Are you ready to make a lasting impact on your community or cause? Start your 501(c)3 nonprofit with ease in a few steps. At the Nonprofit Legal Center, we’ll guide you through each step, ensuring your nonprofit is set up for success from day one.

Define your Charitable Purpose

Clearly state the mission and goals of your nonprofit as a guide for your activities and to help attract donors and support. Focus on the immediate scope of work with an eye to the future.

Choose a Unique Name

The first step in starting your 501(c)3 nonprofit is selecting a name that reflects your organization’s mission and is unique. The name must comply with your state’s regulations, meaning it should not be the same as or too similar to the names of existing organizations. It’s also important to ensure that the name you choose is not misleading about the purpose of your organization.

Select your Leadership

A strong board of directors is essential for guiding your nonprofit and ensuring it operates effectively. The board and its officers are responsible for overseeing the organization’s activities, making strategic decisions, and ensuring compliance with legal obligations.

Incorporate Your Nonprofit

Most nonprofits are formed as Nonprofit Public Benefit corporations. Incorporating your nonprofit is a crucial step in the process that provides your organization with a legal structure and helps protect its board members and officers from personal liability. Incorporation also lays the groundwork for applying for 501c3 tax-exempt status.

Create Bylaws and a Conflict of Interest Policy

Bylaws are the internal rules that govern your nonprofit’s operations. They detail how the board of directors is structured, how meetings are conducted, and how decisions are made.

Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique number assigned by the IRS to identify your nonprofit for tax purposes. You’ll need an EIN to open a bank account, file taxes, and hire employees.

Open a Bank Account

With your filed Articles of Incorporation, signed Bylaws, and EIN you are ready to open your organizational bank account. Take these items to the bank or credit union of your choice and speak to a qualified banker.

Apply for 501c3 Tax-Exempt Status

Applying for 501(c)3 tax-exempt status is one of the most important steps in starting a nonprofit. This status exempts your organization from federal income tax and allows donors to make tax-deductible contributions.

Each state has different requirements for public charities and private foundations. Find your state’s requirements here – Non Profit Resources By State

Prepare for Compliance with Ongoing Requirements

Once established, ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, including annual filings and reporting.

Starting a 501c3 nonprofit involves several critical legal steps, from incorporating your organization to applying for tax-exempt status and beyond. Navigating these steps correctly is essential to ensuring your nonprofit is set up for success.

At Nonprofit Legal Center, we specialize in guiding nonprofits through the legal complexities of formation and compliance. Our experienced team is here to support you every step of the way, allowing you to focus on making a positive impact.

On Friday, February 6, 2016, Mr. Thomas Wrobel of T.S. Wrobel & Associates – Attorneys at Law, emailed a memo stating that the Stanislaus County Veteran Employment Committee (VEC) was officially considered a non-profit entity and can now conduct efforts to further the interest of the VEC. It was due to the professional efforts of T.S. Wrobel & Associates that ensured that the Stanislaus VEC was now official. The board of directors of Stanislaus VEC and the members at large wish to thank T.S. Wrobel for their assistance and attention to detail. Now the Stanislaus County Veteran Employment Committee will be able to assist veterans to pursue their chosen careers and enjoy the fruits of their labors. With all this in mind, we would recommend T.S. Wrobel to other groups seeking to pursue the non-profit status.

Henry J. Timothy, Secretary, Stanislaus County Veteran Employment Committee

Henry J. Timothy

Thomas S. Wrobel of T.S. Wrobel & Associates was very helpful and efficient in guiding me through the process of creating a simple will, power of attorney and health care directive.

Paul Corbani, August 25, 2017

Thank you Tom Wrobel and your excellent team. You have provided us with professional service, much needed support and patient guidance in our effort to reinstate our foundation’s non profit status. This was a complicated process and at every bump in the road you were there! You have our sincere appreciation as we celebrate your expertise and success in achieving our tax exempt status.

Susan Opsvig, Board President, Codornices Foundation, Berkeley, California

Susan Opsvig

Thank you. I received the letter from the IRS. This is great news. I am very appreciative of all the help that you provided during this process. Throughout the process I had a strong sense of confidence knowing that the Nonprofit Legal Center team is so successful in acquiring tax-exempt status for its clients. Once again you came through. Thank you very much.

Clarence Caldwell, Founder, The Roots Foundation, Rancho Mirage, CA

Clarence Caldwell

What seems to be a very complicated process to a layman, which certainly requires technical knowhow and understanding of the tax code, there is no doubt your firm made things easier for us in this application.

Joey Pamaran Tugung, CWCP, CRMS, De Basilan World Foundation Cupertino, CA

Joey Pamaran Tugung

It is with deep appreciation and gratitude that we now can say that the c3: Center for Conscious Creativity is an official public charity 501(c)(3)! Thank you for all your support and professional guidance. You have been nothing but utterly fantastic throughout this process. We will cite you and recommend your business without hesitation. Thank you, again for all your help and support!

Kate McCallum, Founder, c3: Center for Conscious Creativity, Los Angeles, CA

Kate McCallum

Thomas Worbel and Associates have been a great asset to my organization. I paid by fees to TW&A but was unable to complete the required paperwork due to various reasons for an extended period of time. Years later, they not only helped me complete all applications, but finished and we received our non-profit status in record time. I have known Thomas for several years, and he and his staff have always been totally professional and helpful in all my needs. I highly recommend his services as his business has helped me and many other non-profits to remain up and running to IRS standards, in addition to offering additional services. A better service to start your 501c3 organization cannot be found.

Art Brockmeyer, Founder-Board President, The Berkeley Saxophone Quartet Foundation Berkeley, CA

Art Brockmeyer

Thomas Wrobel, helped out our foundation, when we were needing someone to quickly execute our non-profit status that had been attended to incorrectly. Thomas is caring, has incredible knowledge and a very efficient staff. We at GrantAngelWishesandTravel.org highly recommend his work and company for your next project. We are excited to be certified a 5013c and to continue to work with Thomas Wrobel & Associates.

Lyle & Julie-Ann Forcum, Co-Chairs & Co-Founders, Grant Angel Wishes And Travel Foundation (TM)

Lyle & Julie-Ann Forcum

10 Steps To Starting a Nonprofit 501c3