Editing Structure and organization (section)

===== Steps via Mike S. =====

* Decide who the board of directors is (these are the people who have responsibility for fiscal oversight of the corporation)

* Come up with an appropriate mission statement (you need this for the paperwork to come, plus it's obviously a good idea to get everyone on the same page about what you're trying to do)

* Decide who the officers are (President, VP, Treasurer, Secretary) -- make sure the Treasurer is someone who is good at bookkeeping, can run Quickbooks or the like without screwing things up

* File incorporation papers with the state of Maryland

* File 501(c)3 application with the IRS (pretty time consuming but worth it)

* In a few months you'll get a letter back from the IRS authorizing you to be a nonprofit for five years

* At the end of five years you have to prove that you are really a charitable organization (they have a few tests they apply to your financial records)