Can someone list out things to do to start a 501 (c) (3) Charity organization in New Jersey?

Question

I want to start a charity benefiting poor kids with heart problems some of friends who are heart surgeons & specialists have agreed to help out but need to find ASAP how to start a tax exempt charity in NJ so that we can collect money for the kids. Any reference or link would be appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

While the first answer is a good general one, here are some additional pointers.
Contact the Secretary of State to obtain the forms needed and either a copy of the non-profit incorporation law or a reference number to it in a law reference.
The NJ SoS is here
http://www.state.nj.us/njbgs/index.html
I say this because in Texas (where I am and have set up a couple of these), the incorporation law specifies exactly (EXACTLY) what needs to be said in the incorporation papers - no lawyer needs to be inventive. Secondly, in Texas a corporation must have 3 offices - president, secretary and treasurer and a person can be both pres and sec.
As soon as you apply for incorporation, you are non-profit - but you have to apply for your tax exemption from the feds
Get the application for 501(c)(3) status and read it from cover to cover. IRS Form 1023. It has gotten a lot more complicated to fill out in recent years (and more expensive to apply.)
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96109,00.html
It really helps if you have someone who has been through this before in your state. And if a lawyer says they will volunteer to help, question them about experience in the field. A creative lawyer can really screw things up.
The by-laws state what you are going to do and how you intend to do it.
But if you look at the 1023, it almost requires that you have a business plan. The IRS wants to know where you intend to get your money, how you intend to spend it and a lot about the officers and whether they will be paid and/or get money for doing things for the organization. It is a lot cleaner if all of the board and the officers are at arms length from the operations of the organization - no salary, no loans, no services provided for compensation. The board should be willing and able to donate time and money to the organization and bring in others who will also.
If at all possible, do everything corporate wise before taking in any money or spending any. Making out the 1023 is possible after a year or more of operations, but it is a lot messier.
Find out what non-profit support organizations exist to offer suggestions and guidelines. This one in Dallas may help you http://www.cnmdallas.org/ or suggest someone closer to you.

Answer 2

Number 1: I'd strongly recommend checking out: http://www.managementhelp.org/legal/articles.htm

and

Number 2: From http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-structures/non-profit/incorporate-non-profit-how-to-form.html,

"here's how to form a nonprofit corporation and receive a 501(c)(3) tax exemption.

Forming a nonprofit corporation is much like creating a regular corporation, except that nonprofits have to take the extra steps of applying for tax-exempt status with the IRS and their state tax division. Here is what you need to do:

1. Choose an available business name that meets the requirements of state law.
2. File formal paperwork, usually called "articles of incorporation," and pay a small filing fee (typically under $100).
3. Apply for your federal and state tax exemptions.
4. Create corporate "bylaws," which set out the operating rules for your nonprofit corporation.
5. Appoint the initial directors. (In some states you must choose your initial directors before you file your articles, because you must list their names in the document.)
6. Hold the first meeting of the board of directors.
7. Obtain licenses and permits that may be required for your corporation. "