Starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Ohio is easy — and the first task is filing your Articles of Incorporation. This guide will walk you through the nine steps required to file the Articles of Incorporation to officially start a nonprofit in Ohio.
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Getting Started
To start a domestic nonprofit corporation in Ohio, you must file Form 532B – Initial Articles of Incorporation. This guide covers each step you must take to fill out this document successfully and get on the right track to forming an Ohio nonprofit.
Step 1: List Your Nonprofit’s Name
Step 2: Disclose Your Principal Office Location
Step 3: (Optional) Choose an Effective Date for Your Filing
Step 4: Describe Your Nonprofit’s Purpose
Step 5: Appoint a Statutory Agent
Step 6: Include Any Additional Provisions
Step 7: List Your Incorporator Information
Step 8: Complete the Filing Form Cover Letter
Step 9: File Formation Documents
(Check out our other guides for a look at how to start a nonprofit organization or how to file articles of incorporation in other states.)
Step 1: List Your Nonprofit’s Name
The first step to filling out your Ohio Articles of Incorporation is to list your nonprofit corporation’s name. If you haven’t gone through the process of establishing a name for your organization, here are the requirements for naming a nonprofit in Ohio:
- Your nonprofit’s name must be distinguishable from any other name on record within the state of Ohio, including any reserved names.
- Your nonprofit’s name can’t improperly imply affiliation with a government agency.
- Your nonprofit’s name can’t include words or phrases considered grossly offensive.
- Your nonprofit’s name can’t include words or phrases that imply the organization is part of a financial institution, such as “bank,” “bank and trust,” “trust,” or “trust company.”
Recommended: For a step-by-step guide to naming your nonprofit corporation in Ohio, read our guide on How to Name a Nonprofit in Ohio.
Search the Availability of Your Name
After selecting potential names — ideally, at least four or five — it’s important to search for their availability in your state. You can do this by conducting the four recommended searches outlined below, or use our 501(c)(3) Lookup Table.
Ohio Business Search
To operate in Ohio, a nonprofit corporation must have a unique name. You can easily check if your chosen name is available by performing a search using the Ohio business search tool.
Domain Name Search
We strongly recommend that you also check to see if your business name is available as a web domain (URL). Even if you don’t plan to create a business website today, you may want to buy the web address to prevent others from acquiring that domain name. It’s a free search.
Federal Trademark Search
You can easily check if someone already trademarked your chosen nonprofit name by using the federal Trademark Electronic Search System. This is important even if you don’t plan to incorporate your nonprofit right away.
Once you confirm that no one else already trademarked your chosen name, you can apply for a trademark for your nonprofit.
Web and Social Media Search
A strong social media presence will play a key role in expanding your reach to potential donors as well as clients that will use your services. That makes it important to search the web and popular social media platforms for your desired name before registering it to ensure it’s available on all the platforms where you plan to promote your organization.
Step 2: Disclose Your Principal Office Location
In Article Two, disclose the city and county in which your nonprofit’s principal office is located.
Step 3 (Optional): Choose an Effective Date for Your Filing
If you want your Articles of Incorporation to go into effect after the original filing date, include your preferred date in this section. Otherwise, leave this blank and your documents will be effective upon filing.
Note: If you choose a future effective date, it must be within 90 days of the filing.
Step 4: Describe Your Nonprofit’s Purpose
Describe your nonprofit’s purpose. That purpose must include one or more of the following characteristics for your nonprofit to be eligible for 501(c)(3) status:
- Charitable
- Religious
- Educational
- Scientific
- Literary
- Testing for public safety
- Fostering national/international amateur sports competition
- Preventing cruelty to animals/children
Step 5: Appoint a Statutory Agent
A statutory agent, also known as a registered agent, is required to file the Articles of Incorporation in Ohio. Either an individual or a corporation with a physical address in Ohio may fill this role. A registered agent’s responsibilities include accepting and forwarding service of process documents for the corporation as well as serving as a point of contact for the entity.
Requirements for this section include:
- Your nonprofit corporation’s name
- Your registered agent’s name
- Your registered agent’s mailing address
- Signatures from all — or the majority — of your incorporators
- Your registered agent’s signature to confirm their acceptance of the appointment
Recommended: Using an affordable registered agent service offers many benefits. For more information on choosing a registered agent service, read our full guide.
Step 6: Include Any Additional Provisions
To qualify for 501(c)(3) status, your nonprofit must include some additional statements in its Articles of Incorporation. Because the Ohio formation document doesn’t have sections related to your initial board of directors or the distribution of assets upon dissolution, use an attachment to provide details on both topics.
Here’s what you need to know to successfully complete this attachment:
Outline the Distribution of Assets Upon Dissolution
Describe how your nonprofit corporation’s assets will be distributed upon its dissolution.
Distribution of assets upon dissolution must be for approved, tax-exempt purposes only. For more information about the requirements of dissolution and 501(c)(3) status, refer to the sixth section of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’) suggested language for corporations and associations.
Name Your Initial Board of Directors
Name your initial board of directors as well as a street address for each. To qualify for 501(c)(3) status, your nonprofit must have at least three directors. For a complete guide to forming your nonprofit’s board of directors, read our How to Develop a Board of Directors for a Nonprofit in Ohio article.
Step 7: List Your Incorporator Information
An incorporator is any person who participates in the completion and submission of the Articles of Incorporation. Each incorporator must sign and print their name on your formation document.
If an incorporator is a business entity, an authorized representative of that business entity may sign the document and print their name, title, and business entity name on the appropriate lines.
Step 8: Complete the Filing Form Cover Letter
Complete the Filing Form Cover Letter by including the following information:
- A contact name, address, phone number, and email address for return of the approval certificate
- The type of service requested (e.g., regular service, expedite service 1, expedite service 2, expedite service 3, or preclearance filing)
Step 9: File Formation Documents
You can file your Ohio Articles of Incorporation in two ways: online or by mail.
File the Ohio Articles of Incorporation
OPTION 1: File Online With the Ohio Secretary of State
– OR –
OPTION 2: File Form 532B by Mail
Fee: $99
Mailing Address:
Ohio Secretary of State
P.O. Box 670
Columbus, OH 43216
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start a nonprofit organization in Ohio?
You can form a nonprofit corporation in Ohio by filing the nonprofit Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State online or by mail.
How much does it cost to start a 501(c)(3) in Ohio?
Starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Ohio requires a $99 fee to file the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State plus a $600 Form 1023 User Fee payable to the IRS.
What are the Articles of Incorporation in Ohio?
Articles of Incorporation are formation documents required to form a corporation in the state of Ohio.
How do I find nonprofits in Ohio?
Use our handy Ohio 501(c)(3) Lookup Table to find nonprofits in Ohio. You can use this tool to see if your preferred nonprofit name is in use or not.
Ohio Nonprofit Quick Links
IRS: Information for Charities and Nonprofits
IRS: Charity – Required Provisions for Organizing Documents
IRS: Form 990 Series for Tax-Exempt Organizations
IRS: Applying for Tax-Exempt Status
IRS: 501(c)(3) Compliance Guide
US Small Business Administration: Apply for Licenses and Permits
Ohio Secretary of State: Nonprofit Guide
Ohio Secretary of State: Business Forms
Ohio Business Gateway
Ohio Department of Taxation
Ohio Attorney General: Charitable Registration
Ohio 501(c)(3) Lookup Table