We support most common types of 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, including:

• Charity/Social Services - Food banks, homeless shelters, disaster relief
• Education - PTAs, tutoring programs, scholarship funds
• Youth/Sports - Youth sports leagues, mentoring programs, summer camps
• Arts/Culture - Community theaters, music programs, cultural preservation
• Animal Welfare - Animal rescues, shelters, wildlife conservation
• Health/Medical - Patient support groups, health education (not hospitals)
• Religious Organizations - Faith-based charities (though churches need Form 1023, not 1023-EZ)

Important: We specialize in organizations eligible for Form 1023-EZ (the simplified IRS application). This means we currently don't support schools, hospitals, churches, or organizations expecting over $50,000 in annual revenue. If you fall into these categories, join our waitlist for future support.

You're eligible for the simplified Form 1023-EZ if your organization meets ALL of these requirements:

• Annual gross receipts won't exceed $50,000 in any of the next 3 years
• Total assets will remain under $250,000
• You're NOT forming a church, school, hospital, or medical research organization
• You won't have foreign activities or a foreign mailing address
• You're NOT a successor to a for-profit entity
• You haven't previously had tax-exempt status revoked

Benefits of 1023-EZ eligibility:

• Faster IRS processing (2-4 weeks vs. 3-9 months)
• Lower filing fee ($275 vs. $600)
• Simpler 3-page online form vs. 28+ page application
• No need for detailed narratives or attachments

Our assessment tool will automatically verify your eligibility during the signup process. If you don't qualify for 1023-EZ, we'll provide alternative resources and notify you when we add support for the full Form 1023.

Contact us for guidance on the appropriate application process.

If you filed Form 1023-EZ in good faith but later exceed the $50,000 annual gross receipts threshold, your 501(c)(3) status remains valid. The IRS understands that growth happens. Here's what you need to know:

• Your tax-exempt status is NOT at risk - The 1023-EZ eligibility limits only apply at the time of filing
• You'll graduate to different annual filing requirements - Instead of the simple 990-N e-Postcard, you'll need to file Form 990-EZ (for revenues $50,000-$200,000) or Form 990
• No penalty for reasonable projections - If you genuinely expected to stay under $50,000 based on reasonable projections, there's no penalty

Important: The key is that your projections must be made in good faith. If you already have contracts or commitments that will clearly put you over $50,000, you should file the full Form 1023 instead.

Our platform helps you create realistic 3-year budget projections during the application process to ensure you're making the right choice between 1023-EZ and the full Form 1023.

You don't need your full board finalized to begin the process, but you'll need at least 3 board members identified before filing your state incorporation documents. Here's the timeline:

• To start with us: Just have an idea of who might serve - you can begin planning and preparation
• For state incorporation: You'll need names and addresses of at least 3 directors (this happens in Stage 2)
• For IRS Form 1023-EZ: You'll list all current board members and their addresses

State-specific requirements:

• California: Minimum 3 directors; majority must be unrelated by blood or marriage
• New York: Minimum 3 directors; consider having at least one NY resident
• Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania: Minimum 3 directors; no residency requirements

Tip: While you only need 3 directors to incorporate, consider recruiting 5-7 board members for better governance and workload distribution. Our platform includes templates and guidance for recruiting board members during the formation process.

Yes, but with important distinctions about what we can and cannot do:

What we DO provide:

• State-specific templates for all required documents (Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, policies)
• Auto-population of your organization's information into templates
• AI assistance for writing mission statements, program descriptions, and operational content
• Step-by-step guidance on completing government forms
• Document review checklist to ensure nothing is missed
• Optional attorney review add-on ($199) for final verification

What we CANNOT do:

• Provide legal advice or act as your attorney
• Modify legally-required language in formation documents
• Complete or submit government forms on your behalf (except in our Concierge package)
• Guarantee your specific documents will be approved without review

Bottom line: We give you the templates, tools, and guidance to complete your documents correctly. Our AI assistant can help write non-legal sections, but you maintain control and responsibility for all filings. For complete hands-off service, choose our Concierge package ($1,499) where we handle everything for you.

Required government fees: $300-550 total

• IRS Form 1023-EZ: $275 (paid directly to IRS)
• State incorporation: $25-125 depending on your state
  • Texas: $25
  • California: $30
  • Florida: $35
  • New York: $75
  • Pennsylvania: $125
• State charitable registration: $0-50 (varies by state)
• Certified copies: $5-25 (for your records)

Optional but recommended:

• Registered agent service: $149/year (or use your own address for free)
• Nonprofit bank account: Usually free at most banks
• QuickBooks Nonprofit: $25/month (or use free alternatives)
• Website domain: $15-20/year
• Directors & Officers insurance: $600-1,500/year (recommended once operating)

Total first-year budget: Plan for $500-1,000 if doing everything yourself, or $2,000-3,000 if adding professional services and insurance.

When you sign up for the Pro plan we offer a 100% approval guarantee. If you are not approved, we will refund your money.