Starting a Non-Profit Organization in Ohio

Starting a Non-Profit Organization in Ohio
● Ohio.gov Start Up Booklet, opens a new window
● Ohio Sec of State Business Nonprofit Booklet, opens a new window
● Ohio Business Start-up Checklists, opens a new window
● Choose a business name and check for availability -Your nonprofit corporation’s name may not be the same as other corporate names on file with the Secretary of State.
o https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/ Business Search, opens a new window (ex/choosing a business name and seeing if it is available)
● Recruit and/or appoint directors
o You must have at least three directors for your nonprofit corporation
o Directors do not have to reside within Ohio, nor do they have to be of a certain age.
o The Ohio Attorney General has a Guide for Board Members, opens a new window which explains the duties and responsibilities that directors owe to a nonprofit organization.
● Incorporate your Nonprofit Organization
o Prepare and file articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State
▪ Start a Nonprofit in Ohio, opens a new window explains what to include in your articles in order to qualify for 501©(3) tax-exempt status
▪ You must file your articles of incorporation with the Ohio Secretary of State. Use Form 532B.
▪ The filing fee is $99.
▪ As part of the form, you must appoint a Statutory Agent.
o Create the bylaws
▪ There are no set criteria for content of bylaws, but they typically set forth internal rules and procedures.
▪ You are not required to file bylaws with the Secretary of State, but you must keep a copy at the nonprofit corporation’s principal place of business.
o Create a record book
▪ You will need a records book to store important documents concerning your nonprofit corporation. See Ohio Rev Code 1702-15, opens a new window for specific information about record-keeping requirements under Ohio law.
● Get your Employer Identification Number -Wherever you hire an employee in Ohio, you must inform both the IRS and the state of Ohio.
o Federal
▪ Request an Employer Identification Number (“EIN”) from the IRS. This can be done via an online application.
▪ For more on the EIN, the IRS details all the necessary steps to complete, including verifying work eligibility and withholding allowances certificates, in Hiring Employees.
o State
▪ See Ohio New Hire Reporting Center for more information.
o Local/County
▪ Permits/Zoning (local officials, health boards, building departments)
● Register with State Offices
o Department of Revenue
▪ You must register for state business taxes. The Ohio Business Gateway has information on your nonprofit corporation’s tax responsibilities.
● Apply for tax exemptions -once you’ve incorporated as a nonprofit corporation, you can start applying for tax exemptions.
o Federal
▪ Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization -Publication 557
▪ Applying for 501c3 Tax Exempt Status -Publication 4220
▪ Apply via Form 1023 which is $400 -you may be eligible to use Form 1023EZ. The cost is $275.
o State
▪ Visit the Ohio Department of Taxation
● Ohio Attorney General
o Before engaging in any solicitation activities, you must register with the Attorney General by filing the Charitable Organization Registration Form.
o The filing fee depends on the nonprofit corporations with estimates less than $25,000. The filing fee is $50 those with estimates between $25,000 to $100,000.
● Other
o Ohio law requires every nonprofit corporation to keep its statutory agent information current. In the event the name or address of the company’s statutory agent changes, or the statutory agent resigns or dies, the entity must choose a new statutory agent and submit the Statutory Agent Update (Form 521) and filing fee of $25.00.
o Every five years, a nonprofit corporation must file a Statement of Continued Existence (Form 522) with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

Grants
Search catalog on top right of website libraryvisit.org, opens a new window -drop down menu of catalog or articles
Grant searching, opens a new window -tutorial videos also here
● Foundation Directory (Only available in Library) Searching by subject area and geographic focus, also organization searching to look up competition
Taxonomy of Foundation Directory, opens a new window
● Philanthropy Classification System
o Subject
o Populations
o Organization Type
National wide searches:
● You may want to list a few large cities across the United States
Local community foundations examples:
● Youngstown Foundation, opens a new window
● Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, opens a new window
● Raymond John Wean Foundation, opens a new window
● Community Foundation of Western PA & Eastern OH
● Youngstown Area Jewish Foundation, opens a new window
● PNC Foundation @ Youngstown, opens a new window
● Farmer’s Charitable Foundation, opens a new window
App.Candid.org, opens a new window and seals of transparency
Learning.Candid.org, opens a new window
● Nonprofit Startup Assessment
● Sample Documents
o Cover Letters
o Letters of Inquiry
o Letter Proposals
o Proposal Budgets
o Full Proposals
● Search ‘Board Training’
o Knowledge Base Items
▪ Content
▪ Staff Website Picks
▪ Books
Candid.org -YouTube Channel, opens a new window
● Interviews, programs, and topical subjects for today’s nonprofit community
Associations
● Association of Fundraising Professionals -MASH (Mahoning and Shenango Chapter)
● Philanthropy Ohio -email newsletter (bottom right on website)
● Council of Nonprofit Organizations, opens a new window
o How to start a nonprofit, frequency asked questions, board toolkit, board orientation
Searching for blogs such as #nonprofit #fundraising #development #professionals like on reddit
Trusts -Premier Bank, Huntington Bank, PNC of Youngstown, Farmers National Bank, Stifel and CRA (Community Reinvestment Act)
Google Alerts, opens a new window
● People
● Company
● Words
● Development
● Nonprofit marketing
● Storytelling
Grantmakers.io, opens a new window
Free grant searching
Score.org, opens a new window
Mentoring/Counseling
LinkedIn Learning (library database)
www.libraryvisit.org, opens a new window -> Browse-> Online Resources -> Business (in yellow bar)
Search for nonprofit, management, budgeting, fundraising for nonprofits, government
Business Volunteers Unlimited, opens a new window
Online resource center and job board on our website, opens a new window under resources, as well as a full listing of our events, opens a new window
One of our programs that is extremely helpful to many nonprofits is our Volunteer Center – nonprofits can post volunteer opportunities, opens a new window at any time

Updated 6-2026