What is the process you have to go through to start a non-profit organization....like a church?

Question

What are the legalities and proper steps to setting up a non-profit religion or organization.

Answer 1

The absolute best compendium of information on how to start and efficiently run and fund a nonprofit organization is located at the Foundation Center website.

You can start with the Foundation Center's Establishing a Nonprofit Organization online tutorial. This tutorial describes 12 tasks that need to be accomplished during the process of establishing a nonprofit organization. Issues include board development, creating bylaws, filing for federal tax exemption, recruiting staff, and developing an overall fundraising plan.

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/establish/index.html

I also recommend browsing their FAQs (frequently asked questions) for even more information

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/

Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

So when we see you in the evening news will you be holding your head up proudly or ducked low, or beneath a jacket, or even behind an army of lawyers? Keep this up, especially that line from Richard Nixon "I'm not a crook", and you might actually begin to believe it yourself. Just don't do a Jim Jones and kill off all your followers, okay?

Answer 3

Each state has it's individual parameters. However, basically you have to have a minimum amount of continually attending members that can constitute a congregation. There will have to be a residing minister with state accepted credentials who oversees the religious order or doctrines associated with the organization.
Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not-for-profit_corporation

And........

See: http://www.legalzoom.com/nonprofitpage/index.html?WT.srch=1&gclid=CNDbiomR340CFRjBWAodzkW4mQ&ef_id=1135:3:f1ec72016e74a983a0adbaf57c5e8197_567833467:ESayldB6B3YAAGvkxzIAAAAH:20070805194749