The first step in forming a 501(c)(3) charity in Iowa is to file your Articles of Incorporation. This tutorial will help you through the ten steps necessary to submit the Articles of Incorporation in Iowa and formally create a nonprofit.
To form a domestic nonprofit company in Iowa, prepare your own Articles of Incorporation in accordance with the Revised Iowa Nonprofit Corporation Act 504.202. This tutorial will walk you through each stage of drafting this document and getting started on the path to founding an Iowa nonprofit.
Step 1: Enter the Name of Your Nonprofit
Step 2: Select a Registered Agent
Step 10: File the documents.
The first step in preparing your Iowa Articles of Incorporation is to include the name of your organisation. If you haven’t yet decided on a name for your organisation, these are the prerequisites for naming a nonprofit in Iowa:
You may register for a trademark for your organisation after you have confirmed that no one else has previously trademarked your selected name.
In Iowa, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed with a registered agent. This position may be filled by an Iowa citizen, an Iowa profit or nonprofit company, or a foreign profit or nonprofit entity authorised to do business in Iowa. 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. Your company cannot act as its own registered agent.
This section’s requirements include:
Any individual who takes part in the completion and filing of the Articles of Incorporation is considered an incorporator. In this formation paper, each incorporator must provide their name and address.
Indicate whether or not your organisation will have members.
The assets of your nonprofit must be distributed solely for authorised, tax-exempt purposes following its dissolution. 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.
To be qualified for 501(c)(3) status, your nonprofit’s mission must incorporate one or more of the following characteristics:
To qualify for 501(c)(3) status, your nonprofit’s Articles of Incorporation must include the names and addresses of at least three directors.
Follow these guidelines while creating your nonprofit’s inaugural board of directors:
Include any additional requirements that apply to your organisation, such as those pertaining to:
The Articles of Incorporation must be signed by just one incorporator.
In Iowa, you may submit your Articles of Incorporation online, via mail, or by fax.