Instructions for Form 1023 Part III – Required provisions in documents

On page 2 of part III of the IRS form 1023, the IRS is asking your nonprofit organization to states its legal promise to the public. Here’s the question:

Form 1023, Part III,  Question 1. Section 501(c)(3) requires that your organizing document state your exempt purpose(s), such as charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes. Check the box to confirm that your organizing document meets this requirement. Describe specifically where your organizing document meets this requirement, such as a reference to a particular article or section in your organizing document. Refer to the instructions for exempt purpose language.

This is where you utter the following words like a sheep. Don’t change it, add to it or alter it. This is the language that IRS understand so write it like a parrot in your articles of incorporation. Besides just copying and pasting these sentences, you need to believe in them. This is the meat and bone of a charity, so take it to heart:

YOUR ENTITY’S NAME is organized exclusively (Pick one: for  religious,
charitable, scientific, literary or educational)  purposes including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. No part of the net earnings of YOUR ENTITY’S NAME shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof.

The followings are the answers to the second question on section 2b and 2c. These go inside your articles of incorporation as well. Skip 2c since you will not be relying on the state to dissolve your assets.

No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by any organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

YOUR ENTITY’S NAME is not organized and shall not be operated for the private gain of any person. The property of the corporation is irrevocably dedicated to its (pick one: educational, religious, charitable) purposes. No part of the receipts, or net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to any individual. The corporation may, however, pay reasonable compensation for services rendered, and make other payments and distributions consistent with these Articles.”