Applying For Non-Profit Status
In the United States, Rescues and Sanctuaries may want to apply with the IRS for non-profit status to become a 501©(3) organization.
Reviewing the requirements early on in starting your Sanctuary could prove helpful.
My own experience applying for nonprofit status turned into a cautionary tale because I did the whole process wrong! I’ll try to get you going in a better direction so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
I completed the correct online form: IRS form for non-profits. It’s literally called the EZ form. How hard can it possibly be?
I whipped this thing out in 45 minutes flat, paid the $275 fee to the IRS and called it a day. Boom! Easy! Until months later when my CFO came on board, looked at what I did and used a lot of expletives. He had to communicate at length with the IRS to fix what I fumbled.
Recommendation
You are probably much smarter and more clever than I am. You may well be able to accurately apply for your nonprofit status with the IRS effectively.
Many CEO’s of Rescues are able to correctly complete this process so I know it can be done. Since I royally jacked up the process, I’m consolidating my suggestion to this:
When you apply for your 501©3 with the IRS, do it the correct way, the first time or find someone who can.
