Illinois Form NFP 102.10 is the Articles of Incorporation document that every person forming an Illinois not-for-profit corporation must file with the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 (805 ILCS 105/). Filing this two-page form legally creates your nonprofit, locks in your corporate name, names your registered agent, and sets the purpose clause that the IRS will later read when you apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
The form looks short, but small wording mistakes on the purpose and dissolution clauses are the top reason the IRS later rejects Form 1023 applications. Illinois receives over 7,000 new not-for-profit filings each year, and the Secretary of State rejects roughly 1 in 5 paper Articles for fixable errors like missing registered agent street addresses, P.O. Boxes used for the registered office, or incorporator signatures left blank, according to data published by the Illinois Department of Business Services.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to complete every Article (1 through 8) on NFP 102.10 line by line, in plain English.
- 💵 The exact filing fee, expedited fee, and accepted payment methods for both paper and online channels.
- 🏛️ The IRS-compliant language you must add to Article 5 and Article 8 if you want 501(c)(3) status.
- ✍️ Three full filled-out examples — a community arts nonprofit, an animal rescue, and a church — walked through field by field.
- ⚠️ The 10 most common rejection reasons and how to fix each one before you mail or upload your form.
What Form NFP 102.10 Is and Who Must File It
Form NFP 102.10 is the official Articles of Incorporation for a domestic Illinois not-for-profit corporation, issued by the Illinois Secretary of State and authorized by Section 102.10 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. The current revision printed at the bottom of the form is Rev. Jan. 2017 (C 162.20), and you can confirm you have the latest version on the Secretary of State NFP forms page. Filing this form turns a group of people working on a mission into a separate legal entity that can hold property, sign contracts, and shield directors from personal liability.
You must file Form NFP 102.10 if you want to create a new Illinois not-for-profit corporation for any lawful purpose listed in 805 ILCS 105/103.05. Common filers include charities, churches, civic leagues, condominium associations, parent-teacher organizations, animal rescues, youth sports leagues, trade associations, and homeowner associations. You do not file this form if you are forming a for-profit corporation, an LLC, or a foreign nonprofit already incorporated in another state — those use Form BCA 2.10, Form LLC-5.5, or Form NFP 113.15, respectively.
The form is also not the same thing as your IRS tax-exemption application. Filing NFP 102.10 makes you a corporation under Illinois law, but it does not make you tax-exempt. To become a 501(c)(3), you must separately file IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ after Illinois approves your Articles. To raise donations from the Illinois public, you must also register with the Illinois Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Bureau using Form CO-1.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything in this checklist before you open the PDF or the online portal. Missing any one of these items is the single biggest cause of mid-filing abandonment, and the Illinois Secretary of State will reject your form if any required field is blank.
- Proposed corporate name with proper ending. Illinois requires the name to be distinguishable from every active entity in the state, and you can pre-check it using the Illinois Business Entity Search tool. Without a clean name search, your filing may bounce on Article 1.
- Registered agent’s full legal name. This is the human or company who will accept lawsuits and state notices on your behalf. If the agent will not sign a consent form, the filing fails.
- Registered office street address inside Illinois. The address must be a physical street, not a P.O. Box, per 805 ILCS 105/105.05. Using a P.O. Box is the number-one rejection reason on Article 2.
- County name where the registered office sits. The county field on Article 2 must match the address; mismatches trigger a manual examiner review.
- Names and street addresses of all initial incorporators. You need at least one incorporator who is a natural person aged 18 or older, with a real signature.
- A clear corporate purpose statement. If you plan to seek 501(c)(3) status, your purpose must use the IRS-approved language from IRS Publication 557, Chapter 3.
- Names and addresses of initial directors (if naming any in the Articles). Illinois lets you list directors here or wait and elect them later in the bylaws; listing them locks the names into the public record.
- Filing fee payment. Standard paper filing is $50, expedited 24-hour service adds $25, and the Illinois online portal charges the same plus a small credit card convenience fee.
- An email address and credit card if filing online. The CyberDriveIllinois portal requires both before it will let you submit.
