By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

NORTH SHELBY — Those looking to help lessen suffering by starting a nonprofit organization should mark Oct. 29 on their calendars.

That’s the day Cahaba Valley Health Care is hosting the organization’s second-annual Model for Nonprofits seminar, which will explain in detail how to start a successful nonprofit venture.

Cahaba Valley Health Care Executive Director Edwina Taylor said seminar speakers will talk about the first steps of starting a nonprofit, applying to be recognized as a nonprofit, writing articles of incorporation, how to market a nonprofit organization, recruiting board members, recruiting and keeping volunteers, fundraising and applying for grants and strategic planning.

“In other words, we’re telling you all of our secrets,” Taylor said. “We have a lot of people who say, ‘Tell us how you do it.’ We just decided to have a seminar and tell everyone all at once how we do it.”

Taylor said she’s seeing health care professionals and social workers express their desire to start nonprofit organizations, and she doesn’t want them to have to figure the process out on their own.

“They just don’t know how to start. We think giving them the materials to start is very valuable,” Taylor said.

Last year, Cahaba Valley Health Care workers were looking for five interested people to come to the seminar; instead, they got 14. This year, Taylor said she’s looking to see at least 20 people there.

“It did help people along the path of starting their own nonprofit,” she said.

The seminar is from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Cahaba Valley Health Care offices at 5099 Caldwell Mill Road. Cost is $50 per person, and lunch is included.

For more information or to register, contact Taylor at 991-8771 or go to Cahabavalleyhealthcare.com.