How to Start a Nonprofit Corporation in Ohio

You can start a nonprofit corporation in Ohio for $175, using forms available online. The forms and fees have to be mailed in, so the process is a bit slow.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open your web browser and enter the website address of the Business Services homepage of the Ohio Secretary of State (SOS) at ‘http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/businessservices/corp.aspx.’ From the center bullet list, select the second item ‘Search Filings.’ Scroll down past the first text box and under the ‘Search Filings’ heading, click ‘Search Database.’

2. Click on the first item ‘Business Name.’ Enter the name you would like to have for your nonprofit corporation in the blank box and select ‘Plain Search’ or ‘Fuzzy Search’ and press ‘Submit.'

3. Confirm that the name you want is not similar to any currently registered Ohio corporations, then return to the Business Services homepage and click the fourth bullet item, ‘Obtain Filing Forms/Fee Schedule.' Scroll down to the bullet list of form types and click on the fourth item on the right side ‘Name Registration’. Click the ‘Name Registration’ text line again, then click ‘Download Form 534.’

4. Fill out Form 534 on your computer, checking Box (3) for Original Name Reservation. Skip to the second section of the second page, and enter one or more choices for corporate names. Enter your name and address, print the form, sign and date it, and mail it with a $50 check to the address at the top of the form.

5. When you receive notification of your corporate name reservation, go back to the Ohio Business Services homepage and click the fourth bullet item ‘Obtain Filing Forms/Fee Schedule.’ Scroll down to the bullet list of form types to the last bullet on the left side: ‘Nonprofit Entity.' Click ‘Initial Articles of Incorporation,’ then click ‘Download Form 532’.

6. Fill out Form 532 on your computer, checking Box (2) for Articles of Incorporation Nonprofit. Enter the name of the corporation, the address, which can be your home address, and the date. Enter a description of the purposes of the corporation in the third section. Include language that will identify the tax exempt nature of the corporation that satisfies the requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code 501(c) or 501(d).

7. Skip the fourth section on shares and enter names and addresses of at least three directors in the fifth section. These people can be friends or relatives, and don’t have to be Ohio residents. Be sure to name people that agree to be directors before you submit the form. Use business addresses where privacy is a concern.

8. Enter information about the registered agent of the corporation on the third page of Form 532. Enter your name as the agent and the business address you want to use, if you are an Ohio resident. If you are not a resident, enter the name of an Ohio corporation that has a purpose clause that allows it to be an agent for other corporations. This might be an accountant, a paralegal service or a registered business agent for example.

9. Print out the form and sign your name as incorporator. Sign as agent or get your designated agent to sign the third page. Mail the form with a $125 check to the SOS at the address listed on the top of the form. The form can be expedited for an additional $100 if you check the box in the upper right corner of the first page.

Tips & Warnings

• Another way to search for corporate name availability is by calling the Ohio SOS at 877-SOS-FILE (877-767-3453) and requesting a corporate name search.
• Federal tax exemptions for nonprofit corporations are described on the IRS website at www.irs.gov/charities/index.html.

Resources

• Ohio Business Services Homepage
• IRS Nonprofit Information

[dbenna521]

on 11/4/2008 We have been active since early 1989 when my oldest daughter was kidnaped. Since then we have not only found her but 5, 989 kidnaped, runaway and missing children as well receiving a special commendation from the Governor Of Ohio and the then Mayor Sam Purses of the City of Canton, Ohio. We never ever had any fund raisers as we used money out of our own pockets to succeed in our quests. You can visit our websites at: http://dbenna521.tripod.com/cobra and also at: http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/gigahertz/1912 and also at: http://www.fortunecity.com/business/wexner/467. Prior to forming the Cobra Missing Children Network we ran a global organization called: Entertainment International USA with such members as Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, the late Redd Fox, Bob Hope and a host of others. That website still exists as: http://dbenna521.tripod.com. I have gotten older now, now 7