A rewarding experience that enables you to have a good impact on your community is starting a non-profit advocacy group. However, if you are unfamiliar with the legal and administrative procedures, the process might be intimidating. In this post, we’ll outline the steps for establishing a non-profit advocacy organization in South Carolina and address any associated queries in the process.
Create a mission statement and business plan as your first step. Before doing anything else, you must create a mission statement that explains the reason for being and the objectives of your non-profit advocacy organization. This will serve as the basis for all of your ensuing choices and deeds. A business plan that includes information about your finances, funding sources, and methods for accomplishing your objectives should also be written.
Your non-profit advocacy group should have a name that accurately describes its objectives. You must incorporate your non-profit with the state of South Carolina once you have a name for it. This entails submitting articles of incorporation to the Secretary of State of South Carolina. This can be done by mail or online. Currently, there is a $25 filing charge.
Step 3: Determine Your Tax Exemption Status You must submit a 501(c)(3) status application to the IRS in order to become tax exempt in South Carolina. Filling out Form 1023 and paying a filing fee are required. You won’t be subject to federal income tax once you have tax-exempt status, and you might also be qualified for other tax advantages. It’s crucial to keep in mind that this process can take several months, so make preparations in advance. Register with the South Carolina Secretary of State in step four.
You must register your non-profit as a charitable organization with the South Carolina Secretary of State in addition to incorporating it. In order to do this, you must submit an annual registration form and pay a charge. Depending on the nature of your activity, you might also need to register with the South Carolina Department of Revenue in order to collect and submit sales tax.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are approximately 20,000 non-profit organizations officially registered in South Carolina as of 2021.
You must go to the South Carolina Secretary of State’s website and follow the steps for online or mail filing if you want to file articles of incorporation in the state. Your non-profit’s name, mission, registered agent, and board of directors must all be disclosed.
To sum up, it takes careful planning and attention to regulatory criteria to launch a non-profit advocacy group in South Carolina. By following the above-mentioned steps, you can establish a non-profit that has a good impact on your neighborhood and also qualifies for tax breaks and other benefits.
Organizations who want to ask the public for charitable donations in South Carolina must submit a CL-1 form, which is a registration form for charity organizations. The form must be delivered to the South Carolina Secretary of State’s office along with the required paperwork and payment. After receiving approval, the group is permitted to ask for donations for charitable purposes throughout the state.