Register a Foreign Nonprofit in South Carolina
To register a foreign nonprofit in the State of South Carolina, you must file an Application by a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business with the South Carolina Secretary of State. You can submit this document by mail. The Application by a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business for a South Carolina foreign nonprofit corporation costs $10 to file by mail and $15 to file online. Below, we cover the most frequently asked questions about how to file the Application by a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation for a Certificate of Authority and register a foreign nonprofit in South Carolina. Or, you can simply sign up for our South Carolina Foreign Nonprofit service, and we’ll take care of your registration ourselves!
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Download the South Carolina Application by a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business. Fill out the form and submit it to the state.
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Free Guide to Registering a Foreign Nonprofit in South Carolina
Am I required to register my foreign non-profit in SC if I wish to conduct affairs there?
Yes, you will need to register with the South Carolina Secretary of State.
What form do I file in South Carolina?
Submit the completed Application by a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation for a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business. You will need to send the original and a copy of this form as well as a $10 filing fee to the South Carolina Secretary of State office. You can also file the certificate online for $15 (the $10 state fee plus a payment processing fee).
Will I need a certificate of Existence?
Yes, it is required by South Carolina that your Application form be accompanied by an original certificate of existence, which has been issued by the secretary of state from your non-profit’s home jurisdiction.
Does my foreign non-profit need a registered agent in South Carolina as well?
Yes, you will need a registered agent that has a South Carolina street address and has someone present there during regular business hours.
What if the name of my non-profit is not available in South Carolina?
Then you will need to adopt a fictitious name and fill out the Fictitious Name Form.
Will my foreign non-profit need to register as a charity in SC before soliciting donations?
South Carolina requires that non-profit organizations register as a charity with the secretary of state before soliciting contributions there. You will use the same Registration Statement for a Charitable Organization form as domestic charity registrations.
Where do I send the forms?
If you decide to file online, you can do so at the South Carolina Secretary of State website.
To file by mail, send the forms to:
Secretary of State
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Additional Resources:
South Carolina Nonprofit
South Carolina Registered Agent
South Carolina Charity Registration
South Carolina Nonprofit Tax Exemption