Form Your Orlando Nonprofit With Confidence
Chisholm Law Firm is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations in Orlando with the guidance to start strong. We know the unique challenges of building a nonprofit and offer extensive legal support to ensure your organization operates with confidence, clarity, and compliance from day one.
Whether you need help forming your nonprofit or navigating the complexities of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements, our firm is a one-stop source for accessing resources. We assist charitable organizations from the Orange Blossom Trail to Mills Avenue to International Drive with everything they need to get up and running the right way.
Our 5-Step Process to Secure Your Nonprofit’s Future
Our Total Nonprofit Formation™ process provides personalized legal support to ensure your nonprofit's long-term success—from filing articles of incorporation to securing 501(c)(3) status.
- Incorporation & Legal Protections: We handle your legal documents, establish your nonprofit’s structure, and ensure compliance with state and regulatory requirements.
- Securing Your Brand: We protect your nonprofit's name and identity with federal trademark registration.
- Funding & Grant Support: Our grant writing and fundraising services help secure the necessary resources to thrive.
- Building Your Team: We guide you on recruiting your board and recruiting volunteers for a strong team.
- Ongoing Compliance Support: We manage annual filings and fundraising licenses, keeping you compliant so you can focus on your mission.
Nonprofit Planning
Chisholm Law offers tailored nonprofit planning services to help Orlando-based organizations build solid and sustainable foundations. We can help with starting or refining leadership, creating impactful mission statements, developing strategic plans, and crafting fundraising strategies to secure financial support and nurture donor relationships.
Focused on long-term success, Chisholm Law helps nonprofits define key priorities, set actionable goals, and align resources effectively. Our experienced attorneys offer strategic direction across various sectors, including community development, education, health, and social services, ensuring your organization confidently navigates complex decisions.
Nonprofit Incorporation
Chisholm Law provides comprehensive nonprofit incorporation services for Orlando-based organizations and corporations, ensuring a solid legal foundation and access to valuable benefits, including gaining tax-exempt status. We can guide you through the entire process, starting with defining your nonprofit’s mission and selecting the appropriate legal structure, such as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4).
Our team can assist you with drafting and filing key documents, including articles of incorporation and bylaws, to meet state and Internal Revenue Code requirements. We can also help you appoint a registered agent for official communications and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes.
In addition to document preparation assistance, Chisholm Law ensures your nonprofit organization meets all state compliance regulations and assists in applying for federal tax-exempt status - which opens up a world of grant opportunities and enables you to receive tax-deductible donations.
501(c)(3) Formation
Chisholm Law provides comprehensive 501(c)(3) formation services that simplify the process of establishing your Orlando nonprofit and securing tax-exempt status. Our experienced team ensures that your organization fully meets IRS requirements from the outset, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on advancing your mission with confidence.
We guide you in selecting the best legal structure for your nonprofit and handle all essential documentation, including drafting articles of incorporation, creating compliant bylaws, and preparing IRS Form 1023. Beyond formation, we offer ongoing compliance support to help your organization stay in good standing with the IRS, protecting your tax-exempt status and setting a strong foundation for sustainable growth.
501(c)(4) Formation
Establishing a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization in the Orlando area demands a thorough approach to IRS compliance and organizational structuring. Chisholm Law offers targeted 501(c)(4) formation services to guide you through this complex process, ensuring that your organization is built to meet legal requirements while staying mission-focused.
Our services encompass every step of the formation process, from structuring your organization to meet IRS guidelines to preparing and filing essential documents. We can also provide ongoing compliance support tailored to the unique aspects of 501(c)(4) organizations, particularly when it comes to navigating lobbying and political activity regulations.
With Chisholm Law’s guidance, your 501(c)(4) organization will be well-prepared to operate confidently and successfully, equipped to make a meaningful impact in the community.
501(c)(6) Formation
Starting a 501(c)(6) organization, such as a chamber of commerce or business league, requires a strategic approach to meet IRS standards and successfully promote shared business interests. Chisholm Law offers dedicated 501(c)(6) formation services in Orlando to guide organizations through each step, ensuring compliance with IRS requirements while maintaining a clear focus on advancing common goals within the business community.
Our services include drafting essential documents, completing and filing IRS Form 1024 for tax-exempt status, and providing ongoing compliance support tailored to 501(c)(6) organizations. With Chisholm Law’s support, your organization will have a solid legal and operational foundation, positioned to effectively represent and grow the interests of your members.
501(c)(7) Formation
Chisholm Law also offers 501(c)(7) formation services, helping social and recreational clubs in Orlando achieve tax-exempt status while ensuring full compliance with regulatory standards. We can assist with defining your club’s mission, drafting essential documents, and completing IRS forms to secure 501(c)(7) status.
Our services also provide ongoing compliance support to help your club operate within IRS guidelines, including activity and income limitations specific to social clubs. With Chisholm Law’s help, your 501(c)(7) organization can confidently focus on delivering recreational and social experiences to its members, knowing its foundation is legally sound and compliant.
Tax-Exempt Reinstatement
If your Orlando nonprofit corporation has lost its tax-exempt status, Chisholm Law offers strategic guidance to help you regain it efficiently. Our tax-exempt reinstatement services address a range of causes for revocation, from missed filings to non-compliance issues, providing a path to restore your organization’s standing and helping to implement practices that ensure future IRS compliance.
We begin by analyzing the specific factors that led to your nonprofit’s revocation and developing a tailored plan for reinstatement. Our team assists with completing necessary forms and manages all communication with the IRS to streamline the reinstatement process. With Chisholm Law’s support, your organization will be back on track and better equipped to maintain its tax-exempt status moving forward.
