Each state has its own paperwork required for incorporation and for designation as a non-profit. At a minimum, you must file articles of incorporation and charitable organization paperwork. Some states require additional documents such as a certificate of disclosure or proof of your corporate name. You may have to file a different form for your articles of incorporation depending on the type of non-profit your organization is.
For example, California has four different forms depending on the type of non-profit, including separate forms for a public benefit corporation or a religious corporation. When you’ve finished filling out all the necessary paperwork and creating your organizational documents, you’ll want to make enough copies to have one for the non-profit’s files and at least one for each board member. Your local association for non-profits will have state-specific resources and forms, as well as experts to guide you through the process.
In many states, you also must publish your articles of incorporation in a newspaper of record and file a proof of publication along with your other documents. Search the secretary of state’s database in the state where you want to establish your nonprofit to make sure your name is unique. Your first step to becoming a non-profit is to incorporate your organization at the state level. In most states this is accomplished through the secretary of state. Incorporation of a non-profit is a similar process to creating a for-profit corporation in most respects, but you must take some extra steps including applying for tax-exempt status.
