Sheltering
Resources
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 Coalition—from the definition
of “feral” to raising and taming orphaned and feral kittens.
Humane
Society of the United States
Iowa
Wildlife Rehabilitators Association—has
been replaced by the Wapsi
River Wildlife Rehab (Hotline: 319-480-1917).wifedhs.org
Johnson
County Humane Society—wildlife
conservation law in Iowa; how to help/how to avoid harm.
Macbride
Raptor Project—devoted 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 Directory—from
“found an animal?” to becoming a wildlife rehabber.
