How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California

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How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California

New edition!

Anthony Mancuso, Attorney

May 2011, 14th Edition

By forming a nonprofit, your organization gains recognition, saves money, becomes eligible for grants, and you can protect your members and directors from liability.  Learn how to do it in California with this definitive guide, complete with:

  • instructions for obtaining federal 501(c)(3) tax-exemption
  • line-by-line instructions for completing your application
  • sheets with California's specific legal and tax requirements

Includes all the legal forms you need!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Check out a required change to the Articles of Incorporation form before filing your Articles. See Legal Updates for Nonprofits for more information.

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Start a nonprofit with the forms and information you need to give back to your community!

Thousands of arts groups, educators, social-service agencies and others have used How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California to get their organizations off the ground. With a nonprofit corporation, you'll gain recognition, save money, become eligible for grants, and protect your members and directors from liability. And you can do all of this without spending thousands on an attorney. With this easy-to-use guide, anyone can do it!

How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California includes complete instructions for obtaining federal 501(c)(3) tax-exemption and for qualifying for public charity status with the IRS. It also provides:

  • line-by-line instructions for completing your application
  • instructions and completed sample clauses for preparing articles of incorporation
  • ready-to-use bylaws for membership and non-membership nonprofits
  • ready-to-use minutes for the organizational meeting
  • sheets with California's specific legal and tax requirements

The 14th edition is completely updated to cover changes to the law. You'll also get updated instructions for using Form 1023 and coverage of new online services and options related to forming your nonprofit corporation.

This book is also available as a corporate records binder: The California Nonprofit Corporation Kit.

Check out Nolo's list of California products. Not a California resident? Use How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation .

ISBN
9781413313871
Legal Updates
Number of Pages
392
Included Forms

Corporate Forms

  • Incorporation Checklist
  • Articles for a Public Benefit Corporation
  • Articles of Incorporation for a Religious Corporation
  • Special Article Provisions for an Unincorporated Association
  • Incorporator’s Statement
  • Cover Letter for Filing Articles
  • Bylaws for Public Benefit Corporation
  • Membership Bylaw Provisions for Public Benefit Corporation
  • Bylaws for Religious Corporation
  • Membership Bylaw Provisions for Religious Corporation
  • Offer to Transfer Assets
  • Bill of Sale for Assets
  • Minutes of First Meeting of Board of Directors
  • Membership Certificate

IRS, FTB, and AG Forms and Publications

  • Name Availability Inquiry Letter
  • Name Reservation Request Form
  • California Submission of Exemption Request (Form 3500A)
  • FTB Notice 2008-3: AB 897—Implementation-Issuance of Exempt Acknowledgment Letter
  • IRS Form 1023: Application for Recognition of Exemption (6/2006)
  • Instructions for IRS Form 1023
  • Form SS-4: Application for Employer Identification Number
  • Instructions for Form SS-4
  • Form 5768: Election/Revocation of Election by an Eligible Section 501(c)(3) Organization To Make Expenditures To Influence Legislation
  • Publication 557: Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization
  • Publication 4220: Applying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
  • Publication 4221-PC: Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities
  • Publication 4221-PF: Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Private Foundations
  • Publication 1828: Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations
  • IRS Revenue Procedure 75-50
  • IRC Section 4958: Taxes on Excess Benefit Transactions
  • IRS Regulations Section 53.4958-0, Table of Contents
  • Registration/Renewal Fee Report to Attorney General of California (Form RRF-1) (3/2005)
  • Instructions for Filing Form RRF-1 (3/2005)
  • California Attorney General’s Guide for Charities (2005)
  • Guide to Charitable Solicitation (1999)
  • Assessors’ Handbook, Section 267: “Welfare, Church, and Religious Exemptions”

IRS and Tax Articles

  • Public Charity or Private Foundation Status Issues under IRC §§ 509(a)(1)−(4), 4942(j)(3), and 507 Disclosure, FOIA and the Privacy Act
  • Update: The Final Regulations on the Disclosure Requirements for Annual Information ¬Returns and Applications for Exemption
  • Education, Propaganda, and the Methodology Test
  • Election Year Issues
  • Lobbying Issues
  • Private School Update
  • UBIT: Current Developments
  • Intermediate Sanctions (IRC 4958) Update
  • IRS Revenue Ruling 2007-41: Political Campaign Prohibition Guidance
  • Internal Revenue Bulletin (IRB 2008-18) with T.D. 9390 Final Regulation changes to Section 4958 regulations

Information and Tear-Out Forms


(* Asterisks indicate forms also included on the CD-ROM—see Appendix A.)

  • California Secretary of State Contact Information
  • * Incorporation Checklist
  • Special Nonprofit Tax-Exempt Organizations
  • *Name Availability Inquiry Letter
  • *Name Reservation Request Form
  • *California Form 3500A, Submission of Exemption Request
  • *IRS Package 1023: Application for Recognition of Exemption
  • *IRS Form SS-4: Application for Employer Identification Number
  • *IRS Form 5768: Election/Revocation of Election by an Eligible Section 501(c)(3) Organization To Make Expenditures To Influence Legislation
  • Member Register
  • *Membership Certificates