US nonprofit setup · For new and international charities
Your US charity, ready for donors
Whether you are starting a new US charity or bringing an established one into the US, we take you from incorporation to 501(c)(3) status and a finance setup that is ready for donors, auditors and the IRS.
- Incorporation and EIN, coordinated with your attorney
- Your 501(c)(3) application prepared and filed
- Built for charities based in Canada, the UK and beyond
- Banking, books and receipting ready before your first gift
Sound familiar?
Great mission, no US roadmap
“Our US supporters want to give, but they can’t get a tax receipt from us.”
“We don’t know which state, which form, or where to start with the IRS.”
“We got our 501(c)(3). Now what do we have to do every year?”
Who we help
Three ways charities come to us
Charities based outside the US
You are established in Canada, the UK or elsewhere and have US donors ready to give. You need an independent US charity they can support.
New US charities
You are founding a charity in the US and want the structure, the IRS application and the finances done properly the first time.
Newly approved 501(c)(3)s
You have your determination letter but no books, receipting or compliance calendar. We set up the operations so you stay in good standing.
Your roadmap
From idea to tax-deductible gifts, in five stages
One team runs the whole path, working alongside your attorney on the legal documents.
- 1
Plan the structure
Entity type, state of incorporation, an independent board, your charitable purpose and a first-year budget. We map it with you and your attorney before anything is filed.
- 2
Form the corporation
Articles with the purpose and dissolution language the IRS expects, bylaws, a conflict-of-interest policy and your EIN, including when directors live outside the US.
- 3
Apply for 501(c)(3) status
We confirm whether you qualify for Form 1023-EZ or need the full Form 1023, then prepare the narrative, budgets and governance answers and file it with the IRS.
- 4
Set up operations
US bank account, donation platforms, fund accounting in QuickBooks Online or Xero, IRS-compliant gift acknowledgments and a grant process for any money sent abroad.
- 5
Stay compliant
State charitable registrations before you solicit, the annual Form 990, state reports and board records, all on one calendar. Stay with us for ongoing bookkeeping if you choose.
International charities
Raising US money for a charity based elsewhere
US donors generally can’t deduct gifts to a foreign charity. The usual answer is an independent US 501(c)(3), often called a “friends of” organization. It works, but only if the US charity is more than a pass-through.
- A US board that reviews and approves every grant against its own charitable purposes
- No donor earmarking that turns the US charity into a conduit
- Grant agreements, partner reports and records for every dollar sent abroad
- Books and filings that keep the US and home-country charities aligned
This is the same documentation discipline we run every day for Canadian charities funding work overseas, now applied on the US side.
What you’ll have
Ready to operate, not just registered
Formation documents
Articles, bylaws and board policies, finalized with your attorney.
EIN
Your IRS employer identification number, even with directors outside the US.
501(c)(3) application
Prepared, filed and followed through to your determination letter.
State registrations
A map of where you must register before you fundraise, and the filings done.
Banking and giving
A US bank account and donation platforms connected to your books.
Fund accounting
QuickBooks Online or Xero with a nonprofit chart of accounts and restricted funds.
Donor acknowledgments
IRS-compliant receipts set up before your first gift arrives.
Compliance calendar
Form 990, state renewals and board records, all on one schedule.
Faizan and his team provide expert non-profit accounting, strategic financial planning, and day-to-day management. Highly recommended for their comprehensive CFO services and genuine care.
Filiz OzmisirCo-Founder & CEO, RGW
Start here
Tell us about your US plans
Two minutes. We’ll reply within one business day with a recommended path and a fixed-scope proposal for your situation.
- We review your answersYour stage, timeline and where you are based.
- A 30-minute callWe talk through structure, state and the right IRS form.
- Your written roadmapSteps, timeline and a clear proposal. No obligation.
FAQ
Common questions
How long does 501(c)(3) approval take?
It depends on the form and the IRS backlog. Many Form 1023-EZ applications are decided within weeks, while the full Form 1023 often takes several months. If you apply within 27 months of incorporating, approval is generally effective back to your date of incorporation.
Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ: which one do we need?
Form 1023-EZ is a shorter application for smaller organizations that pass the IRS eligibility worksheet, generally those projecting modest annual receipts and assets. Most charities raising meaningful amounts, and most international “friends of” organizations, file the full Form 1023. We confirm which applies before anything is filed.
Can a charity based outside the US set up a US nonprofit?
Yes. Many Canadian, UK and other international charities create an independent US 501(c)(3) so US donors can deduct their gifts. The US board must keep real control over how funds are used, including any grants made abroad, and keep records that show it.
Can our directors live outside the US?
Yes. A US nonprofit can have directors who live abroad. The EIN application takes a different route when no one has a US Social Security number, and we handle that. Many international charities also add US-based directors to strengthen local oversight.
Which state should we incorporate in?
Usually the state where you will actually operate. Incorporating somewhere else, such as Delaware, often means registering and filing annual reports in two states. We recommend a state based on where your board, staff and donors are.
Do we need to register in every state where donors live?
Most states require charities to register before asking their residents for donations, and online fundraising can count. We map where you need to register based on how and where you will fundraise, and handle the filings.
Do you provide legal services?
No. Linked CFO is not a law firm or a public accounting firm. We work alongside your attorney on incorporation and governance documents, and handle the application preparation, finance and operations side.
Planning a US nonprofit?
Tell us where you are today and we’ll map your path to 501(c)(3) status and a working finance setup.