- Two duplicate originals if filing by mail. Section 101.10 of the Act requires duplicates; sending only one copy delays your stamped return by weeks.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official PDF lives at the Illinois Secretary of State NFP forms library, and the direct link to the fillable PDF is the NFP 102.10 form. Always pull the form directly from the ilsos.gov domain — third-party sites sometimes host outdated revisions that the Department of Business Services will reject on sight. Save the PDF to your desktop, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (not a browser preview), and type your entries directly into the form fields so the printout is clean and machine-readable.
You can also incorporate online through the CyberDriveIllinois business filing portal, which walks you through the same Articles 1–8 in a guided web wizard. Online filing is available for most simple NFP filings, but the portal will reject filings that need supplemental sheets (extra purposes, extra incorporators) or non-standard wording — those must go on paper.
If you prefer to file in person, you can hand-deliver duplicate originals to the Springfield office at 501 S. Second Street, Room 350 or the Chicago office at 69 W. Washington Street, Suite 1240. Counter filings are time-stamped on the spot, which is the fastest way to get a certified copy the same day. Anyone — the incorporator, an attorney, or a paid runner — can drop the form at the counter as long as the signed originals are inside the envelope.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form NFP 102.10 Line by Line
The form has eight numbered Articles plus an incorporator signature block. Work through them top to bottom, in the order printed on the form, because Article 5 and Article 8 reference choices you make in earlier Articles. Use all caps in any field that asks for a name or address, write dates as MM/DD/YYYY, and never leave a field blank — write NONE or N/A if a section does not apply.
Article 1: Corporate Name
Plain English. Article 1 asks what your nonprofit will officially be called.
How to answer. Type the full proposed name in block capitals on the line labeled The name of the corporation is. The name must be distinguishable from any active Illinois entity, and it does not need to end in Inc., Corp., or NFP — Illinois is one of the few states where corporate endings are optional for nonprofits, per 805 ILCS 105/104.05.
Example entry. Maria Lopez, founding a community arts charity in Evanston, types RIVER NORTH ARTS ALLIANCE on the Article 1 line.
Nuance. If your desired name is too close to an existing entity, you can either pick a different name or get written consent from the existing entity. You may also reserve a name for 90 days using Form NFP 104.10 before you file.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers copy the name from a logo that uses & or em-dashes, but the SOS database stores names with the word and spelled out. A mismatch causes the examiner to reject the Articles and re-bill the $50 fee on the corrected resubmission.
Misconception. Many founders believe a matching domain name or trademark guarantees the corporate name is available. It does not — the Business Entity Search is the only authoritative source.
Article 2: Registered Agent and Registered Office
Plain English. Article 2 asks who and where the state should send lawsuits, tax notices, and annual report reminders.
How to answer. On the Registered Agent line, write the agent’s first name, middle initial, and last name. On the Registered Office line, write a physical Illinois street address, including suite number, city, ZIP, and county. The county field is a separate box and must be spelled out (e.g., COOK, not Cook County).
Example entry. DAVID R. CHEN, 200 N. LASALLE ST., SUITE 900, CHICAGO, IL 60601, COOK.
Nuance. The agent can be an individual Illinois resident or a corporation authorized to act as an agent. If you use a commercial registered agent service, list the company name on the agent line and the service’s Illinois office on the address line.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers list a P.O. Box because their organization meets at a member’s home and they want privacy. The SOS rejects every Article 2 with a P.O. Box, citing 805 ILCS 105/105.05, and the filing must be redone with a real street address.
Misconception. Many founders think the registered agent must be a lawyer. It does not — any adult Illinois resident with a street address can serve.
Article 3: First Board of Directors (Optional)
Plain English. Article 3 asks whether you want to name your starting board members in the public record now, or wait and elect them through bylaws later.
How to answer. If you want to name them, list at least three directors with full legal name and street address. If you would rather elect them later, leave the section blank and check the box that says the first board of directors will be elected pursuant to the bylaws.
Example entry. MARIA LOPEZ — 1422 OAK AVE., EVANSTON, IL 60201; JAMES OKAFOR — 88 W. SCHILLER ST., CHICAGO, IL 60610; PRIYA PATEL — 305 GREENWOOD ST., EVANSTON, IL 60201.
