Starting A Nonprofit
In Florida
You Have the Vision. Now it's Time to Launch.
You’re creating an organization because you want to make a difference. But turning that vision into an established nonprofit requires more than a great idea.
SJH CPA helps South Florida nonprofit founders navigate incorporation, organizational documents, state requirements, and the 501(c)(3) application process, so you can focus on building the organization behind your mission.
WHAT'S INVOVLED
What it takes to Actually Start a Nonprofit
Starting a Nonprofit Is More Than Filing One Form
There are several pieces that need to come together before your idea becomes a properly established nonprofit organization.
Depending on your organization, that can include incorporating the nonprofit, preparing organizational documents, obtaining an EIN, completing applicable Florida registrations, applying for recognition of federal tax-exempt status, and putting basic financial practices in place.
WHY IT MATTERS
You See a Need. You Have a Vision.
We Have a Plan.
Nonprofits often begin with people who see a need in their community and feel called to do something about it. They may be educators, parents, healthcare professionals, advocates, community leaders, philanthropists, or simply people with an idea for making a difference.
That vision can become many different kinds of nonprofit organizations—from PTAs, educational programs, and charitable foundations to youth programs, childcare and family services, health and human services, community organizations, and animal or wildlife initiatives.
Whatever your mission, turning that vision into an established nonprofit requires the right organizational and financial foundation behind it. SJH CPA can help you put those pieces in place.
HOW SJH HELPS YOU START A NONPROFIT
Leave the Details to Us.
You know the impact you want your organization to make. SJH CPA can help with the practical requirements of getting your nonprofit properly established, from formation through your application for federal tax-exempt status.
Getting Started is Just the Beginning
Good financial recordkeeping should begin when your nonprofit starts operating. Even a new organization needs to understand where its money comes from, how funds are spent, and maintain accurate records for financial and tax reporting.
As your nonprofit grows, those records become the foundation for managing donations and grants, developing budgets, preparing required filings, and reporting to your Board and other stakeholders.
SJH CPA can help you put the right financial practices in place from the beginning—and continue supporting you as your organization grows.
QUESTIONS
Questions About Starting a Nonprofit in South Florida?
Questions About Starting a Nonprofit in Florida?
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions posed by nonprofit founders in the early stages of their organization's journey.
What do I need to start a nonprofit in Florida? Starting a nonprofit in Florida involves both state formation requirements and, if you are seeking 501(c)(3) status, a separate federal tax-exemption process. Generally, you will need to form a Florida nonprofit corporation by filing Articles of Incorporation, establish how the organization will be governed, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and determine which state registration requirements apply to your organization. If the organization will solicit donations in Florida, registration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may also be required. To seek recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, most organizations must then apply to the IRS using either Form 1023 or, if eligible, the streamlined Form 1023-EZ. SJH CPA can help you determine which requirements apply to your organization and guide you through the formation and 501(c)(3) application process.
How do I apply for 501(c)(3) status? For most organizations seeking recognition as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), the process begins after the organization has been legally formed. The organization will need an EIN and appropriate organizing documents before applying to the IRS. Depending on the organization and its eligibility, the application is submitted electronically using either Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3), or Form 1023-EZ, the streamlined application available to certain eligible organizations. Both are filed electronically, and a user fee applies. The application is more than simply requesting a tax-exempt designation. Your organization's structure, purpose and activities must meet the requirements for recognition under Section 501(c)(3). SJH CPA helps nonprofit founders determine the appropriate application and prepare the information needed to apply for recognition of 501(c)(3) status.
What’s the difference between Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ? Form 1023-EZ is a streamlined application available only to organizations that meet specific IRS eligibility requirements. Form 1023 is the more comprehensive application and is required for organizations that are not eligible to use Form 1023-EZ. Before filing Form 1023-EZ, an organization must complete the IRS Form 1023-EZ Eligibility Worksheet. If the organization answers “Yes” to any of the worksheet questions, it is not eligible to use Form 1023-EZ and must file Form 1023 instead. The right form therefore depends on the organization—not simply which application seems easier to complete. SJH CPA can help you determine which application is appropriate for your nonprofit and prepare the filing accordingly.
How long does it take to get 501(c)(3) status? The time it takes to receive a 501(c)(3) determination depends in part on which application you file and whether the IRS needs additional information. IRS processing times change, and Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ applications can have very different review timelines. Applications requiring additional information or further review may take longer. For the most accurate estimate, nonprofit founders should check the IRS's current processing times when they are preparing to apply. SJH CPA can help make sure your application is prepared with the appropriate information before it is submitted.
Can a nonprofit accept donations while waiting for IRS approval? An organization may receive contributions while its 501(c)(3) application is pending, but donors do not have advance assurance that their contributions will be tax-deductible. If the IRS ultimately recognizes the organization's exemption for the period in which a contribution was made, the contribution may qualify as tax-deductible. Generally, when an organization files Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ within 27 months after the end of the month in which it was legally formed and the application is approved, its exemption can be recognized back to its legal date of formation. Organizations soliciting donations in Florida should also determine whether they are required to register under Florida's Solicitation of Contributions Act. Because the timing and circumstances matter, it is important to understand the rules that apply before representing contributions as tax-deductible.
Is forming a nonprofit the same as getting 501(c)(3) status? No. Forming a nonprofit corporation in Florida and receiving recognition of federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) are separate steps. Florida law governs the formation of a nonprofit corporation, which generally begins by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations. Federal tax-exempt status is governed by the Internal Revenue Code and, for most organizations seeking 501(c)(3) recognition, requires a separate application to the IRS. SJH CPA can help you navigate both the Florida formation process and the federal 501(c)(3) application process.