How To Start A Non Profit Organization In Delaware
To start a nonprofit corporation in delaware you must file a nonprofit certificate of incorporation with the delaware division of corporations.
How to start a non profit organization in delaware. Most nonprofits are 501 c 3 organizations which means they are formed for religious charitable scientific literary or educational purposes and are eligible for federal and state tax exemptions. To become a nonprofit corporation in delaware you can use the state of delaware sample certificate of incorporation for an exempt corporation as a guide to draft your own certificate of incorporation. Explore learn about existing services in the geographic and subject areas in which you plan to work review alternatives to creating a new nonprofit such as. Once filed with the state your certificate of incorporation officially creates your delaware nonprofit corporation but truly preparing a nonprofit to pursue its mission involves several additional. 5 best states to start a nonprofit 1.
Before you start a new nonprofit make sure you have identified an unmet need in your community and know that there are not any existing organizations serving your cause. Any corporation granted an exemption by the irs as a non profit organization under section 501 c is exempt from delaware corporate income tax. According to the national center for charitable statistics there were over 5 000 nonprofit organizations in delaware in 2012. To create a 501 c 3 tax exempt organization first you need to form a nonprofit corporation under delaware state law. Delaware certificate of incorporation.
In order to qualify for 501 c 3 status the organization s purpose must explicitly be limited to one or more of the following. Additionally non profit corporations are exempt from obtaining a delaware business license and paying the accompanying gross receipts tax on the sales of most goods and services. You can submit your certificate online or by mail. Creating a mission statement you re creating a non profit because you want to give back to your community but you must still meet certain requirements to protect yourself and to ensure that you re meeting your organization s goals. Then you apply for tax exempt status from the irs.
The state of delaware is home to more than 5 500 nonprofit organizations including more than 3 000 501 c 3 public charities. Starting a nonprofit organization in delaware checklist phase 1. The irs does not allow public charities seeking 501 c 3 status to have only a single director as the board. If your plan to start a nonprofit includes filing for 501 c 3 status then the flexibility of governance allowed by delaware will not apply. These nonprofit organizations employ nearly 12 percent of the state s workforce and generate upwards of 6 billion in annual revenue.
When you re starting a non profit in delaware there are a number of factors to consider especially if you re forming a 501 c 3 organization.