[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-303958-105":3,"doc-detail-303958-en":80,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":98},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","forming-a-tax-exempt-california-nonprofit-corporation-legal-aid-manual","Forming a Tax-Exempt California Nonprofit Corporation - Legal Aid Manual","","Manual prepared by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Housing and Communities Workgroup outlining how to form a California nonprofit corporation and pursue tax-exempt status. Includes a disclaimer that it is general information and not specific legal advice. Provides background distinguishing nonprofit from for-profit entities, explains organizational types, and lists a step-by-step formation and incorporation checklist. Covers federal exemption pathways, including Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4), with guidance for securing status.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/","General",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/forming-a-tax-exempt-california-nonprofit-corporation-legal-aid-manual/303958/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/forming-a-tax-exempt-california-nonprofit-corporation-legal-aid-manual/303958.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Stanley","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-21","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":26},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What is the purpose of this manual?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"It provides general information about the incorporation and tax-exempt status application process for a California nonprofit corporation.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"Does this manual provide legal advice?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"No. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice, and organizations with specific questions should consult an attorney.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"Which federal tax-exempt categories does the manual discuss?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"It discusses Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and Section 501(c)(4), including key differences between them and other organizations exempt under 501(c).","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},303958,1790012952,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",{"doc_id":78,"user_id":83,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":84,"doc_module":22,"category_id":85,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":86,"file_id":87,"file_url":88,"file_type":89,"file_size":90,"view_count":26,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":91,"language":92,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":93,"faqs":94,"seo_title":95,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":96,"read_time":97},2336477405376,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0",158,"FORMING A TAX-EXEMPT CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION  \nPrepared by:  \nThe Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles  \nHousing and Communities Workgroup  \nCOPYRIGHT  \n© 2018 Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles  \nAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic or otherwise, or used for any purpose without the express written permission of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. This publication may be copied and/or distributed by a California Nonprofit Corporation for the sole purpose of assisting other nonprofit corporations provided no portion of this publication is altered in any reprint and that the name of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is not altered or removed.  \nDISCLAIMER  \nThis manual has been prepared by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. It is not intended to provide you with specific legal advice regarding your organization, but rather to give you general information about the incorporation and tax-exempt status application process. If you have specific questions about your organization, you should consult an attorney.  \nABOUT US  \nLegal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles’ Housing and Communities Workgroup aims to empower Los Angeles communities and community-based organizations in their efforts to attack poverty at its roots. The Unit is committed to building clean, safe, and economically vibrant neighborhoods through legal assistance, policy advocacy and community education. To achieve this goal, attorneys and advocates assist in developing, training, and empowering community-based organizations and poor and low-income individuals to become actively involved in the community revitalization process.  \nTo request our services for your organization, call us at (800) 399-4529 or visit us online at [www.lafla.org](www.lafla.org).  \nTable of Contents  \nChapter One: Introduction........................................................................................... 1  \nChapter Two: Forming A Nonprofit Corporation ........................................................ 2  \nA. Section A: General Background .............................................................................. 2  \n1. Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Organization ..................................................................................2  \n2. Types of Nonprofit Organizations .......................................................................................2  \na. Unincorporated Association ...........................................................................................2  \nb. Charitable Trust ................................................................................................................. 3  \nc. Corporation ....................................................................................................................... 3  \nd. Limited Liability Company ...............................................................................................3  \ne. Fiscal Sponsorship .............................................................................................................2  \n3. Nonprofit Corporate Forms Under California Law ...........................................................3  \nB. Section B: Formation and Incorporation Process ....................................................... 4  \nChecklist ........................................................................................................................................4  \n1. Reserving a Name with the Secretary of State ................................................................5  \n2. Preparing the Articles of Incorporation .............................................................................5  \na. Required Provisions ........................................................................................................... 5  \nb. Other Provisions ................................................................................................................. 6  \nc. Optional ","cbCairQr3sPHuJ2l","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCairQr3sPHuJ2l","pdf",623969,39,"English","# Chapter One: Introduction\n# Chapter Two: Forming A Nonprofit Corporation\n## A. Section A: General Background\n## B. Section B: Formation and Incorporation Process\n# Chapter Three: Gaining Tax-Exempt Status\n## C. Section A: Types of Exempt Organizations\n## D. Section B: Procedure for Securing Tax-Exempt Status","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of this manual?\",\"answer\":\"It provides general information about the incorporation and tax-exempt status application process for a California nonprofit corporation.\"},{\"question\":\"Does this manual provide legal advice?\",\"answer\":\"No. It is not intended to provide specific legal advice, and organizations with specific questions should consult an attorney.\"},{\"question\":\"Which federal tax-exempt categories does the manual discuss?\",\"answer\":\"It discusses Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and Section 501(c)(4), including key differences between them and other organizations exempt under 501(c).\"}]","Forming a Tax-Exempt California Nonprofit Corporation - Legal Aid Manual | PDF",1789808581,14,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":99},[100,105,110,114,119,124,129,134,139],{"id":101,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":106,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":97,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":120,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":122,"slug":123},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":125,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":126,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":128},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":130,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":131,"show_sort_weight":132,"slug":133},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":135,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":136,"show_sort_weight":137,"slug":138},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":140},"general-158"]