Research information about radio communication projects in the area in which you want to work. If you plan on staying in the U.S., speak to the local stations in your area first. Talk to organizations such as the Communication for Social Change Consortium or the UN, to develop an understanding of radio projects and how you can help.
Build up contacts at local radio stations, charities and within local government, for example. To manage a project you need to have help to build it, and having contacts will make this easier.
Create a proposal for starting a new communication project. This is similar to a business plan, so it will need to include financial information about funding and facilities, plus an outline of the project goals and outcomes.
Arrange a meeting with your contacts to propose your radio communication project. Put together a presentation to inspire the attendees with the benefits of funding and approving the project. Convince them that you have the experience, knowledge and commitment to be the project manager.
Secure funding through fundraising, donations, bursaries or grants. Funding is necessary to pay for the start-up costs of the project, such as setting up the station with equipment and covering your expenses.
Create a schedule that outlines a time frame and step-by-step targets and deadlines to meet, to ensure that the project moves forward.
Get help from volunteers or hire a staff, and delegate each person roles to assist with the project. Assign specific roles and goals to ensure that the project is well organized.
Manage the project by having regular meetings with the team. This gives you and the team a chance to update each other about how the project is progressing, address problems, recognize achievement and provide feedback.
Amend the schedule as the project progresses, and closely work according to the plan created in Step 3. Make sure you complete all the necessary tasks to set up and launch the radio project. Create a wall chart or check list, and tick off the tasks as they are completed.