Nuance. Illinois requires a minimum of three directors under 805 ILCS 105/108.10 unless the corporation has members who will elect a smaller board. Listing only one or two names triggers a rejection.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers list director nicknames (Mike Smith instead of Michael J. Smith). When directors later sign bank documents using their legal names, the bank will not match them to the public record and may freeze account opening.
Misconception. People assume directors named in Article 3 are locked in for life. They are not — you replace them through your bylaws and through your annual report each year.
Article 4: Membership Provisions
Plain English. Article 4 asks whether the nonprofit will have voting members or whether the board alone will run it.
How to answer. Check the box for the corporation has members or the corporation does not have members. If you have members, you may attach a supplemental sheet describing classes, voting rights, and dues.
Example entry. A small charity board-only nonprofit checks the corporation does not have members.
Nuance. Many churches and trade associations do have members because canon law or industry custom requires member voting. HOAs and condo associations almost always have members because the unit owners must vote on assessments.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers check has members without realizing this requires annual member meetings, member notice procedures, and member voting under 805 ILCS 105/Article 7. Skipping those meetings later exposes the board to derivative lawsuits.
Misconception. Founders believe members means donors. It does not — under Illinois law, member is a voting role defined in your Articles or bylaws, and donors are not automatically members.
Article 5: Purpose or Purposes
Plain English. Article 5 is the most important field on the form — it tells the state and the IRS exactly why your nonprofit exists.
How to answer. State the purpose in clear, mission-driven language, and then add the IRS-compliant clause from IRS Publication 557 if you intend to apply for 501(c)(3) status. The recommended IRS clause reads: The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Example entry. To promote and support visual and performing arts in the Chicago metropolitan area through grants, exhibitions, and youth education programs. The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Nuance. Article 5 also asks you to check at least one purpose category from the statutory list in 805 ILCS 105/103.05 — the 36 purposes range from charitable to agricultural to condominium administration. Check every category that genuinely applies.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers write only the operational purpose (to run an animal shelter) and leave out the IRS exempt-purpose language. The IRS will then reject the future Form 1023 because the Articles do not satisfy the organizational test in Treasury Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(b).
Misconception. Founders think they can fix bad purpose language later by attaching it to Form 1023. They cannot — the IRS reads the Illinois-stamped Articles, and you must file an amendment using Form NFP 110.30, which costs another $25 plus delay.
Article 6: Optional Provisions
Plain English. Article 6 lets you add any extra rules you want to lock into the public record.
How to answer. Most simple nonprofits leave this blank or write NONE. If you want to limit the corporation’s powers, set unusual quorum rules, or include indemnification language, type or attach those provisions here.
Example entry. The corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Section 108.75 of the Illinois General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.
Nuance. Provisions you put in Article 6 are harder to change later than provisions you put in your bylaws — amending the Articles costs $25 and requires another SOS filing on Form NFP 110.30.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers paste long bylaw-style provisions into Article 6, locking themselves into rigid rules that should have lived in the more flexible bylaws document. Every future change then triggers a state filing fee.
Misconception. People believe Article 6 is required. It is not — leaving it blank or writing NONE is fully accepted.
Article 7: Other Provisions for Regulation of Internal Affairs
Plain English. Article 7 is a second optional space for governance rules, often used for member voting thresholds or director removal procedures.
How to answer. Most filers leave this blank as well. If you do add language, keep it short and reference your bylaws for the operational details.
Example entry. The internal affairs of the corporation shall be governed by the bylaws adopted by the board of directors.
Nuance. Article 7 is a useful place to lock in director term limits if your funders (such as foundations or government grantors) require them as a condition of grant eligibility.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers contradict themselves between Article 6 and Article 7 (e.g., promising indemnification in 6 and limiting it in 7), which forces the SOS examiner to send a deficiency notice and delay processing by 2–4 weeks.
Misconception. Founders confuse Article 7 with the bylaws. The bylaws are a separate internal document — Article 7 is the public-record version of any rule you want enforceable through the state.
Article 8: Distribution of Assets on Dissolution
Plain English. Article 8 asks where the money and property go if the nonprofit shuts down.
