Starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Indiana is easy — and the first task is filing your Articles of Incorporation. This guide will walk you through the eight steps required to file the Articles of Incorporation to officially start a nonprofit in Indiana.
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Getting Started
To start a domestic nonprofit corporation in Indiana, you must file the Articles of Incorporation – Domestic Nonprofit Corporation form. This guide covers each step you must take to fill out this document successfully and get on the right track to forming an Indiana nonprofit.
Step 1: List Your Nonprofit’s Name
Step 2: Describe Your Nonprofit’s Purpose
Step 3: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 4: Confirm Any Members
Step 5: List Your Incorporator Information
Step 6: Outline the Distribution of Assets Upon Dissolution
Step 7: Provide Any Additional Attachments
Step 8: File Formation Documents
(Check out our other guides for a look at how to start a nonprofit organization or how to file articles of incorporation in other states.)
Step 1: List Your Nonprofit’s Name
The first step to filling out the Indiana Articles of Incorporation is to list your organization’s name and principal office address. If you haven’t gone through the process of establishing a name for your organization, here are the requirements for naming a nonprofit in Indiana:
- Your nonprofit’s name must be distinguishable from any other name on record within the state of Indiana, including any reserved names.
- Your nonprofit’s name must include “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “Incorporated,” or “Company.”
Recommended: For a step-by-step guide to naming your nonprofit corporation in Indiana, read our guide on How to Name a Nonprofit in Indiana.
Search the Availability of Your Name
After selecting potential names — ideally, at least four or five — it’s important to search for their availability in your state. You can do this by conducting the four recommended searches outlined below, or use our 501(c)(3) Lookup Table.
Indiana Business Search
To operate in Indiana, a nonprofit corporation must have a unique name. You can easily check if your chosen name is available by performing a search using the Indiana Business Search tool.
Domain Name Search
We strongly recommend that you also check to see if your business name is available as a web domain (URL). Even if you don’t plan to create a business website today, you may want to buy the web address to prevent others from acquiring that domain name. It’s a free search.
Federal Trademark Search
You can easily check if someone already trademarked your chosen nonprofit name by using the federal Trademark Electronic Search System. This is important even if you don’t plan to form your nonprofit right away.
Once you confirm that no one else already trademarked your chosen name, you can apply for a trademark for your nonprofit.
Web and Social Media Search
A strong social media presence will play a key role in expanding your reach to potential donors as well as clients that will use your services. That makes it important to search the web and popular social media platforms for your desired name before registering it to ensure it’s available on all the platforms where you plan to promote your organization.
Step 2: Describe Your Nonprofit’s Purpose
In Article Two, describe your nonprofit’s purpose. It must include one or more of the following characteristics for your nonprofit to be eligible for 501(c)(3) status:
- Charitable
- Religious
- Educational
- Scientific
- Literary
- Testing for public safety
- Fostering national/international amateur sports competition
- Preventing cruelty to animals/children
After completing Article Two, you must check the appropriate box to indicate which type of corporation your nonprofit will be: a public benefit corporation, a religious corporation, or a mutual benefit corporation.
Step 3: Choose a Registered Agent
A registered agent is required to file the Articles of Incorporation in Indiana. Either a commercial or noncommercial registered agent may fill this role. A registered agent’s responsibilities include accepting and forwarding service of process documents for the corporation as well as serving as a point of contact for the entity. Your corporation can’t serve as its own registered agent.
You must include the name of your chosen registered agent.
Recommended: Using an affordable registered agent service offers many benefits. For more information on choosing a registered agent service, read our full guide.
Step 4: Confirm Any Members
Confirm whether or not your nonprofit corporation will have members by checking the appropriate box.
Step 5: List Your Incorporator Information
An incorporator is any person who participates in the completion and submission of the Articles of Incorporation. In this section, you must list the name and address of each incorporator.
Step 6: Outline the Distribution of Assets Upon Dissolution
On a sheet of paper equal in size to your Articles of Incorporation, describe how your nonprofit corporation’s assets will be distributed upon dissolution.
To qualify for 501(c)(3) status, your nonprofit must distribute its assets upon dissolution to approved, tax-exempt purposes only. For more information about the requirements of dissolution and 501(c)(3) status, refer to the sixth section of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’) suggested language for corporations and associations.
Step 7: Provide Any Additional Attachments
In order to qualify for 501(c)(3) status, you also must include some additional statements in your Articles of Incorporation related to your nonprofit’s initial board of directors. Specifically, you must list at least three directors.
When listing your nonprofit’s initial board of directors, follow these requirements:
- Don’t include any prefixes, such as “Mr.” or “Ms.”
- If applicable, use titles of lineage.
- If applicable, use designations like “M.D.” or “Ph.D.”
For a complete guide to forming your nonprofit’s board of directors, read our How to Develop a Board of Directors for a Nonprofit in Indiana article.
Step 8: File Formation Documents
You can file the Articles of Incorporation in Indiana in two ways: online or by mail. If filing by mail, you must submit two copies of the Articles of Incorporation (one original and one copy).
File the Indiana Articles of Incorporation
OPTION 1: File Online With Indiana INBiz
– OR –
OPTION 2: File by Mail
Fee: $50
Mailing Address:
Secretary of State, Business Services Division
302 W. Washington St., Room E018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I file the Articles of Incorporation in Indiana?
You can file the Articles of Incorporation – Domestic Nonprofit Corporation form with the Indiana Secretary of State online or by mail.
What are the Articles of Incorporation for a nonprofit in Indiana?
The Articles of Incorporation for a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation is a formation document created specifically to form a nonprofit entity. When completed and filed correctly, this formation document can prove especially helpful during the application process for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.
How do I find nonprofits in Indiana?
Use our handy Indiana 501(c)(3) Lookup Table to find nonprofits in Indiana. You can use this tool to see if your preferred nonprofit name is in use or not.
Indiana Nonprofit Quick Links
IRS: Information for Charities and Nonprofits
IRS: Charity – Required Provisions for Organizing Documents
IRS: Form 990 Series for Tax-Exempt Organizations
IRS: Applying for Tax-Exempt Status
IRS: 501(c)(3) Compliance Guide
US Small Business Administration: Apply for Licenses and Permits
Indiana General Assembly: Article 17 – Nonprofit Corporations
Indiana Business Website (INBiz)
Form NP-20A: Nonprofit Application for Sales Tax Exemption
Indiana Secretary of State: Business Forms
Indiana Department of Revenue: Nonprofit Tax Forms
Indiana Gaming Commission: Charity Gaming Guidance
Indiana 501(c)(3) Lookup Table