How to Plan a Non-Profit Organization

"Hi, this is Jim Goettler with Expert Village and this is a video about how to form and operate a non-profit organization. This segment is going to be about the basic housekeeping you must do prior to filing for a non-profit status. You need to file your business license and you need to file with your state, generally your Secretary of State the articles of incorporation, as you would if you were forming a for-profit organization; however, you must include the following language in your articles. "This corporation is organized exclusively for religious, charitable or educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code." And, "Not withstanding any other provisions of these articles, this corporation shall not, except to any substantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers not in furtherance of section 501(c)(3) purposes." It is essential that you put those words into your application for the articles for your state incorporation or downstream it's going to make life much more difficult."