How to answer. State that all remaining assets, after debts, will be distributed to one or more 501(c)(3) organizations or to a federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. The IRS-recommended exact wording from IRS Publication 557 is: Upon the dissolution of the corporation, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
Example entry. Maria copies the IRS clause word-for-word into Article 8 and adds Any specific recipient organization shall be selected by the board of directors at the time of dissolution.
Nuance. Illinois law also requires you to follow 805 ILCS 105/Article 12 when you actually dissolve, which adds an Attorney General notice step on top of the Article 8 promise.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers write to the founders and directors or to a successor organization to be named later. Both phrasings disqualify the nonprofit from 501(c)(3) status because the IRS reads them as private inurement under Treasury Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(4).
Misconception. Founders believe Article 8 only matters if the nonprofit ever shuts down. It matters immediately — the IRS will deny tax-exempt status on day one if the dissolution clause is not compliant.
Incorporator Signature Block
Plain English. This block is where each incorporator signs and dates the form, swearing the contents are true.
How to answer. At least one incorporator who is 18 or older signs in ink (paper) or applies an e-signature (online). Print the name underneath, write the street address, and add the date as MM/DD/YYYY.
Example entry. /s/ Maria Lopez, MARIA LOPEZ, 1422 OAK AVE., EVANSTON, IL 60201, 03/14/2026.
Nuance. You can have one incorporator or many; if you list multiple, each must sign separately. Attorneys filing on a client’s behalf still need a client incorporator’s signature — the lawyer is not the incorporator.
Common mistake and consequence. Filers print the name but forget to sign, or sign electronically with a typed name on the paper form. Both errors void the filing under 805 ILCS 105/101.10 and require a brand-new submission.
Misconception. Founders think the incorporator becomes a permanent officer of the nonprofit. The incorporator role ends the moment Articles are accepted — board members and officers take over from there.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named filers show how the same eight Articles look across very different missions. Each table walks through the most important fields in the order they appear on the form.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — River North Arts Alliance (Community Arts Charity)
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Article 1: Corporate Name | RIVER NORTH ARTS ALLIANCE |
| Article 2: Registered Agent | MARIA LOPEZ |
| Article 2: Registered Office | 1422 OAK AVE., EVANSTON, IL 60201, COOK |
| Article 3: Initial Directors | MARIA LOPEZ, JAMES OKAFOR, PRIYA PATEL with Evanston/Chicago street addresses |
| Article 4: Members | The corporation does not have members |
| Article 5: Purpose | Charitable and Educational boxes checked, plus the IRS 501(c)(3) clause and a mission statement on visual and performing arts |
| Article 8: Dissolution | Verbatim IRS Publication 557 dissolution clause |
| Incorporator Signature | /s/ Maria Lopez, dated 03/14/2026 |
Scenario 2: Carlos Reyes — Prairie Paws Animal Rescue
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Article 1: Corporate Name | PRAIRIE PAWS ANIMAL RESCUE NFP |
| Article 2: Registered Agent | CARLOS A. REYES |
| Article 2: Registered Office | 742 MAIN ST., BLOOMINGTON, IL 61701, MCLEAN |
| Article 3: Initial Directors | Section left blank; box checked for directors elected per bylaws |
| Article 4: Members | The corporation has members, with a supplemental sheet describing one class of voting members who pay $25 dues |
| Article 5: Purpose | Charitable, Educational, and Prevention of cruelty to animals boxes checked, plus IRS 501(c)(3) language |
| Article 8: Dissolution | IRS clause plus assets to be distributed to the ASPCA or a comparable 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization selected by the board |
| Incorporator Signature | /s/ Carlos A. Reyes, dated 04/02/2026 |
Scenario 3: Pastor Janet Williams — New Hope Community Church
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Article 1: Corporate Name | NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH |
| Article 2: Registered Agent | JANET M. WILLIAMS |
| Article 2: Registered Office | 1500 W. JACKSON BLVD., CHICAGO, IL 60607, COOK |
| Article 3: Initial Directors | Three trustees listed with home street addresses |
| Article 4: Members | The corporation has members, supplemental sheet citing the church’s confession of faith for membership criteria |
| Article 5: Purpose | Religious, Charitable, and Educational boxes checked, plus the IRS 501(c)(3) clause adapted for religious purposes |
| Article 6: Optional Provisions | Statement that the church will be governed by its adopted Book of Order |
| Article 8: Dissolution | IRS clause directing remaining assets to the regional denominational body |
| Incorporator Signature | /s/ Janet M. Williams, dated 05/10/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You have three filing channels: online, by mail, and in person. The fastest is online, the cheapest is by mail, and the most reliable for unusual filings is in person at a Department of Business Services counter.
