This course will walk you through completing all the required applications to successfully form your nonprofit in just six weeks. However, we cannot control how long it will take your state, and/or the IRS to process your applications. It may take these outside entities longer than the six weeks designated for this course. However, we will continue to provide support in our private community for up to 12-weeks after the end of this course, in case the processing times for your applications should take longer.
You sure can! Some individuals that start the process on their own, quickly find it confusing, and are overwhelmed and unsure of the next steps. While we would prefer participants to start the process at the beginning, when the course begins, as to ensure that steps are completed correctly, and in the right order, we welcome aspiring founders that are wise enough to seek help no matter where they are in the process.
No. The applications that you complete in this course may require you to pay filing fees before they are processed by your local state agencies, and the IRS. There are two major filing fees associated with forming your nonprofit. The first is required to register your organization with your state by filing Articles of Incorporation. These filing fees can range from $50-$300, depending on your state. The second fee is required to file for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. This fee, $275, is the same no matter your state, and is based upon the type of application we use in this course. Feel free to reach out to our support team, for more information on your state-specific filing fees.
Each module is jam-packed with approximately 2 hours of content a week. In addition, we recommend that you spend an average of 2.5 hours per week outside of the course material, implementing what you have learned, and completing assignments assigned to you to work on independently.
It’s important to research and understand if there exist organizations in your community that already provide services and programs that you intend to deliver through your nonprofit. While this should not completely deter your desire to start your nonprofit, it may be helpful to determine a unique need or problem that your nonprofit can solve, validate your idea, make decisions based on the types of programs that already exist, and provide clarity on potential revenue streams to fund the nonprofit vision. In addition, it may help to already identify a pool of people who can act as board members for your nonprofit.
While we will walk you through every step and requirement for applying for 501(c)(3) tax exemption with the IRS, and subsequent state exemptions and registration, we simply cannot guarantee or control whether your efforts will result in a favorable outcome. However, if you can demonstrate that you have followed the methodology of this course and completed all the required assignments, you will have the option of retaining our team, at a discounted fee, to review, reapply, or provide a response for a request for additional information, if required.