Forming a Nonprofit for Community Health

Keila was volunteering with her local church, providing basic wellness training for members of the community, when the church leadership approached her about running a formal wellness program. With an education in public health, Keila was the most qualified to run vital programs focused on diabetes prevention, healthy eating habits, and mental health.

Keila accepted the invitation and started learning more about what she needed to run the program. Quickly, she realized that the best solution was to become a nonprofit. But building a nonprofit from the ground up can be complicated, especially in the midst of the pandemic. Keila reached out to Philadelphia VIP to register for an Ask an Attorney Consultation.

Keila met with her attorney and laid out her questions. She learned how to file for tax-exempt status, as well as annual filing requirements after obtaining her 501(c)(3) status. Just a few months after reaching out to VIP for help, Keila used what she learned to launch her organization: Mi Salud, a nonprofit providing varied health promotion, disease prevention, and wellness services in the heart of the Feltonville community in North Philadelphia.