How To Start a Nonprofit in Florida

Florida has got it all: gorgeous beaches, amazing oranges, Disney World, and more golf courses than any other state. Whether you are relaxing in the sun or hanging out with Mickey Mouse, Florida has something for everyone (myimprov). 

In terms of the nonprofit sector, as of 2017, in the past decade, Florida has seen a 40% growth. It has employed nearly 530,000 Floridians and the number of nonprofits organizations has grown 80% to around 83,000! With so much growth in the industry, there is no better time than now to start your Florida nonprofit (floridatrends). 

Here's everything you need to know to do just that: 

1. First you’ll want to start with your identity
• Figure out who you are, what you stand for and how your business will be conducted. A mission statement is required when filing for tax-exemption status. The mission statement has to include your purpose and a dissolution clause.
2. Choose initial directors
• A board of directors must consist of three or more people. They must 18 years or older. A physical address from each initial board member is required when filing tax-exemption paperwork.
3. Prepare and file your nonprofit’s Articles of Incorporation
• This step requires that you file for Articles of Incorporation with the Florida Department of State. When filing, you’ll have to choose a registered agent. This person will act as the main point of contact between the organization or corporation and the IRS. The registered agent must be a resident in Florida.
• The information you will need to include is a mission statement, purpose clause and dissolution clause. When listing your primary address, it must be the current physical address of the organization and not a PO box. The filing fee is $70 and may be submitted online, by mail or in person.

A Faster, Easy Way to Start Your Nonprofit in Florida

Now you have your Florida nonprofit corporation, you can use your state information and federal EIN to open a bank account for your nonprofit. However, setting up your nonprofit in Florida is just part of the process of becoming a formal tax-exempt organization. The next step is to file for a federal tax exemption using either IRS form 1023 or 1023EZ.

The average nonprofit takes 100+ hours of time and often several thousand dollars in professional fees to create. In the past, you were faced with locating, understanding, and filing the forms yourself or hiring an expensive attorney who likely doesn’t specialize in nonprofits.

ExemptMeNow is the only secure, fully automated, online platform for creating your Florida Nonprofit Corporation.

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