Look, I realize that alot of this information and practical tips about starting a charitable organization is not exactly exciting, suspenseful reading! But I do hope that these tips will help someone "out there" as they learn how to start a charity. Maybe, as we get more into this, I can try to make it more interesting!
Today, I want to talk a little bit about the importance of incorporating your charity.
After you have researched and determined that the need exists for your new charity, it is important for you to learn about the importance of incorporating it. And don't be intimidated by this process! You can probably get alot of information about this topic from your state's secretary of state's website. There are a number of reasons to incorporate. For instance, for a number of reasons, it may be a legal requirement in your state. (I would recommend that you also consider consulting with a local attorney concerning the necessity of incorporating and how to "get 'er done!") Having a corporate shield also can provide legal protection for individual volunteers and board members who participate in the charity. Incorporation also provides rules and organization for governing the charity. In addition, if you intend to solicit contributions, the IRS will require that you not only incorporate, but also that you obtain IRS approval as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. We will talk more about that process later!
These are just some of the many reasons why you should incorporate your new charity as soon as possible!
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