The first step in forming a 501(c)(3) charity in Nebraska is to file your Articles of Incorporation. This article will help you through the 11 steps necessary to submit the Articles of Incorporation in Nebraska and formally create a nonprofit.
Starting Over
To establish a domestic nonprofit organisation in Nebraska, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed. You must construct your own paperwork based on the Nebraska nonprofit company laws since the state does not provide a fillable form. This tutorial covers every step you need to take to effectively prepare your formation document and get started on the path to founding a Nebraska charity.
Step 1: Enter the Name of Your Nonprofit.
Step 2: Enter the Type of Corporation.
Step 3: Select a Registered Agent.
Step 4: Make a list of your incorporators.
Step 5: Confirm any additional members
Step 6: Outline the Asset Distribution Upon Dissolution
Step 7: Describe the Purpose of Your Nonprofit Step 8: Name Your Initial Board of Directors
Step 9: Include Any Additional Requirements
Step 10: Provide the signatures of the incorporator and the director.
Step 11: Documents for File Formation
Step 1: List the Name of Your Nonprofit
The first step in creating your Nebraska Articles of Incorporation is to provide the name of your nonprofit company. If you haven’t yet decided on a name for your charity, these are the prerequisites for naming a nonprofit in Nebraska:
Your nonprofit’s name must be distinct from any other name on file in Nebraska, including any reserved names.
The name of your nonprofit cannot persuade the public to assume it exists for a purpose different than what is stated in its Articles of Incorporation.
Look for the Availability of Your Name
Following the selection of prospective names — preferably, at least four or five — it’s essential to check their availability in your state. You may do this by completing the four suggested searches listed below.
Corporate & Business Search in Nebraska
A nonprofit company must have a distinct name in order to exist in Nebraska. You may quickly verify whether your desired name is available by utilising the Nebraska Corporate & Business Search tool.
Domain Name Lookup
We highly advise you to additionally check to see whether your company name is accessible as a web domain (URL). Even if you don’t intend to construct a company website right away, you should purchase the domain name to prevent others from gaining it. It’s a completely free search.
Federal Trademark Lookup
Using the federal Trademark Electronic Search System, you may quickly see whether your preferred charity name has already been trademarked. Even if you do not intend to create your charity right immediately, this is essential.
You may register for a trademark for your organisation after you have confirmed that no one else has previously trademarked your selected name.
Search the Web and Social Media
A good social media presence can help you reach out to prospective funders as well as customers who will employ your services. As a result, before registering your preferred name, check the web and prominent social media platforms for it to confirm it is accessible on all platforms where you want to advertise your group.
Step 2: Specify the kind of your corporation.
In article two of your formation document, include one of the following statements:
This company is a non-profit organisation.
This organisation is a mutual benefit organisation.
This organisation is religious in nature.
Step 3: Select a Registered Agent.
In Nebraska, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed with a registered agent and a registered office. Your registered agent might be either a person or a company having a physical location in Nebraska. A registered agent’s duties include receiving and sending service of process paperwork for the company as well as acting as the entity’s point of contact.
This section’s requirements include:
The name of your designated registered agent
Your registered office’s street address (In addition to the street address, you may provide a P.O. Box.)
Step 4: Make a list of your incorporators.
Any individual who takes part in the completion and filing of the Articles of Incorporation is considered an incorporator. In this part, include the name and address of each incorporator.
Step 5: Confirm any additional members
Include one of the following lines to confirm whether or not your organisation will have members:
There will be members in this company.
This company will not have any members.
Step 6: Outline the Asset Distribution Upon Dissolution
Describe how the assets of your nonprofit company will be divided if it is dissolved.
Dissolution assets must only be distributed for authorised, tax-exempt uses. Refer to the sixth section of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’) proposed wording for corporations and organisations for further information on the requirements of dissolution and 501(c)(3) status.
Step 7: Describe the Purpose of Your Nonprofit
Describe the mission of your organisation in this area. For your organisation to be qualified for 501(c)(3) status, the specified purpose must incorporate one or more of the following characteristics:
Charitable\sReligious\sEducational\sScientific\sLiterary
Public safety testing
promoting amateur sports competition on a national and worldwide scale
Preventing animal/child cruelty
Step 8: Give your name Your Founding Board of Directors
Name your initial board of directors and provide each with a street address. You must have at least three directors to qualify for 501(c)(3) status.
Follow these guidelines while creating your nonprofit’s inaugural board of directors:
Prefixes such as “Mr.” or “Ms.” should be avoided.
Use lineage titles if relevant.
If appropriate, use titles such as “M.D.” or “Ph.D.”
Step 9: Include Any Additional Requirements
In this area, include any requirements that are compatible with the law regarding:
The corporation’s management;
Details about defining, restricting, and regulating the corporation’s, its board of directors’, and its members’ (if relevant) powers; and
Each class of members’ features, qualifications, privileges, limits, and duties (if applicable).
Step 10: Provide the signatures of the incorporator and the director.
Before you submit this formation document, everyone of your nonprofit’s incorporators and initial directors must sign the Articles of Incorporation.
Step 11: Documents for File Formation
You may submit your Nebraska Articles of Incorporation in two ways: online through PDF upload or by mail. Duplicate hard copy filings are required.