Question : Starting a non profit organization to benefit heart patients.?
I’m in Southern California and my grandmother is in Buffalo, NY. I want to start a non profit organization in her name that would benefit her and other people in her condition. She is on several blood thinners and is always freezing. This organization would provide energy inspectors free of charge or drastically discounted, to examine the recipients home for leaky windows, bad heating, no insulation, etc. Then provide contractors, again at little or no cost, to fix these problems. Hopefully providing a more comfortable way for these heart patients to get through colder winter months. It it possible for me to start the organization while being out here in LA or should I wait until we are back in Buffalo in a few years? Anyone have any idea what start up costs might be for this? Any way to get grants to cover those costs? Are there lawyers that will provide a free consultation to get started?

Thank you all so much for your help!
ny home inspector

Best answer:

Answer by Ms E
Yes you can start the organization while you are in California, but you must have a resident agent that lives in NY to put on your Articles of Incorporation that you file with the State of NY. Start up costs will fluctuate depending on what you think the budget will be. After you incorporate you will be eligible for a grant through angel investors (independant financers or trusts) but in order to get a government grant you have to have your 501 c 3 status. As far as the lawyer is concerned, I’m not sure I set up my non-profit without one because they are costly and I was able to get the information I needed without paying.

You must incorporate you business first:

Certificate of Incorporation
Domestic Corporations

A not-for-profit corporation may be formed by filing a Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to Section 402 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. A sample form is provided by the New York State Department of State Division of Corporations for filing a certificate of incorporation. This form is designed to satisfy the minimum filing requirements pursuant to the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. The Division of Corporations has also prepared a booklet “Forming a Not-for-Profit Corporation in New York State.” The booklet includes answers to commonly asked questions, names and addresses of other government agencies that a corporation may need to contact, instructions for completing a Certificate of Incorporation, tax information, and fee information.

Section 301 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law includes provisions relating to restrictions on the use of certain words and phrases in the name of the corporation. Generally, the name of the entity may not include a word or phrase restricted by another statute unless one has complied with the restriction. Certain words and phrases also require the consent or approval from another agency prior to filing the document with the Division of Corporations.

In addition, certain activities, such as day care centers, hospitals, substance abuse programs, etc., require the consent or approval of another agency prior to filing the Certificate of Incorporation with the Division of Corporations. Please be sure to review Section 404 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law to determine whether any consents or approvals are required. If there is any doubt as to what, if any, consents or approvals may be required, the Division of Corporations or the agency in question should be contacted prior to submitting the document for filing to the Division of Corporations.

The completed Certificate of Incorporation, together with the statutory filing fee of $ 75, should be forwarded to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, 41 State Street, Albany, NY 12231.

FORM – http://www.dos.state.ny.us/corp/pdfs/dos1511.pdf