

Awareness:

• Use your 'define' points to create a general press release to announce the launch of the 'social cause'.
• Have photos available of the founder and the team with titles and names on the backside of photo or attached.
• Create a single page summary of your entity that is easy to read and understand.
• Create a testimonial/endorsement page made up of your supporters, sponsors and the beneficiaries of the cause.
• Create a audio version of the above for convenience of decision makers you are wanting to make an impression on so they can learn about your program while they are driving in the car.
• Create a simple DVD interview for producers, reports and media representatives can view to see how the founder or its team appears on camera in addition to how well they can communicate their message, mission, needs, success stories, and benefits for those that get involved.