Florida Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation

Nonprofit articles of incorporation is the document filed to create a Florida nonprofit corporation.

Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your nonprofit corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the nonprofit. Only after this approval can you apply for 501c, apply for fundraising licenses, open a bank account, and otherwise conduct business.

Benefits

Incorporating provides many important benefits:

• Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
• Fulfills statutory requirements to register your organization's name
• Is a prerequisite for applying for 501(c) tax exemption
• Provides governance and adds credibility to the business or organization

Fast Facts

Other Helpful Florida Facts

As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Florida, keep in mind:

Florida Directors

• Number: minimum 3
• Qualifications: Natural person 18 years of age or older. One director may be 15 years of age or older if permitted by board of directors or bylaws. No residency requirement. No membership requirement.
• Term: 1 year
• Quorum: majority (Directors younger than 18 years of age may not be counted toward a quorum)
• Committee: minimum 2 directors

Florida Officers

• Defined in articles or bylaws. One officer prepares minutes of the directors' and members' meetings and authenticates records of the corporation.
• Elected by board
• Term: 1 year
• Two or more offices may be held by the same individual.

Florida Members

• Members: optional
• Regular meeting: defined in articles or bylaws
• Quorum: defined in articles or bylaws