If you're setting up a nonprofit corporation, you'll need to deal with your state's Secretary of State office. This page lists each state's official website with the minimum number of directors required to form a nonprofit and whether you need to register with the Attorney General for charitable solicitation. Bookmark it. Use it. Don't skip the AG registration; ignoring it is how you get into trouble.
Heads up: Don't rely solely on your state's minimum director count. For the IRS and good governance, you should have at least three directors — no exceptions.
Important:
Limited* means Attorney General registration is required only under certain conditions, such as if your nonprofit solicits donations from residents, exceeds a specific fundraising threshold, or operates particular types of charitable programs. Check your state's AG office for exact requirements.
"No" indicates no Attorney General solicitation registration requirement. Most states require Attorney General charitable solicitation registration.
The U.S. territories listed below don't have a Secretary of State office in the same way states do. In most cases, nonprofit registration is handled by a general government office, and corporate laws may vary widely. If you're forming a nonprofit in a territory, double-check local requirements — some don't require formal incorporation at all.
Secretary of State & Government Websites – All U.S. States, D.C. & Territories
| State | Website | Minimum Directors | AG Registration Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Secretary of State | Website: sos.alabama.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Alaska Secretary of State | Website: commerce.alaska.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Arizona Secretary of State | Website: azsos.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Limited* |
| Arkansas Secretary of State | Website: sos.arkansas.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| California Secretary of State | Website: sos.ca.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Colorado Secretary of State | Website: sos.state.co.us | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Connecticut Secretary of State | Website: portal.ct.gov/sots | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Delaware Secretary of State | Website: sos.delaware.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: No |
| District of Columbia Secretary of State | Website: os.dc.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Florida Secretary of State | Website: dos.myflorida.com | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Georgia Secretary of State | Website: sos.ga.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Hawaii Secretary of State | Website: ehawaii.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Idaho Secretary of State | Website: sos.idaho.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Illinois Secretary of State | Website: cyberdriveillinois.com | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Indiana Secretary of State | Website: in.gov/sos | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Iowa Secretary of State | Website: sos.iowa.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Kansas Secretary of State | Website: sos.kansas.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Kentucky Secretary of State | Website: sos.ky.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Louisiana Secretary of State | Website: sos.la.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Limited* |
| Maine Secretary of State | Website: maine.gov/sos | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Maryland Secretary of State | Website: sos.maryland.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Massachusetts Secretary of State | Website: sec.state.ma.us | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Michigan Secretary of State | Website: michigan.gov/sos | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Minnesota Secretary of State | Website: sos.state.mn.us | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Mississippi Secretary of State | Website: sos.ms.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Missouri Secretary of State | Website: sos.mo.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Montana Secretary of State | Website: sosmt.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Nebraska Secretary of State | Website: sos.nebraska.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Nevada Secretary of State | Website: nvsos.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| New Hampshire Secretary of State | Website: sos.nh.gov | Minimum Directors: 5 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| New Jersey Secretary of State | Website: state.nj.us/state | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| New Mexico Secretary of State | Website: sos.state.nm.us | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| New York Secretary of State | Website: dos.ny.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| North Carolina Secretary of State | Website: sosnc.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| North Dakota Secretary of State | Website: sos.nd.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Ohio Secretary of State | Website: ohiosos.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Oklahoma Secretary of State | Website: sos.ok.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Oregon Secretary of State | Website: sos.oregon.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Pennsylvania Secretary of State | Website: dos.pa.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Rhode Island Secretary of State | Website: sos.ri.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| South Carolina Secretary of State | Website: sos.sc.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| South Dakota Secretary of State | Website: sdsos.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Tennessee Secretary of State | Website: sos.tn.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Texas Secretary of State | Website: sos.state.tx.us | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Limited* |
| Utah Secretary of State | Website: utah.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Vermont Secretary of State | Website: sos.vermont.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: No |
| Virginia Secretary of State | Website: sos.virginia.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Washington Secretary of State | Website: sos.wa.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| West Virginia Secretary of State | Website: sos.wv.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Wisconsin Secretary of State | Website: sos.wi.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Wyoming Secretary of State | Website: sos.wyo.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: No |
| American Samoa Government | Website: americansamoa.gov | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Guam Government | Website: guam.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| Puerto Rico State Department | Website: estado.pr.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| U.S. Virgin Islands Government | Website: vi.gov | Minimum Directors: 1 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
| N. Mariana Islands Department of Commerce | Website: commerce.gov.mp | Minimum Directors: 3 | AG Registration Required: Yes |
