The first step in our comprehensive guide, How to Start a Charitable in Pennsylvania, is to choose a name for your 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Choosing the correct name is one of the most essential choices any entrepreneur will make. We’re here to assist with our comprehensive guide to selecting, authenticating, and registering a Pennsylvania charity name in four simple stages.
In 4 Simple Steps, Name Your Nonprofit
It is simple to name your Pennsylvania nonprofit. Simply follow these four easy steps to get the greatest name for your 501(c)(3) organization (3).
GO AHEAD.
Step 1: Select an Appropriate Name for Your Nonprofit
Step 2: Adhere to the Nonprofit Naming Regulations in Pennsylvania.
Step 3: Determine whether your company’s name is available.
Step 4: Register the Name of Your Nonprofit
Step 1: Select an Appropriate Name for Your Nonprofit
It is critical to choose the correct name for your firm. We suggest following these recommendations when selecting a name that best symbolizes your nonprofit’s goal and purpose:
Make your point. The name of a charity should be straightforward and detailed enough to express its objective. Avoid employing ambiguous phrases or concepts that may mislead funders and potential customers about the objective of your organization.
Make it unforgettable. When choosing a name for a firm, rememberability is critical. Choosing a name that will stay in the minds of individuals who hear it can not only increase your nonprofit’s awareness among contributors and volunteers, but will also make it simpler for prospective customers to locate your services.
Maintain a professional demeanor. Nonprofits depend largely on their public image to attract funders or consumers who may need their services — and their initial impression will be based on the name of your organization. As a result, your organization need a professional name that conveys a genuine commitment to its goal and purpose.
Make it personal. Whether your organization serves animals, displaced people, or any other group, emotion and compassion are inextricably linked. Choosing a name that appeals to the emotions of both contributors and customers can aid in the development of trust and the legitimacy of your company.
Step 2: Adhere to the Nonprofit Naming Regulations in Pennsylvania.
The majority of charities in Pennsylvania are structured as corporations, but you may also form a nonprofit as an unincorporated organization, a trust, an association, or a limited liability company (LLC). You must adhere to specified naming standards for each choice.
This article will concentrate on the prerequisites for naming a nonprofit company.
Requirements for a Company Name
The most frequent technique to create a nonprofit is to incorporate. While corporate name restrictions vary by state, several criteria apply worldwide. Pennsylvania state requirements include:
The name of your company must be distinct from any other name on record in the state of Pennsylvania, including any reserved names.
Your company’s name cannot include any words or phrases that are deemed very insulting.
The name of your firm cannot indicate that it is associated with a government agency or a public utility business.
Your organization’s name cannot include terms or phrases that suggest it is a financial institution, such as “bank and trust,” “bank,” “trust,” or “trust company.”
Your company’s name cannot include terms or phrases implying that it is an educational institution, such as “university,” “college,” or “seminary.”
Your firm’s name cannot include terms or phrases implying that it is an insurance company, such as “casualty,” “annuity,” or “insurance.”
Words or phrases linked with a certain profession, such as “public accountant,” “certified public accountant,” “architect,” “surveyor,” “engineer,” “pharmacist,” or “homeopathic,” cannot be used in the name of your organization.
Unless certain criteria are followed, your corporation’s name cannot contain any terms or phrases affiliated with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), nor may it include words or phrases implying the company is associated with the YMCA.
In contrast to many other states, Pennsylvania does not require the name of a nonprofit organization to contain an identifier such as “business,” “incorporated,” “corporation,” “limited partnership,” “partnership,” or any analogous abbreviation.
Requirements for Tax Exemption
Pay special attention to the terminology of your nonprofit’s name if you want to apply for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Any statements that indicate a political or lobbying connection may make it difficult for you to apply for 501(c)(3) status.
Step 3: Check to See If Your Company Name Is Available
After you’ve decided on one or more names for your organization, check to see whether they’re still available. Every charity must have a distinct name, therefore it’s a good idea to check the availability of your preferred name before incorporating.
The top four searches you should do are as follows:
Pennsylvania Search for a Company Name
Domain Name Lookup
Federal Trademark Lookup
Search the Web and Social Media
Pennsylvania Company Name Lookup
A nonprofit company in Pennsylvania must have a distinct name. You may quickly verify whether your desired name is available by utilizing the Pennsylvania 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 incorporate a nonprofit right away, this is essential.
You may register for a trademark for your organization 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 contributors or 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 4: Register the Name of Your Nonprofit
After you’ve decided on a name for your charity and confirmed its availability, the following step is to register the name. You have many choices for registering your name:
Apply for a Corporation Name Reservation
Request a DBA Name
Request a Name Reservation
Domestic nonprofit companies in Pennsylvania are not needed to register for a name reservation prior to formation. However, reserving a name might be advantageous, particularly if you aren’t ready to incorporate but want to assure the availability of your preferred name.
To reserve a corporate name in the state of Pennsylvania, follow these steps:
Send a completed Name Reservation/Transfer of Reservation form, together with the $70 filing fee, to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations.
Fill out the form online at Pennsylvania’s Business One-Stop Shop.
Name reservations for nonprofit businesses in Pennsylvania are valid for 120 days and may be renewed.
Create a Corporation
Incorporating is the most frequent method to create a charity, and it is the next step in making your organization official once you have chosen a name. In Pennsylvania, there are a few simple stages to forming a corporation:
Name Your Business
Select a Registered Agent
Select the Initial Directors and Share Structure for Your Corporation
Deposit the Formation Documents
Obtain an EIN
Request a DBA Name
In Pennsylvania, filing a trade name, also known as a doing business as (DBA) name, permits your charity to operate under a name other than its legal, registered company name. This is particularly useful if you wish to modify the name of an existing organization without amending its Articles of Incorporation.