Online. Go to the CyberDriveIllinois business filing portal, select Form a New Not for Profit Corporation, and complete the guided wizard. The fee is $50, plus a small credit card convenience charge, payable by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. Standard processing is 7–10 business days; expedited 24-hour service costs an extra $25. Save the email confirmation and the PDF stamped Articles as your proof of filing.
By mail. Print two duplicate originals, sign both in blue ink, and mail them with a check for $50 (or $75 for expedited) payable to Secretary of State to the Springfield filing office at 501 S. Second Street, Room 350, Springfield, IL 62756. Standard mail processing runs 10–15 business days, and the SOS returns one stamped duplicate to the address on the cover letter. Keep the canceled check and the certified-mail receipt as backup proof.
In person. Drop the duplicate originals at the Springfield address above or the Chicago office at 69 W. Washington Street, Suite 1240, Chicago, IL 60602. Counter filings accept cash, check, money order, or credit card and are usually time-stamped within an hour. Ask for a certified copy ($25 extra) if your bank or grantor requires one to open accounts.
What Happens After You File
Once the Department of Business Services accepts your Articles, it returns a file-stamped copy showing your file number and the date of incorporation. From that moment, your nonprofit legally exists, can sign leases, open a bank account, and apply for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS EIN portal. Save the stamped copy in three places — a cloud drive, a printed binder, and a backup with your registered agent.
Within roughly 60 days of incorporation, you should hold an organizational meeting, adopt bylaws, elect officers, and approve a conflict-of-interest policy that the IRS will ask about on Form 1023. To pursue 501(c)(3) status, file IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ within 27 months to get retroactive tax exemption to the date of incorporation. To raise funds in Illinois, register with the Illinois Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Bureau using Form CO-1 within six months.
You also have ongoing Illinois obligations. File an annual report on Form NFP 114.05 each year before the first day of your anniversary month, with a $10 fee. To get sales tax exemption, submit Form STAX-1 to the Illinois Department of Revenue with your stamped Articles, bylaws, and IRS determination letter.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These ten mistakes drive the bulk of NFP rejections, according to the Illinois Department of Business Services. Each one is fully avoidable in five minutes of careful review.
- Using a P.O. Box for the registered office. The SOS will reject the Articles outright under 805 ILCS 105/105.05.
- Leaving out the IRS purpose clause in Article 5. The IRS will deny your future Form 1023 for failing the organizational test.
- Leaving out the IRS dissolution clause in Article 8. The IRS will treat the assets as subject to private inurement and deny exempt status.
- Naming fewer than three directors in Article 3. Boards under three trigger an examiner deficiency notice.
- Mismatching the county and the registered office city. The form is sent back for correction without processing.
- Picking a name that is too close to an existing entity. The examiner will flag it on the Business Entity Search and reject the filing.
- Filing only one original by mail. Section 101.10 requires duplicates; one copy delays return of your stamped Articles.
- Forgetting the incorporator signature. An unsigned form is void on receipt.
- Paying with the wrong payee on the check. Checks must be payable to Secretary of State, not Illinois Secretary of State or State of Illinois.
- Using an outdated form revision. Older NFP 102.10 revisions trigger automatic rejection — always pull the current PDF.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules will save you a re-file and keep you on track for tax exemption.
Do’s
- Do run a name check on the Business Entity Search before you fill in Article 1, because availability is the gatekeeper for the entire filing.
- Do copy the IRS-recommended language word-for-word into Article 5 and Article 8, because the IRS reviewers cross-check the exact wording.
- Do keep a stamped copy of the Articles in three separate locations, because banks, grantors, and the IRS will all ask for it.
- Do file Form CO-1 with the Attorney General within six months of incorporation, because charitable solicitation without registration carries fines up to $1,000.
- Do set a calendar reminder for the annual report deadline, because missing it leads to administrative dissolution under 805 ILCS 105/112.35.
