Create a non profit... is this legal?

If you were to work for a non profit that required you to purchase your own equipment for use while volunteering, what would be the best approach from a tax perspective?

Would you get a company (private or public) to donate equipment directly to the non profit? Then it could be written off as a tax deduction (not sure the IRS doc.)?

Or, could I a person create a non profit (my services as said volunteer) and have them donate the gear (tax deduction; not even sure if there is a form to do this) to my non profit directly?

Is the later even legal?

Regards!!