My aims for a Dorf Corp would be pretty low, really... Have people to fly with and practice basic fleet ops, some modest socialism to help fund/enable activites (or ease losses), and some light mentoring. Help people find the resources to do what they want to do, and maybe a little matchmaking with established corps that suit the activities better, once they have a sense of what they enjoy.
It's your call and it can (rarely, but sometimes) work out. The idea of 'does a little bit of everything corps' actually being 'never really does anything, then dies corps' is a meme for a reason though.
re: learning corps... EVE University seems to have a good wiki, but their application process looks a bit cumbersome. I also read some tibdits that EVE-Uni has some internal strife recently. Anyone with experience or intel on either note?
Eve Uni are active and in decent-ish shape. Their approach is really formal, and the application process is a pain which might put off a lot of people, but they do what you'd expect from a corp of the name.
Brave Newbies had a lot of drama, coups and countercoups in the recent-ish past and are no longer the force they once were. They're rebuilding steadily and seem to be getting back on track. They're chaotic as all hell, by design.
Pandemic Horde are a great choice right now. They fall somewhere between the above examples, with a 'learn by doing' approach to the game and sometimes run joint campaigns with Pandemic Legion, who are basically the most powerful entity in the game right now. They also have a mentoring program involving guys from PL. This is the only non-shit corp in the game which doesn't require an API check (although those really aren't a big deal).
Dreddit is the main corp in TEST Alliance and while not focused exclusively on newbros, they are very supportive. It's the 'most Reddit' of all corps, with all the good and bad stuff that suggests. Another corp in their alliance called Brand Newbros is arguably a better place to start while you're figuring things out.
Karmafleet is the newbie focused corp in Goonswarm and the only real way to join them without getting scammed if you aren't an SA regular. Goons have recently been trounced and aren't in a particularly good place right now, but they'll recover sooner or later. Obligatory Grr Goons.
Signal Cartel are a pacifistic group of explorers who provide valuable services to any who need them. Nice dudes, but I like my pew too much to ever join.
All of the above will have some form of training plan, doctrines, free ship and/or ship replacement program, logistics network etc etc.
Are things like spectre fleet still going? I think I remember RvB disbanding, so their Friday night NPSI roam is probably no more anyway.
You remember incorrectly
Spectre Fleet are going stronger than ever and co-host RvB Ganked once a week. Bombers Bar is another great NPSI group if you're covops capable.
Also, fair warning, Rifters are not a great ship any more by any means.