- Do ask the registered agent to sign a written consent letter, because some banks request it before opening the account.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a P.O. Box on Article 2, because 805 ILCS 105/105.05 requires a physical address.
- Don’t paste long bylaws into Article 6 or Article 7, because every later change triggers a paid amendment.
- Don’t write to be determined in Article 8, because that wording disqualifies you from 501(c)(3) status.
- Don’t sign on behalf of someone else, because forged incorporator signatures void the filing and can constitute a Class 4 felony under 720 ILCS 5/17-3.
- Don’t file with stale information from a name reservation that has expired, because reservations only last 90 days.
- Don’t assume incorporation alone makes you tax-exempt, because the IRS approval is a separate, later step.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most simple nonprofits can self-file NFP 102.10, but complex missions, employer status, or property holdings can justify the cost of a lawyer or formation service.
Pros of Filing on Your Own
- Cost savings — you pay only the $50 state fee instead of $300–$1,500 in legal fees.
- Speed — online filing takes about 30 minutes from start to submission.
- Direct knowledge — you learn the structure of your own nonprofit, which helps later board work.
- Control — you choose every word in Articles 5, 6, 7, and 8 instead of relying on a template.
- Faster amendments — once you have filed once, future filings using Form NFP 110.30 feel familiar.
Cons of Filing on Your Own
- Risk of bad purpose language — DIY filers regularly miss the IRS organizational-test wording.
- Higher rejection odds — paper filings with handwriting errors get bounced more often than attorney filings.
- No legal review of bylaws — most self-filers skip the bylaws step that the IRS will demand on Form 1023.
- Missed downstream filings — the AG charitable registration and IDOR sales tax exemption are easy to forget.
- No malpractice protection — if you make a costly mistake, you bear the loss alone, while an attorney’s E&O insurance would cover legal errors.
FAQs
Do I have to write Inc. or Corp. at the end of my nonprofit name?
No. Illinois does not require a corporate ending for not-for-profit corporations under 805 ILCS 105/104.05. Many filers add NFP anyway for clarity with banks and donors.
Can I use my home address for the registered office in Article 2?
Yes. Any Illinois street address works, including a home, as long as it is not a P.O. Box and someone is normally there during business hours to accept service of process.
Do I need to list directors in Article 3, or can I leave it blank?
Yes. You may leave Article 3 blank by checking the box that says directors will be elected through the bylaws. Many founders prefer this for privacy.
What exact wording satisfies the IRS for Article 5?
Yes. Use organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code from IRS Publication 557.
Do I write my purpose in Article 5 in plain English or legal language?
Yes. Both. Lead with a plain-English mission, then add the IRS-required exempt-purpose clause. Examiners and IRS reviewers expect to see both.
Is the dissolution clause in Article 8 mandatory?
Yes. It is mandatory if you want 501(c)(3) status, because the IRS organizational test requires that assets be permanently dedicated to an exempt purpose.
Can I sign Article 8 to be determined and add a recipient later?
No. The IRS reads vague dissolution language as private inurement, which disqualifies the nonprofit from tax exemption from day one.
How much does it cost to file Form NFP 102.10?
Yes. The standard fee is $50, plus an optional $25 for 24-hour expedited service through the CyberDriveIllinois portal or counter delivery.
How long does Illinois take to approve the Articles?
Yes. Online filings clear in 7–10 business days, mail filings in 10–15 business days, and expedited filings in 24 hours.
Do I need to file separately with the IRS after Illinois approves my Articles?
Yes. File IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ within 27 months to receive 501(c)(3) recognition retroactive to incorporation.
What goes in the County box if my registered agent is a commercial service?
Yes. Enter the county where the commercial agent’s listed Illinois office sits, not the county where your nonprofit operates.
Can a minor sign as the incorporator?
No. Illinois requires the incorporator to be 18 or older under 805 ILCS 105/102.10. A minor’s signature voids the filing.
Do I need to register with the Illinois Attorney General after incorporating?
Yes. If you will solicit donations, register within six months using Form CO-1 with the Charitable Trust Bureau.
Can I amend my Articles later if I make a mistake?
Yes. File Form NFP 110.30 with a $25 fee to amend any Article after acceptance.
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