How to Start a Nonprofit in Missouri

Situated in the Midwestern United States, Missouri shares its borders with 8 states-- more than any other state in the country (Tennessee is tied, also sharing its borders with 8 other states). Nicknamed the “Show Me” state, Missouri certainly has plenty to show for-- delicious barbecue, toasted ravioli, great baseball teams, the Gateway Arch, and an ever-expanding nonprofit sector! Consisting of over 32,000 organizations, employing nearly 11% of the state’s workforce, and generating $46.3 B in annual revenues (Independent Sector), the nonprofit sector is crucial to the state’s economic and community development.If you’ve identified a particular social condition you’d like to improve upon in Missouri and have an idea for a nonprofit to remedy the issue, the first step to starting your nonprofit will be incorporating the organization as a domestic nonprofit corporation with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. The cost for incorporating a domestic nonprofit corporation in Missouri is $25. Applications should be submitted by mail to the Secretary of State’s Office (click here to view the address) with an enclosed check made payable to Director of Revenue.Before you can incorporate your nonprofit, you are going to need to have the following information in order:

1. Name: The name of your nonprofit cannot currently be in use by another Missouri-based business entity. To ensure that the name you’d like to use for your nonprofit has not already been taken, you can perform a name availability search on the Secretary of State’s website.
2. Indicate that your organization is a public benefit corporation. Public benefit corporations, in accordance to Missouri State Law, are corporations eligible for receiving 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS.
3. Appoint a registered agent: A registered agent is a person based in Missouri (in this case) who is at least 18 years of age and serves as the liaison for communication between your nonprofit and state/ federal government entities. This person will be the point of contact for receiving important business filing and legal information. A registered agent can be a member of your nonprofit’s board or staff, an attorney, or any adult individual who is a resident of Missiouri.
4. Purpose and dissolution clauses: When filing for incorporation in Missouri, the State asks to describe how the assets of the organization will be disbursed upon dissolving the organization. You are also required to disclose the purpose(s) for which your nonprofit is being organized. This is congruent with what are known as the purpose and dissolution clauses required by the IRS, which you can learn more about by clicking the above link.
5. Name, address, and signature of incorporators: An incorporator is a person who prepares incorporation paperwork for your nonprofit. This could be a person or persons who will serve on your initial board of directors. While the State of Missouri does not require you to identify a board of directors for incorporating, you are going to want to select three (at least) committed individuals to serve on your nonprofit’s board. Thus, it may be fruitful to select board members before incorporating and list these individuals as incorporators when filing for incorporation.

After filing for incorporation and receiving your nonprofit’s Articles of Incorporation from the Secretary of State, you’ll need to go through the following processes to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit:

1. Obtain an EIN
2. Apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

ExemptMeNow offers a faster, more efficient service for incorporating your nonprofit in Missouri. If you’re ready to get started, create your free ExemptMeNow account today!