Your board members should include at least a President, Treasurer, and Secretary—but make sure to check the specific requirements for your state. Choose board members who are both committed to your cause and experienced in varied key areas like fundraising development, finance management, and community service. Read more here.

Gather your board to draft the rules for how your nonprofit will operate and hold itself accountable internally—there are free downloadable templates available to help you. Note that if you plan on getting tax-exempt status, you will need to report on changes you make to your bylaws moving forward. Read more about how to write your bylaws.

Some nonprofits opt to find a fiscal sponsor with tax-exempt status in order to get their operation up and running quickly. That way, they may attract new donors who can be assured their contributions are tax-deductible in the short term.

If you choose to go that route, look for a sponsor that fits your mission, and from there you can try to arrange either a comprehensive sponsorship or pre-approved grant based on your organization’s needs. Some sponsors may even provide administrative support by coordinating things like disbursement of funds.

Consider starting your fiscal sponsor search by looking up mission-aligned 501c3 organizations near you—filter by state and category here free of charge.

If you are seeking any 501(c) status under the IRS, the first step is getting your nonprofit incorporated at the state level. Learn how to prepare your nonprofit articles of incorporation. Once you’re ready, look up the state-by-state incorporation forms and fees applicable, and you can always loop in a partner to keep you on track.

Already have a nation in NationBuilder? Great! If not, or if you want to create a new site for your organization, start a free trial now. As you start customizing your homepage, make sure you have a clear message and calls to action along with eye-catching visuals that quickly let site visitors know what you’re about.

Use a web domain service to search for an available URL you can purchase for around $10 per year, making sure to choose “.org” as your top-level domain. Read more about how to select a name for your organization (and domain) that checks all the boxes.

Configure your website to include built-in social media share prompts that will encourage site visitors to spread the word about your message. Once you’re ready to unveil your site, start sharing it via email, text, and social media with your friends and family to start building your audience. If you already have a solid base of contacts who have agreed to keep in touch, import it into your nation to create the core group of supporters you’ll continue to update on your progress as you move forward.

Since different banks have different policies when it comes to accounts for nonprofits, research which bank is most accessible to you and works best for your organization’s needs. Bring your EIN number, certificate of formation, and any other documents required by your preferred bank when you visit a branch to set up your account.

If you don’t already have a nation in NationBuilder to build your digital infrastructure, create one now with a free 14-day trial. Along with a homepage that inspires and informs site visitors about your organization’s mission, prioritize creating a donation page when you start building your website.

Start processing payments seamlessly on your donation page by signing up for a NationBuilder Payments account—making sure to take advantage of our special rates for nonprofits starting from 3.2% + 30¢ per transaction. Follow these steps to get started.