Small business

Starting a Nonprofit Coporation

non-profit corporation

• Nonprofit Checklist  

• 1. Decide on a business name for your nonprofit corporation. Keep in mind that your state may require that your nonprofit corporation\'s name include an identifying word such as "incorporated," "limited," "corporation," or an abbreviation of such a term.  

• 2. Search availability of your nonprofit\'s chosen business name, and for similarity to existing names.

• 3. Register your nonprofit\'s name (including as a "fictitious business name"). Learn more:  

• 4. Decide where to incorporate your nonprofit. 

• 5. Choose directors for your nonprofit corporation. 

• 6. Create and sign your nonprofit corporation\'s Articles of Incorporation.

• 7. File your nonprofit corporation\'s Articles of Incorporation with your state\'s Secretary of State, and pay related filing fees.

• 8. Write your nonprofit corporation\'s By-Laws. Learn more: corporate-bylaws.

• 9. Apply for tax-exempt status from the federal and state government.

• 10. Obtain business licenses and permits for your corporation from: the federal government, your state government, your local government.

• 11. Open a separate bank account for your nonprofit corporation.