Start a Charity
Starting a charity, one honest step at a time.
The most complete guide we could write to starting a nonprofit in the United States: what to do, in what order, what it costs, and the mistakes to avoid. It begins with the question most guides skip: should you?
The pathway
Tick things off as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser, privately; nothing is sent to us.
- Should you start?An honest check before you begin: who already does this work, whether a fiscal sponsor fits better, and the time, people and money you'll need.
- Your missionName the problem, the people you serve and how your work leads to change, then check who else is already working on it.
- PlanningWrite a one-page plan, build a first-year budget, and gather the founding team and first board members you'll need.
- Legal formationChoose a name, incorporate in your state, adopt bylaws, get a free EIN and apply to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status on Form 1023 or 1023-EZ.
- Staying compliantThe yearly duties that keep your charity in good standing: state registration, the Form 990 family, public disclosure, donor receipts and the political rules.
- OperationsOpen a bank account, keep simple books, get insured, treat volunteers and workers fairly, protect people's data and adopt the core policies.
- LaunchSimple branding, a basic website, a first fundraising plan, thanking donors well, and your first local grant applications.
- GrowthMeasure what changes for people, strengthen your board, hire your first staff member, build steady funding, and know when merging or closing is right.
Tools that think it through with you
Free, private and quick. Nothing you type is stored.
Ten honest questions and a suggested first step.
Your own nonprofit, fiscal sponsorship, a donor-advised fund, or something else? Compare in plain words.
Add up the real costs of year one, and download it as a spreadsheet.
See which skills your board has, which it's missing, and where to find them.
Your charity's federal and state deadlines for the year, from your year end and state.
About this guide
This guide covers federal rules in the United States, with state examples where they help. Every stage is dated, checked against official sources, and reviewed regularly. It's general information, not legal or tax advice: rules change and every situation is different, so talk to a qualified professional before you file anything.
State-by-state detail, and later other countries, will be added without changing how the pathway works.