How do you start a non-profit organization in California?

How start a non profit Organization in California?

• where do I start? what paperwork is need and to whom do I contact

• Answer:

  A nonprofit organization is a LEGAL entity and ONLY adults can file the legal documents and conduct the legal affairs. You must be at least 18 to do this. No, your mother can not do it for you. A nonprofit organization is a corporation, just like Sears, or General Motors, or McDonald's. You must file Articles of Incorporation papers in your home state the same way. Contact your state Department of State. That costs about $500. You also have to search the business listings of every state where you want to do business to make sure that no one else is using the name that you choose. Yes, EVERY STATE. if even one person in one state is using that name, YOU can't use it. You must have a board of directors, officers, a place of business, board meetings, and publicly available minutes of those meetings. You must file form 1023 to apply to the IRS for tax exempt status. There are 31 different tax exempt categories. From your description, you probably fit into section 501.c.3 of the IRS Code. Failure to do this can land you in prison and you will have to pay taxes on any money you collect. You can read more about it here. http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html After you get IRS approval, you apply to your state for a solicitation license. That's free, but if you try to collect money from the public without it, you will face a $1000 fine and a year in jail for EACH offense. That's through the Department of State too. No, not the US State Department. YOUR STATE'S Department of State. You can also apply to your state for a sales tax exemption certificate so that the organization doesn't have to pay sales taxes on its supplies. That would be your state Revenue Department. Then you follow any local government regulations. Then you file a bunch of reporting forms with the IRS and various state and local agencies monthly, quarterly, or annually - whatever is required. So that's between $900 and $1800, NOT COUNTING LAWYERS. THEN you can raise money for your projects. These laws exist for a reason. We cannot allow just anyone to take money from the public and CLAIM that they are going to "give it to poor people". It's time to be a grownup and learn to take care of your own life. Find an organization that's doing the work that you want to do and volunteer. Learn. http://www.serve.gov/ I have been a volunteer, staff, manage, board member, board president, and consultant to nonprofit corporations for 30 years. I know what I'm talking about.