Sometimes we’re approached by clients who have already filled out IRS Form1023 but want us to review their work before filing —  and we are happy to do it.  Here are three common mistakes that we see again and again: 

1. Incomplete Purpose Clause and/or Missing Dissolution Clause in Organizing Document (Articles of Incorporation) – Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code requires that your organizing document state your exempt purpose(s), such as charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes.  Likewise, the code states that upon dissolution of your organization, your remaining assets must be used exclusively for exempt purposes, such as charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes.

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Understandably, this is one question that we hear over and over again from startup nonprofit organizations.  Just yesterday I heard from a woman who told me that an online startup “service” had told her it was possible to have her application successfully processed within 30 days.  Of course, now she wanted to know if we could do it even faster.

The truth is, the IRS can take between 2-5 months to review your 501c3 application packet, depending on a number of circumstances. 

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