How to Form a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation
Here's how to form a nonprofit corporation and receive a 501(c)(3) tax exemption.
Forming a nonprofit corporation is much like creating a regular corporation, except that nonprofits have to take the extra steps of applying for tax-exempt status with the IRS and their state tax division. Here is what you need to do:
- Choose an available business name that meets the requirements of state law.
- File formal paperwork, usually called "articles of incorporation," and pay a small filing fee (typically under $100).
- Apply for your federal and state tax exemptions.
- Create corporate "bylaws," which set out the operating rules for your nonprofit corporation.
- Appoint the initial directors. (In some states you must choose your initial directors before you file your articles, because you must list their names in the document.)
- Hold the first meeting of the board of directors.
- Obtain licenses and permits that may be required for your corporation.
Choose a Business Name
Before you form your nonprofit corporation, you need to decide on a name that complies with the rules of your state's corporate filing office. The information packet you receive from the filing office should contain your state's rules, but the following guidelines commonly apply:
- The name of your nonprofit cannot be the same as the name of another corporation on file with the corporations division.
- The name must end with a corporate designator, such as "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Limited," or "Corp.," "Inc.," or "Ltd." (This is required in only about half of the states.)
- The name cannot contain certain words prohibited by the state, such as Bank, Cooperative, Federal, National, United States, or Reserve.
Your state's corporations division can tell you how to find out whether your proposed name is available for your use. Often, for a small fee, you can reserve the name for a short period of time until you file your articles of incorporation.
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