The forms and information you need you need to give back to the community!
Most organizations trying to gain legal nonprofit status don't have the money to pay a lawyer thousands of dollars for help. Fortunately, they don't have to.
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 11th edition is completely updated to provide the latest rules and forms, including the new IRS Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(3)(c). It also covers the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2004.
This is also available as a corporate records binder: The California Nonprofit Corporation Kit.
This book was a little wordy, even for someone who has incorporated a for-profit before. But the information is very consistent, and the forms provided and website references make this a very handy book to start with. Just make sure you want the right kind of 501(c)(3) that this book is written for first (public benefit), or he continually reinforces that this book is not right for you!
"Extremely Helpful"
Written By: R. Maung
I find this really helpful and well written and organized as a book. The CD ROM with the forms are really helpful too (though I found an editing error in one of the forms..but nothing too major...just a spelling mistake (a typing error), that's all). I'm quite ready and less confused now that I have read this book. It also helps me to stop and think more about my organizational plan and such, so that it'll fit with the regulations about incorporation of non profit and the tax exempt status.
"The book you need to incorporate a non-profit in CA!"
Written By: Manny Hernandez
I was looking through the books on non-profit formation in a local bookstore, in downtown Palo Alto and ran into this title: my jaw dropped at the fact that there was such a perfect title for my needs. Not only was the book appropriately titled but the content helped me and my wife through the unfamiliar steps we had to take in order to incorporate our non-profit, Diabetes Hands Foundation, in California.
I recommend, along with it, The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managers and Boards and Managing a Nonprofit Organization in the Twenty-First Century. These three titles have been at the heart of the non-profit-related instruction we have picked up on in the past couple of months.
"How To Form a Non Profit Corporation in California"
Written By: L. Gulartie
This is an excellent manual which answers all of the procedural and operating questions anyone could have about this topic. I heartily recommend it.
"Starting a Nonprofit"
Written By: Donna L. Lewis
I am in the process of forming a nonprofit organization to benefit people with brain injury. An attorney friend suggested that I purchase this book which gives guidelines for setting up a nonprofit organization in California. Being a novice in the field of start up companies I have found this book to be without exception easy to understand and follow and gives you samples of forms and detailed explanations on how to file them with your local, state, and federal government. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in the process of beginning a nonprofit even if you have previous experience. It gave me the assurance that forms would be filed properly and the advise on writing the bylaws to the company.