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.