<p><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=965743&u=1005106&m=69959&urllink=www%2Enorthwestregisteredagent%2Ecom%2Ftruic%2Dnonprofit&afftrack=supsa%20start%2Da%2D501c3%2Dnonprofit%20california%2Dnonprofit%20middle" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="Link to Northwest Registered Agent" class="aff" >Northwest</a> provides the first year of registered agent service free with nonprofit formation ($29 + State Fees)</p>

How to Start a Nonprofit in California

Last Updated: August 10, 2023 By TRUiC Team

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to start a nonprofit in California, including information on how to name your nonprofit organization, file articles of incorporation and how to apply for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Or, simply use a professional formation service: Northwest ($29 + state fee)

Starting a Nonprofit Organization in California Is Easy

To start a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you'll need to first register a nonprofit corporation with the state of California, and then apply for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) with the Internal Revenue Service.

You can learn more about nonprofits and 501(c)(3) in our What is a nonprofit? and What is a 501(c)(3)? guides. To find a nonprofit use our free 501c3 Lookup tool.

Want to form a nonprofit elsewhere? Read our other How to Start a Nonprofit guides. Also check out our best nonprofit formation services review.

Step 1: Name Your California Nonprofit

The name you select for your nonprofit will establish its brand. It is the first thing most people will learn about your organization. It is important to pick a name that both aligns with your mission and follows the rules for naming in your state.

California Nonprofit Naming Guidelines

The name you pick for your organization must:

Not include words related to the United States Olympic Committee such as: ‘Olympic’, ‘Olympiad’, or ‘Citius Altius Fortius’.
Not include terms associated with a financial institution such as: ‘Bank’, ‘bank and trust’, ‘trust’ or ‘trust company’ unless prior approval is obtained from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions.
Not be deceptively similar to another business operating in the state of California unless consent and approval is obtained.
Not mislead the public in any way.

You can read the Secretary of State's official guidelines for the complete rules on naming a California-based organization.

To learn more, read our How to Name a California Nonprofit guide.

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our Business Name Generator.

Is the URL available?

We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to create a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

Now that you have verified your name and secured the URL you may select a professional service to complete the nonprofit formation process for you.

We recommend: Northwest ($29 + state fee)

Step 2: Appoint a California Registered Agent

A nonprofit corporation in California is required to have a registered agent with a California address.

What is a Registered Agent? A registered agent is an individual or business entity responsible for receiving important legal documents on behalf of your business. Think of your registered agent as your business' point of contact with the state.

Learn more about registered agents

Need Help?

Northwest provides the first year of registered agent service free with nonprofit formation ($29 + State Fees)

To learn more, read our How To Pick a California Registered Agent guide.

Step 3: Select Your Board Members and Officers

The directors of a nonprofit are responsible for overseeing the operations of the organization. The directors come together to form a board.

The officers of a nonprofit (such as the president or the secretary) are individuals with responsibilities, and the authority to execute based on their job descriptions.

Together, the officers and the board will come together to make up the organizational structure of your nonprofit.

To be eligible for 501(c)(3) status, the organization structure of your California nonprofit corporation MUST include:

At least 3 directors not related to each other
A president
A secretary
A treasurer or chief financial officer

NOTE: The president may not also hold the office of secretary or treasurer.

To learn more, read our guide on How to Select Board Members for Your California Nonprofit

Step 4: California Articles of Incorporation

To become a nonprofit corporation in California you must file Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3): the Articles of Incorporation for a nonprofit public benefit corporation.

In order to qualify for 501(c)(3) status, the organization’s purpose must explicitly be limited to one or more of the following:

Charitable
Religious
Scientific
Literary
Testing for public safety
Fostering national/international amateur sports competition
Preventing cruelty to animals/children

The filing fee is currently $30.

Checks and money orders for mailed forms must be made payable to the "Secretary of State"
Accepted credit cards for online filing include Visa and Mastercard
Cash payments are accepted for in-person filings

To learn more, read our California Articles of Incorporation guide.

Step 5: File Statement of Information

Within 90 days of filing the Articles of Incorporation, you must file Form SI-100. This can be done online or by mailing the form to the address below:

Secretary of State
Statement of Information Unit
P.O. Box 944230
Sacramento, CA 94244-2300

Filing Fee: $20

For more information, you can call the Secretary of State at (916) 657-5448 or visit them at their website.

Step 6: Draft Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policy

There are two documents that will be central to the running of your nonprofit:

Bylaws: These are the rules that determine how your organization will be governed and run.

Conflict of Interest Policy: These are the rules set to ensure that decisions being made for the nonprofit are based on what is best for the organization, and not being motivated by what is best for individuals.

Learn more about how to write bylaws for your nonprofit

Step 7: Conduct an Organizational Meeting

An organizational meeting is the first official meeting of your nonprofit! Some of the things that are discussed in a typical organizational meeting:

Taking attendance to show you have a quorum (minimum number needed)
Appointing temporary officers, chairmen, secretaries, etc.
Adoption of the bylaws
Adoption of conflict of interest policy

Don’t forget to record “minutes” of the meeting and have it signed by all attending directors. Here are some corporate minutes templates to help you get the ball rolling.

Step 8: Get an EIN

An EIN or Employment Identification Number (also called a Federal Tax Identification Number or Federal Employment Identification Number), is used to uniquely identify a business entity. You can think of the EIN as a social security number for your nonprofit.

The EIN is required for your organization whether or not it will have any employees.

To learn more, read our guide on how to get your EIN.

Step 9: Applying for Exemption from Federal (501(c)(3) status) and State Taxes

Applying for Exemption from Federal Taxes:

A nonprofit may be eligible for 501(c)(3) status only if its purpose is limited to one or more of the following:

Charitable, Religious, Scientific, Educational, Literary, Fostering national/international amateur sports competition, Preventing cruelty to animals/children, Testing for public safety

Before a nonprofit can apply for 501(c)(3) status it must:

Elect at least 3 directors not related to each other
Register as a nonprofit with the state
Adopt the bylaws and conflict of interest policy
Have an EIN number

Once these four conditions have been met your nonprofit can apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by filing Form-1023 online.

If your application is approved, the IRS will send you a determination letter stating that your organization is exempt from federal taxes under section 501(c)(3).

To learn more, read our guide on How to File Form 1023-EZ.

Applying for Exemption from State Taxes:

State Franchise or Income Tax Exemption

Once you have received your 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS, you can file for state franchise or income tax exemption using form FTB-3500A.

You can access more information about franchise and income tax exemptions and requirements Franchise Tax Board’s guidance.

Sales and Use Tax

The majority of nonprofits in California are required to pay sales and use tax. To learn more about the nonprofits that are eligible for an exemption, access the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s Exemptions and Exclusions document.

Once you have formed your California nonprofit, we recommend you read our guide on How To Protect your California Nonprofit and Keep It Compliant.

Step 10: Open a Nonprofit Bank Account

After you acquire an EIN and a federal tax exemption for your nonprofit, you can open a 501(c)(3) bank account to begin soliciting donations or paying vendors and employees of the organization.

Opening a bank account for your nonprofit is the first step towards creating a paper trail of all income and expenses to show the IRS that your nonprofit is legitimate, honest, and legal.

There are several rules and exceptions that differentiate a 501(c)(3) bank account from a traditional business account. To find the best bank for your organization's financial needs read our review of the best banks for small business.