Louisiana Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation

Nonprofit articles of incorporation is the document filed to create a Louisiana 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

Agency:	Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division
Form:	Articles of Incorporation-Louisiana Nonprofit
Filing Method:	Mail, fax, in-person, or online.
Agency Fee:	$75 (expedited processing is available for an additional fee)
Turnaround:	~1 week for standard processing.
Law:	Louisiana Revised Statues (RS) - Title 12: Corporations and Associations - Chapter 2: Nonprofit Corporation Law
Original Ink:	Required
Notarization Required?:	Not Required
Notes:	When filing by mail, include: Articles of incorporation Transmittal Information cover form Registered agent’s affidavit and acknowledgment of acceptance Notarized signature

Other Helpful Louisiana Facts

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

Louisiana Directors

• Number: minimum 3. If there are less than 3 members, the minimum number of directors is equal to the minimum number of members.
• Qualifications: Natural person. No residency requirement. No membership requirement.
• Term: default is 1 year, 5 year maximum
• Quorum: majority
• Committee: minimum 2 directors

Louisiana Officers

• A president, a secretary and a treasurer, and optionally one or more vice presidents.
• The officer need not be a director.
• The treasurer may be a corporation.
• Two or more offices may be held by the same individual, but this person may only sign instruments in one capacity when the signatures of two officers are required.

Louisiana Members

• Members: Nonstock nonprofit corporations are assumed to have membership. If there are no members other than the board, then the directors are the members.
• Annual meeting: required
• Quorum: majority