Look before you leap!  Before going through the process of starting a new charity we strongly encourage you to read the first two FAQs.

• Before you begin, some issues to consider.

• Five alternatives to starting a nonprofit.

• Starting a nonprofit: some early preparation.

• What are the key steps in forming a nonprofit?

• What forms and documents do we have to file?

• What takes place at our first board meeting?

• Who can I contact at the IRS that can help?

• Five reasons to incorporate your nonprofit

• Do I need a lawyer to do this, how much should it cost?

• How do I apply for a nonprofit mail permit?

• Can a nonprofit be a business?

• How should our board be structured?

• Internet Nonprofit Center

• The Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations

• NetworkForGood

• NonprofitExpert.com

• Nonprofit Risk Center

• FirstGov for Nonprofits

• Nonprofit Zone

• Online Compendium of Federal and State Regulations for U.S. Nonprofit Organizations

• Small Business Administration

• Society for Nonprofits Organizations

• Working Knowledge:  Why Running a Nonprofit is the Hardest Job in Business

More Questions Answered

• Checklist- The Things You Must Do to Start a Nonprofit Organization

• About.com questions to ask

• Internet Nonprofit Resource Center

• Research, Money, Personal Support Are Key to Successful Charity Start-Ups

• Claim of Exemption from Registration

• Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative, Inc.- (email) CULI provides legal assistance to nonprofit clients engaged in community revitalization activities such as housing, economic development, arts, social services, and recreation. Typical legal services provided by CULI include incorporation, filing for 501(c)(3) status, by-law creation and revision, contract negotiation and drafting, real estate-related work (including purchase and sale agreements, financing, leases and closings) and other non-litigation matters.

• State of Connecticut Homepage 

• Secretary of State's Office - 

  • Certificate of Incorporation (Nonstock) 

• CAN Resources

  • Employers' Guide to Employment Law in CT  (order form to either fax or mail)

  • Model Employee Handbook

  • CAN 2003 Salary Survey

  • 2004 Compensation in Nonprofit Organizations, 17th Edition

• The Nonprofit Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run Your Nonprofit Organization-"Connecticut"
  by Gary Grobman (reprinted with permission).  For more information on this publication, click here.

• IRS Home Page

  • United States Tax Code - Sec. 501
  • United States Tax Code - Sec. 532
  • General info, FAQs for nonprofits
  • Applying for tax-exemption

• IRS Forms and Publications

  • Form 990
    • Annual filings, 990 Forms
  • Form 1024 (Application for Recognition)
  • Publication 557 Tax Exempt Status for Your Nonprofit
  • Other IRS Publications

• United States Postal Service

  • Publication 417: Nonprofit Standard A Mail Eligibility- inc. form 3623

• Model By-laws

• Sample Articles of Incorporation

• Model Employee Handbook