IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
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HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSUREThe Office of the Iowa Secretary of State will be closed Wednesday, November 22 through Friday, November 24 for Thanksgiving; Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26 for Christmas; and Monday, January 1 for New Year’s.

Forming a Nonprofit

Forming a Nonprofit

Formation of a nonprofit is achieved by:

  • Filing articles of incorporation - drafting articles of incorporation and filing them with the Iowa Secretary of State to create a nonprofit. Link to minimum requirements of nonprofit articles of incorporation.
  • Receiving a certificate of acknowledgement - upon filing the articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State, a certificate of acknowledgement will be issued to the nonprofit corporation.
  • Holding an organizational meeting - after issuance of the certificate of acknowledgement, an organizational meeting is held by the board of directors to: adopt bylaws, elect officers, discuss other business.
  • Adopting bylaws - Iowa law requires the initial bylaws of a nonprofit corporation to be adopted by its board of directors.