Always Wanted to Start a Nonprofit? Free the Girls
Many of us are passionate about a cause that tugs at our heart but often feel limited in our ability to become involved either by lack of time, money or the idea that we’re not qualified. Rarely, are any of these things true. Volunteering for a nonprofit of your choice is always an option – but starting one – now that takes moxie.
Kimba likes to refer to herself as an “accidental abolitionist.” An Emmy-award winning producer and 20-year veteran of the television and video production industry, Kimba has always had a passion for storytelling. Just two short years ago, though, the story of modern day slavery and sex trafficking wasn’t even on her radar. When her friend David approached her as a partner for a new organization he wanted to form to empower survivors of sex trafficking, she was intrigued. Little did she know how the issue would grab her heart and never let go.
Free The Girls is a nonprofit organization that works to provide jobs to women rescued from sex trafficking in developing countries by helping them set up micro enterprises selling bras. Through the collection of bras in Western countries, they strive to educate people and organizations about the scourge of human trafficking worldwide.
Kimba heads the Free The Girls U.S. office and is responsible for day-to- day domestic operations of the organization, which includes speaking to women’s groups on the subject of human trafficking, igniting fires in new abolitionists, raising funds for the cause, and packing and shipping thousands of bras. Kimba hopes she serves as an example that global change requires people from all types of backgrounds to step up and offer what they can where they are.
Click here for the transcript of the podcast – Always Wanted to Start a Nonprofit? – Free the Girls
Free the Girls Website
CNN Interview – Kimba / Free the Girls – 2012
CNN Documentary – Free the Girls – 2013
Truckers Against Trafficking Website
Info on how to help fight trafficking
Nonprofit resources to begin the process:
IRS FAQs on filing your 1023 application for tax exempt status
Colorado Non-Profit Association’s “Principles and Practices”
IRS tax info for charitable organization requirements
The Stanford Social Innovation Review, always has great articles
Comments, questions? – now it’s your turn