Starting a Nonprofit Organization

Are you thinking of starting a nonprofit organization?

Nonprofit Management Solutions has resources and services that can assist you in making this decision and implementing the process.

Get Ready, Get Set (2.5M .pdf) is a free guide to will help you to explore preliminary questions such as "is there an unmet need in the community?" and "will the organization attract sufficient resources to make the project viable?". It goes on to describe the legal steps involved in incorporation and securing tax-exempt status. Get Ready, Get Set is a project of C-MAP, the California Management Assistance Partnership. It is also available in Spanish, En Sus Marcas, Prepárense(2.5M .pdf). If you cannot download the publication, we can mail you a print copy for $10 (payable in advance).

Once you’ve made a decision to proceed, this list of Steps, Forms and Information on Starting A Nonprofit Corporation in California will help you through the process.

Additional resources are available for reference in the NMS Resource Library, including the book How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California. This guide will walk you through the process and includes a disk with forms and templates. It is available for sale as well as for use in the library.

Need hands-on assistance? Consulting is available to discuss options and answer questions about the incorporation process, to help complete applications and prepare documents, or to review documents prior to filing. Please email Lenore Lowe or call her at 858-292-5702 for more information.

We cannot provide legal opinions or financial advice but can refer you to a specialist in nonprofit law and tax issues if needed.