State Tax Exemption
Chisholm Law Firm assists Orlando nonprofits in securing state tax-exempt status, an important step in building a strong financial foundation. State tax exemption complements federal tax-exempt status by offering additional benefits, enabling nonprofits to allocate more resources toward fulfilling their mission.
Our team carefully assesses your organization’s activities to confirm eligibility according to Florida’s state-specific criteria, typically focusing on charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes. We then handle the preparation and filing of required documents with state authorities, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
Foreign Registration
Expanding your nonprofit into new states can be challenging, with varying regulations from one jurisdiction to the next. Chisholm Law provides legal guidance to navigate the complexities of foreign registration. We assist with the necessary filings and ensure that your nonprofit meets all legal requirements for operating nonprofit organizations in each state you aim to provide services.
Chisholm helps Orlando and Central Florida nonprofits with out-of-state registration, appointing reliable registered agents and employees, and ensuring timely receipt of legal notices. We also provide ongoing compliance support, managing annual reports, renewals, and necessary filings to keep your organization in good standing.
Private Foundations
Chisholm Law offers comprehensive support for private foundation formation, helping you navigate the complexities of structuring your foundation in full accordance with IRS requirements. From preparing and filing foundational documents to securing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status through IRS Form 1023, we handle each step with precision and diligence. With Chisholm Law’s assistance, you can confidently build a sustainable foundation that upholds your charitable vision.
Public Charities
Starting and managing a public charity requires thorough planning and careful attention to both legal and operational details. Chisholm Law supports Orlando-area nonprofits through every step of the formation process, helping you select the most suitable structure and preparing all essential documentation to ensure a smooth, compliant setup.
Beyond formation, we assist in obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by preparing and filing IRS Form 1023, meeting all requirements for a successful approval. This includes drafting bylaws, establishing necessary policies, and ensuring accurate financial statement reporting so your nonprofit operates with integrity and transparency.
With Chisholm Law by your side, you can focus on advancing your charitable work, knowing your nonprofit fully complies with all legal requirements.
FAQs
Starting a nonprofit in Orlando begins with defining your mission and choosing a unique name that reflects your purpose. Next, appoint a board of directors and draft your articles of incorporation with the Florida Department of State. Develop comprehensive bylaws and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, which you'll need for tax and banking purposes.
These are just the initial steps for forming your nonprofit. Chisholm Law can help make this process much easier and take some of the load off your shoulders.
Obtaining 501(c)(3) status can take three to six months after submitting Form 1023 to the IRS. The timeline depends on factors like the IRS’s current workload and the complexity of your application. There are ways to expedite the process, but the most effective is to ensure all your paperwork is accurate, complete, and filed correctly.
Nonprofits often experience delays with their applications due to common mistakes. Working with a nonprofit lawyer can help you avoid those missteps and speed you on your way to tax-exempt status.
Each of these statuses serves different organizational goals and comes with distinct tax benefits and restrictions, making it important for nonprofits to choose the structure that best aligns with their mission and activities. For example:
- 501(c)(3) organizations are primarily charitable, educational, religious, or scientific organizations that serve the public good. Donations to these orgs are tax-deductible for donors, making this status attractive for organizations relying on public contributions. However, 501(c)(3)s face restrictions on lobbying and are prohibited from engaging in political campaign activities.
- 501(c)(4) organizations are social welfare organizations that promote the common good and general welfare, often engaging in advocacy. Unlike 501(c)(3)s, they can engage in unlimited lobbying and some political activities, though donations are generally not tax-deductible. This status is popular for advocacy groups and civic leagues.
- 501(c)(6) organizations are trade associations or business leagues, like chambers of commerce, focused on promoting the interests of their members. They can engage in lobbying efforts for member interests but are restricted from participating in political campaigns. Contributions to 501(c)(6) organizations are not tax-deductible as charitable donations.
In Florida, nonprofits with federal 501(c)(3) status may qualify for state tax exemptions, like sales and use tax. Submit Form DR-5 to the Florida Department of Revenue office with your IRS determination letter and other required application documents. Approval depends on meeting state-specific criteria.
Without tax-exempt status, your organization may become subject to federal income tax and could owe back taxes. Donations received during the revocation period will no longer be tax-deductible for donors, which can hinder fundraising efforts. To regain tax-exempt status, you have to follow the IRS’s reinstatement procedures, including filing the appropriate forms and resolving the issues that led to revocation.
Chisholm Law can guide your organization through this complex reinstatement process. We will analyze the factors that caused the revocation, assist with preparing and filing the necessary IRS documentation, and work to ensure future compliance. With Chisholm Law’s support, you can confidently restore your nonprofit’s tax-exempt status and reestablish donor confidence in your mission.
While you can start a nonprofit corporation without a lawyer, having one can simplify the process. A lawyer can help with legal requirements, ensure compliance, draft documents, and offer guidance on maintaining tax-exempt status, saving you time and preventing costly mistakes.
Chisholm Law Firm provides comprehensive support for Orlando-area nonprofits, guiding you through formation, securing tax-exempt status, and ensuring ongoing compliance. We provide comprehensive support from selecting the right legal structure and filing necessary documents to securing tax-exempt status, ensuring a smooth and compliant formation process.
Start Your Orlando Nonprofit with Chisholm Law Today!
Chisholm Law is committed to supporting Orlando and Central Florida nonprofits through every step of their journey, from formation to ongoing compliance. Whether you're just starting or need help navigating legal requirements, our team is here to guide you.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation and discuss your specific needs. Let Chisholm Law help you lay the solid foundation for a successful nonprofit, ensuring you stay compliant and focused on your mission.