They also do not have as personal of an investment as you do, which removes any nerves, raw emotion, or rushed paperwork out of the equation. Using a lawyer can help ensure this does not happen.Īn attorney is much more familiar with the legal jargon and application steps necessary to complete a successful 501(c)(3) application. In other words, it would be quite a disappointment if you end up falling outside of this percentage and receive a rejection. While this statistic can be considered fairly positive in outcome, the application process is very lengthy. The IRS approves roughly between 53-87% of all 501(c)(3) applications it receives from individuals who do not use legal counsel. However, it is definitely a worthwhile investment. You need to make sure you have your ducks in a row perfectly so you're legally covered.You may find yourself asking, why do I need a lawyer? Many charity-driven organizations feel frustrated and overwhelmed at the possibility, because many are already barely making ends meet financially, and adding in attorney fees can seem impossible. Just several years ago, we went through a legal name change to get it back to Open Heart Magic.įinally, it's best to not hurry though the startup phase. She had no idea but pushed it like it was required and I listed. I registered the name of my nonprofit - Open Heart Magic - and the clerk said I had to add NFP so the legal name was Open Heart Magic NFP because of this tip which was wrong. Why I wouldn't go with Legal zoom is because especially at startup, you want someone to give you advice on what you really need or don't. Going directly to a firm can be tough unless you know attorneys who can do an introduction. That said, if you can find a program to match, then you're more likely to get selected.

Generally, a firm will have a pro bono coordinator as the main contact to their program. Know that law firms like to support the community by providing pro bono service. Which lists possible connections for law support - I don't know if there is anything for nonprofit startup help. I still had to pay for the registrations, but not for the attorney.

When I started my nonprofit, I found a pro bono law program that connected me with a large firm here in Chicago to complete all of the registrations.

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