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Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

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Becoming Non-profit [IL]

Getting Started:

Step 1: Incorporate: most shelters incorporate as a Nonprofit Corporation under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986:

Step 2: Name your corporation and reserve your name: Reservation or Transfer of Name Form

Step 3: Apply for 501(c)3 status – without this designation, your organization will not qualify for most grants and private donations may be restricted as well. Complete description of what it takes for an organization to be eligible for 501(c)3 designationin IL.
File Articles of Incorporation

1. Every corporation is required to maintain a registered agent and registered office in Illinois. This is the address (must be a street address, not just a PO box) where official correspondence from the Secretary of State may be sent and the person to whom business will be addressed.

2. State the duration of your corporation - the period of time you plan to be incorporated. This will be perpetual unless otherwise stated in your Articles.

3. Describe the purpose, first generally then more specifically (see pages 2-4 of A Guide for Organizing Not-for-Profit Corporations)

4. Choose at least 3 Directors. Under IL law, they do not need to be IL residents or Corporation members.

5. Choose one or more Incorporators to organize the Corporation - may be a natural person 18 years of age or older or a corporation, domestic or foreign.

6. Other Provisions (see page 5 of A Guide for Organizing Not-for-Profit Corporations.)

Deliver 2 copies of your Articles of Incorporation (one must be an original and the other an identical copy) along with $50 in the form of certified check, cashiers check or money order to the Secretary of States Office. Once approved, you’ll receive a Certificate of Incorporation along with a stamped copy of your Articles of Incorporation.

Step 4: File with your county – within 15 days of the receipt of the Certificate and Articles of Incorporation, you must file them with the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of the County in which the registered office of the corporation is located.

Step 5: Create Bylaws

Step 6: Apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS even if you will not have employees. Your EIN will be the unique number that will identify your organization to the IRS. Apply online or dowload and print the form and its instructions.

Step 7: Apply for federal income tax-exemption – you’ll need to submit along with your application, photocopies of your Certificate, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. If your corporation receives federal income tax exemption, it is also exempt from Illinois income tax. No reports need to be filed.

Step 8: Determine whether your corporation is exempt from sales tax. Neither your not-for-profit registration number or IRS number can be used to claim exemption from sales tax. To determine whether your organization may become exempt from paying sales tax on goods purchased for the sole use of your corporation, write a letter of request to the IL Dept of Revenue, Sales Tax Division and enclose copies of your Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Constitution, and IRS exemption letter along with any other documents that may help in determining your status.

Step 9: File the necessary annual reports.

Comprehensive information regarding the formation of charitable corporations:

General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986

For a complete list of IL charitable organization forms and a filing fee schedule for each: IL Secretary of State's Office

The Donor's Forum of Chicago

IL Secretary of State's publication A Guide for Organizing Not-for-Profit Corporations

Grants [IL]

PETSMART Charities - typically funds programs designed to reduce pet overpopulation through methods other than euthanasia

PetCo Foundation - funding for "the 3 R's": Reduce, Rescue, Rehabilitate & Rejoice

DJ&T/Bob Barker Foundation - provides funding for low-cost spay neuter and voucher programs for altering large dogs

Bernice Barbour Foundation - funds hands-on animal care programs. To be eligible, organizations cannot be government funded and must spay/neuter animals before they leave the shelter.

Elinor Patterson Baker Foundation - (no website) funds adoption and animal welfare programs - strongly influenced by the principles set forth by the HSUS Contact: Ms. Sarah Pease, Grants Administrator, Edith J. Goode Residuary Trust, 700 Professional Drive, Gaithursberg, MD 20879

Edith Goode Foundation - interested in outreach, spay/neuter and the gathering of statistical data

Two Mauds Foundation (no website) - grassroots initiatives, spay/neuter, no-kill shelters Contact: Jim Mason, Secretary, PO Box 792, Exmore, VA 23350 (757) 442-9297

Horizon Organic Dairy - funds animal welfare programs

Other animal welfare grant lists:

Humane Society of the United States grant list

American Humane's list of animal welfare grants

Michigan State University Library's animal welfare grants listing

Wildlife & Wildlife Rehabilitation [JCHS]

Alley Cat Allies (ACA)proof that two women on a shoestring budget can make a difference in the lives of feral and barn cats worldwide.

Feral Cat Coalitionfrom the definition of “feral” to raising and taming orphaned and feral kittens.

Humane Society of the United States

Iowa Wildlife Rehabilitators Associationhas been replaced by the Wapsi River Wildlife Rehab (Hotline: 319-480-1917).wifedhs.org

Johnson County Humane Societywildlife conservation law in Iowa; how to help/how to avoid harm.

Macbride Raptor Projectdevoted to the preservation of Iowa’s raptors and their natural habitats.
Activities include the rehabilitation of sick and injured raptors, educational programs for the public, and field research of Iowa’s native birds of prey.

Wapsi River Wildlife Rehab (formerly the Iowa Wildlife Rehabilitators Association)(Hotline: 319-480-1917).

Wildlife Department of the Wisconsin Humane Society

Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directoryfrom “found an animal?” to becoming a wildlife rehabber.

Our last update was on:  10/16/07.


Contact Us

IFHS      P.O. Box xxxx,      Des Moines, IA  52xxx-xxxx      xxx-xxx-xxxx

ifhs@iowafedhumane.org



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