The first step in forming a 501(c)(3) charity in Kansas is to file your Articles of Incorporation. This article will help you through the 13 steps necessary to submit the Articles of Incorporation in Kansas and formally create a nonprofit.
Starting Over
To establish a domestic nonprofit organisation in Kansas, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed. This tutorial covers every step you need to take to properly complete this paperwork and get started on the path to founding a Kansas charity.
Step 1: Provide Your Nonprofit’s Name
Step 2: Select a Resident Agent
Step 3: Provide Your Nonprofit’s Mailing Address
Step 4: Confirm a Tax Closing Month
Step 5: Describe Your Nonprofit’s Purpose
Step 6: Provide Capital Stock Information.
Step 7: Confirm Membership Conditions
Step 8: List Your Incorporator Information
Step 9: Form Your First Board of Directors
Step 10: Determine the Duration of Your Nonprofit Step 11: Select an Effective Date for Your Filing
Step 12: Include Any Extra Attachments
Step 13: Documents for File Formation
Step 1: List the Name of Your Nonprofit
The first step in completing the Kansas Articles of Incorporation is to specify 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 Kansas:
Your nonprofit’s name must be distinct from any other name on file in Kansas, including any reserved names.
The following terms or abbreviations must be in your nonprofit’s name: “association,” “church,” “college,” “business,” “corporation,” “club,” “foundation,” “fund,” “incorporated,” “institute,” “society,” “union,” “university,” “syndicate,” “limited,” “Co.,” “Corp.,” “Inc.,” or “Ltd.”
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.
Kansas Corporation Lookup
A nonprofit company must have a distinct name in order to exist in Kansas. You may simply verify whether your preferred name is available by utilising the Kansas Business Entity Search Station application.
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: Select a Resident Agent.
In Kansas, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed with a resident agent, also known as a registered agent in most states. This position may be filled by either a Kansas resident or a company having a physical address in the state. A resident 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 resident agent.
This section’s requirements include:
Your selected resident agent’s name
The street address of your preferred resident agent (no P.O. Boxes please)
Step 3: Provide the Mailing Address of Your Nonprofit
Enter the postal address you wish to use to receive official mail from the Kansas Secretary of State’s office in article three.
Step 4: Confirm a Tax Closure Month
The default tax closing month is December. If you wish to change the month, we suggest that you first check with your accountant.
Step 5: Describe the Purpose of Your Nonprofit
Describe the mission of your nonprofit in article five. For your organisation to be qualified for 501(c)(3) status, it must have 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 6: Provide Capital Stock Data
To indicate that your charity will not issue capital shares, check the “no” box in item six.
Step 7: Confirm Membership Conditions
Check the “yes” or “no” box to confirm if your nonprofit’s bylaws will change its membership criteria. If you tick “no,” then fill in the blanks with the terms of your membership.
Step 8: List Your Incorporator Details
Any individual who takes part in the completion and filing of the Articles of Incorporation is considered an incorporator. In article eight, you must provide the name and address of each incorporator. If your organisation has more than two incorporators, provide their details on an extra page of paper.
Step 9: Form Your First Board of Directors
In article nine, designate your first board of directors and provide each with a postal address. You must name at least three directors in order to qualify for 501(c)(3) status. Because the form only allows for two directors, you must submit an attachment with the name and address of one or more directors.
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 10: Determine the Duration of Your Nonprofit
When filing formation paperwork, most incorporators do not have a specified length in mind for their nonprofit businesses. If you do have a time frame in mind, put the date your nonprofit company will stop operations in article 10. Otherwise, just choose “perpetual.”
Step 11: Determine the Effective Date of Your Filing
Choose whether you want your filing to take effect immediately or at a later date.
Please keep in mind that your prospective effective date must be within 90 days of filing.
Step 12: Include Any Extra Attachments
You must incorporate certain extra declarations in your Articles of Incorporation to qualify for 501(c)(3) status. Because the Kansas formation agreement lacks a section on asset distribution upon dissolution, add an attachment to indicate how the assets of your nonprofit company will be allocated following dissolution.
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 13: Documents for File Formation
In Kansas, you may submit your Articles of Incorporation online, by mail, via fax, or in person.