Topic:

How to Get Your 501C3 Status/Non-Profit Upstarts

Mike Martin

My name is Mike Martin; my wife and I have been married for 52 years and have been in ministry 48 years. Serving as youth pastors, business administrators, and senior pastors. I hold a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctrine in Theology. I have taught this subject in Bible Schools and as a Professor at Life Christian University.

I have been helping people and churches start non-profit 501c3 organizations since 1983.

Introduction

Basic information:

Understanding that it is a 2-step process.

  • First, the State

  • Second, the Federal Government

  • These are two different processes. Just because you are a “nonprofit” doesn’t mean you can give tax-deductible donations.

Steps needed to start a Nonprofit Corporation:

State

  1. Decide name of ministry/church

  2. If you want me to help you, send me the deposit check fee and we will further discuss.

  3. Apply for an EIN, which is one of the things I can do for you.

  4. Decide on the board—minimum of 3 BUT President and Secretary of board cannot be related by blood or marriage

  5. Fill out the paperwork for State includes writing Articles of Incorporation

  6. File all necessary forms.

Federal (IRS)

  1. Fill out form 1023

  2. You must answer every question truthfully.

  3. Part of it will require you to write your vision for ministry or church

  4. The Purpose of the ministry/church

  5. Goals of the ministry/church, the way that you hope to accomplish your goals.

  6. There will be a section on Finances. This will ask for current year and either previous years or PURPOSED budgets for three (3) years.

  7. Once everything is fill out the form must be filed electronically.

My Services Include

Incorporating in your State  
I research and then secure the name of the desired corporation; once the name is secured I fill out IRS Form SS-4, which is the Employer’s Identification Number. Then I find out the regulations for becoming a non-profit corp. in that State, write the Articles of Incorporation, fill out all the necessary forms that the State requires, mail all the necessary forms to you for your approval, making any and all corrections, then mail them back to you so that you can mail them to the Secretary of State.

I will find out what the current fee is for the State in which you want to incorporate and then let you know.  Each State fee is different.
After consultation with you, I write the Bylaws. Once they are written I will send them a copy for your review, make any corrections that you deem necessary and then send you a final copy.
 
IRS
After consultation with you, I will fill out all the necessary forms that are required by IRS to become a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Once that is completed, I send you a copy to look over. I also “go over” those papers with you explaining what I have done and answering any questions. Once you approve the paperwork, I prepare the final copy and mail it to you for you to sign and send to the IRS.

The current fee for IRS is $850.00.
If IRS replies with any questions concerning any of the paperwork that was sent in, I will do the necessary research and respond appropriately to those questions.
 
My fee:
My fee does not include filing fees, which you pay directly to the State and to the IRS. The reason why I do not include the filing fees is because each State has a different fee. However, I will let you know what the State-filing fee will be.
I require a down payment for me to begin working on your corporation. Then every two months a payment will be due until the balance is paid. I do this in order to help those whom I help budget the cost of establishing their organization. However, early full payment is always appreciated but not required.

I will answer any and all questions that either the State or the IRS may have until the final determination letter is received from IRS. I will also be available for consultation for one (1) year after the Corporation is formed at no extra charge. After one year a separate consultation fee of $25.00 per hour will apply.

IRS has now changed some of their regulations therefore; the entire process from start to finish should take approximately 9 months or less.

Items that I would need from you:

  1. The name of your ministry

  2. The names and addresses of initial Board of Trustees. A minimum of 3 people must be on the board. Spouses cannot occupy the President and the Secretary positions.

  3. Your SS # and your phone number, this is for the EIN#

  4. The State and County where you live, this is for the EIN #

  5. The vision for the ministry, using clear and conscience points.Then expand on each of the points.

  6. The Purpose of the Ministry/Outreach

  7. Goals of the ministry/Outreach (both short term and long range)

  8. The way that you hope to accomplish your goals.

  9. A deposit check to begin the work.

  10. There will be other items that I will need from you when we get to the IRS part.

    I will need #’s 1-4 & 9 from you as soon as you can get it to me but I do not need #’s 5-8 for a little while but I wanted to go ahead and let you know what information that I will need in the future.

Contact Me

If you decide that you would like for me to help you establish a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt organization, please make the deposit check payable to Mike Martin, along with the items requested above.

Phone
(813) 527-4149

Address
P.O. Box 486

Keller, Texas 76244

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