Nonprofit Organizations and Community Groups

The Community Development Project offers a full range of services to non-profit organization and unincorporated community groups on projects and plans which contribute to revitalizing their communities.  The range of services provided includes incorporation, tax exemption, charitable compliance, real estate and corporate governance.

What is a not-for-profit corporation?

• The primary purpose of the organization something other than making a profit (although the corporation may engage in business in order to further this purpose)
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• The members or directors of the corporation cannot distribute the assets, income or profit of the corporation to themselves.  Except in certain circumstances such as compensation for services rendered. 
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• The corporation is not owned by anyone.  It is controlled by the Board of Directors of the corporation. 
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• All of the assets, profit and income of the corporation must go to furthering the corporation’s purpose.

Some of the steps involved in creating a not-for-profit corporation:

• Creating and filing a certificate of incorporation (the main governing document of the corporation)
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• Adopting by-laws (additional governance rules) for the corporation
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• Getting an Employer Tax Identification Number
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• Registration with the New York Attorney General (Charities Bureau)
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• Getting Federal Tax Exemption (IRS Form 1023)
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• Getting exemption from State Franchise Tax
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• Getting exemption from New York City tax
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• Annually reporting to the IRS (Form 990)
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• Annually reporting to the New York Attorney General

The Things You Gotta' Do to Start a Nonprofit Organization: The Checklist Project of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York

Not for Profit Resources

Past Clients

Click here to learn more about past nonprofit clients.