How To Start A Nonprofit In Wyoming

To incorporate a Wyoming nonprofit, you must complete and file Nonprofit Corporation Articles of Incorporation with the Wyoming Secretary of State. See the document below and click on any number to see what information is required in the corresponding section.

How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a Wyoming Nonprofit?

Wyoming charges $50 to file nonprofit articles of incorporation, plus a $3 processing fee for online submissions.

How Long Does It Take to Incorporate a Wyoming Nonprofit?

Wyoming processes articles submitted by mail within 15 business days after receipt. Articles filed online are typically processed by the state within 1 business day.

Does a Wyoming Nonprofit Need a Registered Agent?

Yes, Wyoming requires nonprofit corporations to appoint a registered agent. You can take on the responsibility yourself, but we recommend hiring a registered agent service like Northwest. Why? Because a registered agent must list a physical Wyoming address on your nonprofit’s articles of incorporation and actually be available at this address during normal business hours to accept service of process on your nonprofit’s behalf. That’s a hard promise to keep when you’re trying to manage and grow a new nonprofit.

When you hire Northwest, these problems disappear. We’ll do the waiting for you, help you protect your privacy, and free you up to manage and grow your nonprofit on your own terms. And if we ever do receive a service of process on behalf of your nonprofit, we’ll scan it and send it to you on the day we receive it.

You will need a federal employer identification number (FEIN or EIN) to navigate your nonprofit’s finances (such as opening a bank account) and to apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS. After incorporating with the state, you can get an EIN by applying through the IRS website, by fax, or by mail. You can also bypass dealing with the IRS altogether by adding our convenient EIN service when you hire Northwest.

Does My Nonprofit Need Bylaws?

Yes, your nonprofit needs to create and adopt corporate bylaws. You should adopt Wyoming nonprofit bylaws at your organizational meeting (the first official meeting after incorporating with the state) because you’ll need them to open a bank account and to apply for 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status with the IRS.

Why Do Bylaws Matter?

Bylaws are basically the contract your nonprofit makes with itself. Your nonprofit’s bylaws will lay out, for example, how long someone can serve as a director, what the individual officer’s responsibilities are, and so on. The more questions of this kind get answered in advance in your nonprofit’s bylaws, the better. Think of your bylaws as your nonprofit’s internal rules.

It isn’t easy to write effective bylaws, but Northwest can help. When you hire Northwest, you can use our adaptable template for writing nonprofit bylaws, as well as numerous other free nonprofit forms, to help you get started.

Will My Wyoming Nonprofit Be Tax Exempt?

Not automatically. To obtain federal tax-exempt status for your Wyoming nonprofit, you’ll need to submit an Application for Recognition of Exemption to the IRS. Currently, the IRS recognizes more than two dozen types of tax-exempt entities, but most nonprofit corporations seek 501(c)(3) status for public charities and private foundations. If your nonprofit decides to seek 501(c)(3) status, make sure your articles of incorporation include the specific tax-exempt language and provisions required by the IRS.

What About Wyoming State Tax Exemptions?

Wyoming already doesn’t have a corporate income tax, but your nonprofit will need to apply for an exemption from the Wyoming Sales and Use Tax. If you’ve already obtained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, you simply need to submit a copy of your IRS Determination Letter (and a few other related documents, such as your bylaws) to the Wyoming Department of Revenue. Learn more at Northwest’s guide to Wyoming state tax exemptions.

Does a Wyoming Nonprofit Need a Business License?

Wyoming doesn’t issue a statewide, general business license, but local areas sometimes have licensing requirements of their own.

Should My Wyoming Nonprofit Register as a Charity?

No. Wyoming doesn’t require nonprofits seeking donations to register as charities.

To open a bank account for your Wyoming nonprofit, you will need to bring the following items with you to the bank:

• A copy of your Wyoming nonprofit articles of incorporation
• A copy of your nonprofit’s bylaws
• Your Wyoming nonprofit’s EIN

It’s wise to call your bank ahead of time to check its requirements. Some banks may require you to bring a resolution authorizing you to open a bank account in your nonprofit’s name (particularly if your nonprofit has several directors and/or officers).

Wyoming nonprofits are required to submit an annual report by the first day of the organization’s anniversary month (the month in which the nonprofit incorporated). Your annual report will update or confirm the information the Wyoming Secretary of State has about your nonprofit, including your registered agent information and corporate name. Keep in mind that your annual report is due each year even if no information about your nonprofit has changed. The state will administratively dissolve a nonprofit sixty days after the deadline if it hasn’t submitted its annual report.

When you hire Northwest, you have the option to add our convenient Wyoming Annual Report Compliance service for an additional fee.