Starting a Nonprofit in Texas - Should I?
Before you engage in "the process", you should explore whether the creation of the nonprofit is what you really want to do. That requires a basic understanding of what is a nonprofit as well as an honest review of why you want to start the nonprofit organization and what you perceive as the benefits of doing so both for yourself and for the cause or issue you want to address.
An excellent resource in this regard is Get Ready Get Set: What You Need to Know Before Starting a Nonprofit. / En Sus Marcas... Preparense ... C-MAP (California Management Assistance Partnership) (172 KB).
In addition, Texas C-Bar (www.texascbar.org) has compiled an excellent set of resources available to both individuals and lawyers interested in starting and managing a nonprofit organizations. Under their Pre-Incorporation section you will find:
- Choosing the Right Corporate Structure- This document discusses various factors to consider when choosing between an unincorporated association and incorporation.
- Comparison Chart of Nonprofit Corporations vs. Associations- This chart displays certain differences between nonprofit corporations and nonprofit unincorporated associations.
- The Basics of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) Tax-Exempt Status - Section 501 of the IRS Code exempts certain types of organizations from taxation. Section 501(c) describes the different types of organizations that are eligible to tax-exempt status and the requirements they must meet to gain that status
Chart of the Benefits and Drawbacks of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) Status
4920N. IH 35, Austin, Texas 78751
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