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How to Start a Nonprofit in South Carolina

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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina Is Easy

To start a South Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you'll need to first register a nonprofit corporation with the state of South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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.

South Carolina Nonprofit Naming Guidelines

A corporate name may not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that permitted by Section 33-31-301 and its articles of incorporation.
The name must be different than other South Carolina businesses.

You can read the Secretary of State's official guidelines (Article 4) for the complete rules on naming a South Carolina- based organization.

To learn more, read our How to Name a South Carolina 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 South Carolina Registered Agent

A nonprofit corporation in South Carolina is required to have a registered agent with a South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina nonprofit corporation MUST include:

At least 3 directors
A president
A secretary
A treasurer

NOTE: One person can hold two or more offices.

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

Step 4: File the South Carolina Articles of Incorporation

To become a nonprofit corporation in South Carolina you must file the Articles of Incorporation with the State of South Carolina.

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

You will need to mail the following to the Secretary of State:

Form 33-31-202 (Articles of Incorporation)
501(c)(3) attachment
A nonrefundable filing fee of $25.00 payable to the Secretary of State.

Mail To:

Secretary of State
ATTN: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201

To learn more, read our guide on How to File the South Carolina Articles of Incorporation

Step 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 8: Obtain a South Carolina State Tax ID

You will also need to file for your South Carolina State Tax Identification Number/Account using form SCDOR-111 with the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

This form can be submitted online or by mail:

Mail to:

SC Department of Revenue
P.O. BOX 125
Columbia, South Carolina 29214-0850.

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

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:

1. Once you have received your 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS, you can file for state income tax exemption.

You must send:

a copy of the IRS determination letter.
a letter requesting an exemption from state-level corporate income tax

Mail to the South Carolina Department of Revenue at:

SC Department of Revenue
Corporation Return
Columbia, SC 29214-0100

2. To file to obtain sales tax exemption (for purchases made for resale) you must send the following:

Form ST-387 - Application for Sales Tax Exemption
a copy of your bylaws
IRS Determination Letter,
balance sheet
recent income statement.

Mail to:

SC Department of Revenue
Corporate Return
Columbia, SC 29214-0100

Once you have formed your South Carolina nonprofit, we recommend you read our guide on How To Protect your South Carolina 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.