How to Start My Own Church Organization
- 1). Look for partners who can help you start a church organization by forming a board of directors. Once you form a board of directors, call a meeting where you can vote to adopt by-laws or a constitution to help you to govern the church organization.
- 2). Incorporate your organization after you choose a legal structure. It is always good to incorporate even if it is not mandatory in order to protect individual members and the church leadership from liabilities if the organization would be sued. You don't need to incorporate if you're affiliated under an existing organization. Instead, affiliate ministry through a charter. Follow the organization's established rules when affiliating.
- 3). Apply for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service once you incorporate. This is important for reporting and filing taxes, even if you're a tax-exempt organization. Use the EIN to open a bank account for your organization.
- 4). Build a support team with other church organizations to help spread the word about your existence. The support group you build can also assist you with prayers and resources you might need to get started. Bigger and well-established churches sometimes make donations to smaller organizations to help them gain traction. Funding can be a challenge, especially if your ministry is a charity intended to help disadvantaged people, for instance.
- 5). File Form 1023 application for recognition as a tax-exempt organization. A church organization falls under the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt category, provided no part of the organization's net earnings inures or benefits private shareholders, individuals or the creator's family.
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