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501c3 Articles Of Incorporation for the United States

501c3 Articles Of Incorporation Template for United States

The 501(c)(3) Articles of Incorporation is a foundational legal document filed with a U.S. state government to establish a nonprofit organization that qualifies for federal tax-exempt status. This document outlines the organization's basic structure, purpose, and governance in compliance with both state nonprofit corporation laws and federal Internal Revenue Code requirements. It serves as the organization's charter and must include specific language and provisions required by the IRS for tax-exempt status.

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501c3 Articles Of Incorporation

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What is a 501c3 Articles Of Incorporation?

501(c)(3) Articles of Incorporation are essential when establishing a nonprofit organization seeking federal tax-exempt status in the United States. This document must be filed with the appropriate state authority and contains mandatory provisions required by both state law and the Internal Revenue Service. It typically includes the organization's name, purpose, governance structure, and dissolution provisions. The document serves as the foundation for obtaining tax-exempt status and must carefully balance state-specific requirements with federal tax law compliance. Organizations should prepare these articles with careful consideration of both immediate needs and long-term operational goals.

What sections should be included in a 501c3 Articles Of Incorporation?

1. Article 1: Name: Legal name of the nonprofit corporation and required declarations

2. Article 2: Duration: Statement declaring perpetual existence unless specified otherwise

3. Article 3: Purpose: Specific charitable/nonprofit purposes aligned with 501(c)(3) requirements, including prohibited activities and limitations

4. Article 4: Registered Office and Agent: Official address and registered agent information for service of process

5. Article 5: Board of Directors: Initial directors, governance structure, and basic board operations

6. Article 6: Dissolution: Asset distribution upon dissolution following IRS requirements and state law

What sections are optional to include in a 501c3 Articles Of Incorporation?

1. Membership Provisions: Details about membership structure, rights, and responsibilities when the organization will have formal members

2. Additional Purpose Details: Expanded description of activities and purposes when more detailed explanation of organizational activities is needed

3. Powers: Specific enumerated powers of the corporation when additional clarity about corporate authority is desired

What schedules should be included in a 501c3 Articles Of Incorporation?

1. Schedule A: Initial Board of Directors List: Names, addresses, and contact information of initial board members

2. Schedule B: Conflict of Interest Policy: IRS-required policy for managing potential conflicts of interest among directors and officers

3. Schedule C: Incorporator Statement: Formal statement signed by incorporator establishing initial board and organizational structure

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Ƶ | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

United States

Publisher

Ƶ

Cost

Free to use
Clauses




















Industries

Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3): Federal tax code section defining requirements for tax-exempt status, prohibited activities including private inurement and political campaigning, and limitations on lobbying activities

Treasury Regulations: Federal regulations specifying operational test and organizational test requirements for qualifying as a tax-exempt organization

State Nonprofit Corporation Laws: State-specific incorporation requirements, mandatory provisions, and filing requirements that vary by jurisdiction

Purpose Clause Requirements: Legal requirements for stating organizational purposes that must align with approved 501(c)(3) categories: religious, charitable, scientific, educational, etc.

Dissolution Clause Requirements: Mandatory provisions regarding the distribution of assets upon organization dissolution to other qualified charitable organizations

Private Benefit/Inurement Restrictions: Required prohibitions against private benefit and inurement to insiders or private shareholders

Political Activity Restrictions: Required statements regarding restrictions on political campaign involvement and limitations on lobbying activities

State Administrative Requirements: State-mandated requirements for registered agent designation, board of directors composition, and principal office location

Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

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