You’ve got the 13 Point Checklist for starting your 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; you’ve read Kate’s post addressing the typical paperwork (and its complications), general as well as potential hidden fees, and probably wait times for IRS approval; and you’ve scanned our FAQs and other general information. But you still want to nail down what our “Turbotax” type nonprofit startup package looks like for you.
So here’s the scoop.
Yippiekiyay’s “Instant Nonprofit” packages were developed by people who have jumped the hoops and worked their way to successful 501(c)3 status. We’ve come to recognize that details are critical and that following an established process is the quickest way to get results. That’s why our software and our process is so loved by those who have used it.
Just to be clear, here’s what we offer:
A free, no-strings-attached 20-minute consult with a nonprofit specialist.
Package 1: Filing Business Name & Incorporating
Package 2: Filing Form 1023 and Obtaining 501(c)3 status
Package 3: Ongoing Compliance Maintenance
Package One
For those who haven’t yet chosen a name, we offer Package One. You choose a name, and we’ll do a search in your state to be sure that name is available. If it’s not, we’ll walk through different options with you until we’ve got a name that is distinct to your organization. Whether you have a board or not, we can then file the paperwork for your nonprofit’s name. And you can choose some board members while the paperwork is finalized.
Package Two
Step One: You’re ready to file Form 1023 and obtain your 501(c)3 status, so the first thing we’ll have you do is go here, and fill out your organization information. (We will use this to fill out forms and file with the IRS for you.)
Step Two: Next, you’ll be asked to choose the appropriate package, based on your anticipated revenue. Standard filing fees with the IRS start at $400 for those whose organization’s assets are less than $250,000 and whose revenues are not expected to exceed $50,000. This is the typical Express Package that most of our clients start with. (If you have questions about whether you need the Express or Enterprise Package, feel free to call or email, and we’ll help you out.)
Step Three: As soon as you have purchased the appropriate package, we’ll email you with login keys to give you access to your own client portal and introduce you to your account manager.
Step Four: The organization information you filled out with us will have been logged in your client portal. We will review this and reach out to you if we see any red flags. Once we have all the information required by the IRS, we’ll fill out the forms and file, always reaching out to you by email or phone to keep you in the loop about the progression of your filing.
Step Five: While your part in providing information for the paperwork takes only about an hour for the typical Express Package, and between two and three hours for the Enterprise Package, we make sure you stay informed and have the chance to review forms and add your signature to the final product.
Step Six: Once we submit the paperwork, we handle any questions posed by the IRS and provide requested documentation. On average, you will receive your IRS approval letter in the mail in four to eight weeks. (That’s 300 percent faster than the average 2013-2014 IRS approval time.)
Package Three
We’ll discuss this package more in another post, but here’s a quick overview. As we all know, government filing isn’t a once and done thing. You need to remain compliant to continue fundraising. And there are many nonprofit organizations that wish to do fundraising in multiple states. Package Three was formulated to step you through the maze of state laws, since 41 out of 50 U.S. states have enacted regulations on all fundraising activity by nonprofits. This registration process varies by state, but we can collect your basic information and use it to file the correct information in all 41 of those states.
And here’s our guarantee
As you land on a possible name for your nonprofit, check whether you can stake a claim to the URL or domain name. The two do not have to be identical; however, you need to consider both. For example, the Chicago literacy nonprofit Open Books uses the domain name www.open-books.org—note the hyphen. That’s because openbooks.org is a “parked” site with no content or service connected to it. Or look at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That’s a long title to ask users to type in. So this organization went with an acronym for its domain name: www.aspca.org.
