LibGuides: Thinking of Starting a New Nonprofit? : Home

Candid

Nonprofit Startup Assessment - Candid
Assess your readiness to start a nonprofit, and access resources to build your skills and knowledge as a founder.
Illinois - Candid Learning Resource Page
Find helpful resources for starting a nonprofit, such as checklists, nonprofit associations, legal support, and government agencies.
Is Starting a Nonprofit Right for You? - Candid Learning
Learn if you are ready to start a nonprofit and what steps to take to successfully start your organization.

National Council of Nonprofits

How to Start a Nonprofit - NCN
The pages in this section of the National Council of Nonprofits’ website walk you through some of the questions to ask before starting a nonprofit, filings you’ll need to complete at the federal and state levels, and the standard policies and procedures that you may want your new nonprofit to have in place.
Charitable Solicitation Registration
Fiscal Sponsor
Using a fiscal sponsorship arrangement offers a way for a cause to attract donors even when it is not yet recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

eBooks

Candid offers a growing digital collection of eBooks and audiobooks on social sector- and philanthropy-related topics, curated by Candid’s team of expert librarians. This free, public collection is available to anyone through Candid's OverDrive site and the Libby app*, and can be accessed remotely from any computer, smartphone, tablet, or e-reader.

Special collections include: Nonprofit Management; Grants & Proposal Writing; Fundraising; Philanthropy; Strategic Planning & Evaluation; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and many other nonprofit-related topics.

Click to check out Candid eBooks

Illinois Secretary of State

Guide for Organizing Not-for-Profit Corporations - SOS IL
The guide provided by Alexi Giannoulias, IL Secretary of State, is to help people forming a new Not-for-Profit Corporation, with detailed guidelines for filing the Articles of Incorporation, as well as information on filing fees, government agencies you must contact, and legal obligations you will assume after incorporation. If you have further questions about organizing your Not-for-Profit Corporation, please contact office’s Department of Business Serv ices, Corporations Division, at 217-524-8008. Alexi Giannoulias, IL Secretary of State

Business/Not-for-Profit Corporations Business Services - IL SOS
Online resources for various services, including NFP:
NFP Annual Report
NFP Articles of Incorporation
NFP Certificate of Good Standing
NFP Reinstatement

Illinois Attorney General

Building Better Charities Forming Charitable Organizations - IL Attorney General
From the Office of the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
To form a charitable organization, there are three major governmental bodies that every charitable organization operating in the state of Illinois must contact prior to solicitation or other activity within the state. A fourth governmental entity, the Illinois Department of Revenue, should also be contacted if the charitable organization wishes to apply for exemption from state sales tax.

Checklist for Illinois Charitable Organizations Formation Checklist For Not-For-Profit Corporations - IL Attorney General
The following list is a guide to help you understand how to start a not-for-profit organization and the common requirements.

Filing and Reporting Requirements for Charitable Organizations - IL Attorney General
The following forms should be used when registering a charity or professional fund-raising organization with the Illinois Attorney General's Office or when filing annual reports as required by Illinois law. If you have problems downloading any of these forms, please call the Charitable Trust Bureau at (312) 814-2595 for further assistance.

Office of the Attorney General
- Charitable Trusts Bureau
- 115 S. LaSalle Street, 12th Floor Chicago, IL 60603
- (312) 814-2595

Internal Revenue Service

Lifecycle of an Exempt Organization - IRS
This website provides information about points of intersection between organizations and the IRS. The content includes explanatory information, and links to forms that an organization may need to file with the IRS. The materials cover the 5 stages in an organization's life cycle.

Lifecycle pages — including requirements for exemption — are available for the following types of organizations:

Charitable organizations (Code section 501(c)(3))
- Public charities
- Private foundations
Social welfare organizations (section 501(c)(4))
Agricultural/horticultural organizations (section 501(c)(5))
Labor organizations (section 501(c)(5))
Business leagues (trade associations) (section 501(c)(6))

Forefront

Thinking of Starting a New NonProfit?
While Forefront does not offer supportive services to begin a new nonprofit, we are pleased to offer the resource listing above.

Fiscal Sponsor
As part of our work, Forefront provides fiscal sponsorship to select organizations. To help us learn if we are the right partner for you, please fill out the following form to the best of your abilities.

Librarian

Christina Caputo

Email Me

Thinking of Starting a New Nonprofit? : Home

Thank you for your committment to the social impact sector of Illinois.

Forefront does not offer supportive services or classes beyond this LibGuide on how to begin a nonprofit.