The first step in forming a 501(c)(3) charity in Nevada is to file your Articles of Incorporation. This article will help you through the 14 steps necessary to submit the Articles of Incorporation in Nevada and formally create a charity.
Starting Over
You must submit the Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation in Nevada to form a domestic nonprofit company. This tutorial covers every step you need to take to properly complete this paperwork and get started on the path to founding a Nevada charity.
Step 1: Enter the Name of Your Nonprofit
Step 2: Select a Registered Agent
Step 3: Form Your First Board of Directors
Step 4: Declare the Jurisdiction of Incorporation of Your Nonprofit Step 5: Confirm Any Authorized Shares
Step 6: Specify Whether Your Nonprofit Is a Benefit Corporation.
Step 7: Describe the Purpose of Your Nonprofit
Step 8: Declare the Property Rights of Members
Step 9: State the duration of your nonprofit.
Step 10: Include the Membership Fee for Your Nonprofit.
Step 11: Submit Your Incorporator Data
Step 12: Include Any Extra Attachments
Step 13: Finish the Initial List and apply for a State Business License.
Step 14: Documents for File Formation
Step 1: List the Name of Your Nonprofit
The first step in completing the Nevada Articles of Incorporation is to specify the name of your nonprofit company. If you haven’t yet decided on a name for your organisation, these are the prerequisites for naming a nonprofit in Nevada:
Your nonprofit’s name must be distinct from any other name on file in Nevada, including any reserved names.
The following words or phrases are not permitted in the name of your nonprofit:
“Trust,” “engineer,” “engineered,” “engineering,” “professional engineer,” or “licenced engineer” are all terms that may be used.
Accountant, accounting, accounting, auditing, or auditing
“Architect,” “architecture,” “licenced architect,” “registered architect,” “registered interior designer,” “residential designer,” “registered residential designer,” “licenced residential designer,” or “residential design”
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.
Nevada Business Entity Lookup
A nonprofit company must have a distinct name in order to exist in Nevada. You may quickly verify whether your desired name is available by utilising the Nevada business entity 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: Select a Registered Agent.
In Nevada, the Articles of Incorporation must be filed with a registered agent. This function may be filled by either a commercial registered agent or a noncommercial registered agent having a physical location in Nevada. 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.
Check the relevant option for the kind of registered agent you want:
Commercial Registered Agent – A company that is allowed to function as a registered agent in Nevada.
Noncommercial Registered Agent – A Nevada resident who serves as your corporation’s registered agent for service of process.
Finally, in this part, give your selected registered agent’s name and street address, as well as their signature to indicate their assent to their appointment.
Step 3: Form Your First Board of Directors
In article three, designate your initial board of directors and supply each with a street address. Your organisation must have at least three directors to qualify for 501(c)(3) status. If you have more than three initial directors, submit an attachment to indicate the names and addresses of the extra directors.
Follow these rules when listing 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 4: Declare the Jurisdiction of Incorporation of Your Nonprofit
Disclose the jurisdiction of your nonprofit’s incorporation — or the government actions or another instrument of power by which the organisation is founded — in article four. You must also check the box in this area to certify that your organisation is in good standing in the jurisdiction where it was formed.
Step 5: Verify All Authorized Shares
Check the relevant box in item five to confirm whether or not your charity will issue authorised shares. If your charity intends to issue authorised shares, provide the number of common and/or preferred shares with a par value and the number of shares without a par value.
Step 6: Specify Whether Your Nonprofit Is a Benefit Corporation.
Check the “yes” box in article six if you wish to establish your organisation as a benefit company (as required by NRS Chapter 78B).
Step 7: Describe the Purpose of Your Nonprofit
Next, define the mission of your organisation. This component must be completed by both benefit companies and nonprofit corporations seeking 501(c)(3) status.
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 8: Declare the Property Rights of Members
Indicate if the property rights, interests, and voting power of each member of your nonprofit company are “equal” or “unequal” under articles eight and nine.
If you choose “unequal,” your Articles of Incorporation must set forth general rules applicable to all members that determine each member’s property rights, interests, and voting power, but the corporation may admit new members who may vote and share in the corporation’s property with the old members in accordance with the general rules.
Step 9: State the duration of your nonprofit.
The majority of incorporators create their nonprofit businesses with no final goal in mind. If this pertains to your company, leave this box blank. Otherwise, provide the termination date of your organisation in the area given.
Step 10: Include the Membership Fee for Your Nonprofit.
Each member of your nonprofit company must pay a membership fee upon admittance. Include that sum in this area.
Please keep in mind that every member who signs your Articles of Incorporation must have previously paid their membership fee.
Step 11: Submit Your Incorporator Data
The name, address, and signature of at least one incorporator must be included in your Nevada Articles of Incorporation. If you have more than three incorporators, provide their names, addresses, and signatures in an attachment.
Step 12: Include Any Extra Attachments
To complete your formation paperwork and apply for 501(c)(3) status, you may need to include some extra declarations in your Articles of Incorporation about the permission of your registered agent and the disposition of assets following dissolution.
Confirm the Consent of Your Registered Agent
Your appointed registered agent must agree to their appointment. They may do so by signing your Articles of Incorporation (in article two) or by filling out the Registered Agent Acceptance form contained in the registration package, which you must then submit with your formation paperwork.
Outline the Asset Distribution Upon Dissolution
To be eligible for 501(c)(3) status, your organisation must outline how its assets will be distributed following dissolution. Provide this information as an attachment.
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: Finish the Initial List and apply for a State Business License.
You must also complete and attach an Initial List and State Business License Application before submitting your Articles of Incorporation. The following information must be included on this form:
The name of your non-profit organisation
Your company kind (choose “nonprofit corporation”).
Details about your organisation to determine whether or not it is exempt from the state business licencing fee:
Check the correct box in the first section and, if applicable, add the entity’s licence or certificate authority number if your nonprofit is founded under NRS Chapter 76 and exempt from the business licencing charge.
Check the box in the second column to indicate your organization’s exemption from the business licencing fee if it was incorporated under NRS Chapter 76 with a 501(c) nonprofit classification.
Check the relevant box to indicate if your nonprofit is a “unit-owners association” or a “religious, philanthropic, fraternal, or other tax-exempt organisation” if it was incorporated under NRS Chapter 81.
Check the relevant box if your charity is incorporated under NRS Chapters 80 or 82 and plans to seek charitable or tax-deductible donations.
The names and addresses of your nonprofit corporation’s founding officials, which include the president, secretary, treasurer, and director (or the equivalent of any of these roles)
The signature of an officer, manager, managing member, general partner, managing partner, trustee, member, company owner, partner, or other authorised signer for your nonprofit organisation, as well as their title and the date
Step 14: Documents for File Formation
You may submit your Nevada Articles of Incorporation online, via mail, or in person. Please keep in mind that you must submit both your Initial List and your State Business License Application at the time of filing.