Follow these procedures to establish a charity in Colorado and get 501(c)(3) status:
The first and most crucial step in establishing your nonprofit company is deciding on a name. Make sure your name meets Colorado naming regulations and is readily searchable by prospective members and contributors.
1. Follow the naming conventions:
The organization’s name may, but does not have to, contain an organisational identifier such as “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “Incorporated,” or “Company.”
The exact regulations for naming a Colorado-based organisation may be found in the official guidelines.
2. Does the name exist in Colorado? Do a name search on the State of Colorado website to ensure that the name you choose isn’t already used.
3. Is the URL accessible? We propose that you investigate if your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.
A Colorado registered agent must be designated by your charity.
What exactly is a Registered Agent? A registered agent is a person or corporate organisation that accepts vital legal papers on your behalf. Consider your registered agent to be your company’s point of contact with the state.
Who is eligible to be a Registered Agent? A registered agent must be a Colorado citizen or an organisation, such as a registered agent service, that is permitted to conduct business in Colorado. You may choose someone from your organisation, even yourself.
A board of directors is made up of an organization’s directors. This board of directors is in charge of managing the nonprofit’s activities.
Officers are the president, secretary, and other members of a nonprofit who have specific roles and authority.
Your charity in Colorado MUST have at least three directors who are not connected to one another.
Your organisation must have the following two papers in order to apply for 501(c)(3) status:
What is the definition of a Conflict of Interest Policy? A Conflict of Interest Policy is a set of guidelines put in place to guarantee that any decisions made by the board of directors or officials benefit the organisation rather than individual members.
To guarantee that your organisation is qualified to qualify for 501(c)(3) status, you must expressly declare the following in the Articles of Incorporation:
1. Function:
To be eligible for 501(c)(3) status, the organization’s purpose must be expressly confined to one or more of the following:
You must indicate exactly what the organization’s assets will be used for and what will happen to the assets if the organisation is disbanded.
To be qualified for 501(c)(3) status, your organization’s assets must only be utilised for purposes authorised by Section 501(c) (3).
Section 5 of this sample IRS filing offers an illustration of these 501(c)(3) eligibility conditions.
What exactly is an EIN? The federal government uses an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN) to identify a company organisation. It is effectively the company’s social security number.
Why do I need an EIN? An EIN is necessary for the following activities:
If your application is granted, the IRS will issue you a letter confirming that your organisation is tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3).