Starting a Nonprofit - A bibliography

The following publications examine how to start and operate nonprofit organizations in the United States. These resources, and the step-by-step chart below, provide helpful advice on incorporating your organization, registering with the state of Wisconsin and applying for tax exempt status. All of the items listed are located in the Funding Information Center and cannot be checked out of the library.

FIC HD 62.6 .C66 2000
The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management. New York: Wiley.

FIC HF 5686 .N56 G76 2005
Financial and Accounting Guide for Not-For-Profit Organizations. New York: Wiley.

FIC HD 1769.2 .W5 G87 2001
Guide for Wisconsin Nonprofit Organizations. Madison, WI: CLE Books, State Bar of Wisconsin.

FIC KF1388.Z9 M36 2005
How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation. Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press.

FIC KF 1388 .Z9 W37 2000
How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation:  With Forms.  Naperville, IL: Sphinx. 

FIC KF1388.5 .T47 2003
The Nonprofit Board's Guide to Bylaws: Creating a Framework for Effective Governance. Washington, DC: BoardSource.

FIC KF 1388 .O44 1994 6th edition , with supplements
Nonprofit Corporations, Organizations & Associations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

FIC HD 62.6 .G755 2005
Nonprofit Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Nonprofit Organization.  Harrisburg, PA: White Hat Communications. 

FIC HD 62.6 .N6623 2001
The Nonprofit Handbook: Management. New York: J. Wiley.

FIC HD 62.6 .N666 2001
Nonprofit Organization Management: Forms, Checklists, and Guidelines.  Gaitherburg, MD: Aspen Pub.

FIC HD 62.6 .S732 2005
Starting and Building a Nonprofit.  Berkeley, CA: Nolo.

FIC KF 1388 .H66 2005
Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide.  New York: Wiley.

FIC KF 6449 .B58 2004
Tax Planning and Compliance for Tax-Exempt Organizations: Rules, Checklists, Procedures.  New York: J. Wiley & Sons.

FIC HD 2769.2 .U6 N65 2001
Understanding Nonprofit Organizations: Governance, Leadership, and Management.  Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Web resource: 

The Foundation Center's "How do I establish a nonprofit organization."

Milwaukee Legal Initiative for Nonprofit Corporations (M-LINC) A legal information, education, & referral service for nonprofits.
 

STEPS

CONTACTS & FORMS

RESULTS

Articles of Incorporation

• If necessary, reserve the name of your organization.
• Prepare the Certificate of Incorporation.

• The WI Department of Financial Institutions
  (608) 261-7577
  www.wdfi.org

• Reserves your name, for sixty days, for rights of incorporation.
• The state recognizes your organization as in Incorporated Nonprofit organization.

 Federal Employer Identification Number

• File with the IRS as a nonprofit, even if you do not have any employees.

• IRS Form SS-4 
• IRS Phone Numbers
  Information:  1-800-829-1040
  Forms:  1-800-829-3676
  www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

• Your organization is assigned an identification number for the IRS to track your reports & 1023 tax exempt application.

 Federal Tax Exemption

• Determine which section of IRS code you are applying under. 
• File with the IRS as a tax exempt organization (preferably within 27 months of incorporation).

• IRS publication 557 & IRS Form 1023 or 1024.
• If requesting an advance ruling, obtain & prepare 2 IRS advance ruling forms: Form 872-C
  www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

• Recognized by the IRS as exempt from paying income tax on most revenues related to your charitable functions.
• Donations made to your organization are tax deductible only if you are a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Wisconsin Tax Exemption

• Apply for Wisconsin sales tax exemption for purchases & sales (some restrictions apply).

• The Wisconsin Department of Revenue:
  Milwaukee: (414) 227-4444
  Madison: (608) 266-2776
  www.dor.state.wi.us

• Makes any purchases for your organization tax exempt.  Also allows tax exemption for some organizational sales & events.

 State Registration & Reporting

• Register your organization with the state. 
• Annually report your organization's fiscal information.

• Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing in Madison:  (608) 266-5511
  www.drl.state.wi.us

• Your organization is officially registered as a charity to solicit funds, do business or to own property in Wisconsin.

   Reporting to the IRS

• Annually report your organization's fiscal information.

• IRS Form 990
  www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

• Provide the IRS with a report of income receipts & disbursments.

Marquette University
Raynor Library, Funding Information Center
P.O. Box 3141
1355 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141