A plain-language path for a new chapter or member organization. Work top to bottom, or jump to whatever you need next.
Whether you are starting a brand-new chapter or tightening up an existing one, the work is the same: get formed, stay compliant, run a board, manage members and dues, get online, and keep your records. Each step below points you to the tool that handles it. It all works whether your organization is a 501(c)(3) charity, a 501(c)(6) association, or a 501(c)(7) club.
Pick your type, incorporate with your state, get an EIN, and draft your bylaws and the right IRS exemption application. The assistant tailors your documents to your type, so a 501(c)(6) gets business-league language and Form 1024, not charity boilerplate.
Get a calendar of the real deadlines for your type, the Form 990 series and the state filings, so nothing quietly lapses. Three missed years of the 990 means automatic loss of exemption, for every nonprofit type, so this is the one to set up early.
Define officer roles and duties, run meetings with agendas and minutes, organize committees, and use the officer-transition kit so a board handoff does not reset your organization. Turnover is the biggest continuity risk for a volunteer group; this is how you survive it.
Track your roster, levels, and renewals, and send reminders so dues do not slip. Built for any membership organization, including 501(c)(6) associations and their chapters, with the correct non-deductible dues wording handled for you.
Send newsletters and announcements, and build a simple one-page website you can publish yourself, with a domain, an optional donate or dues button, and your own logo. No web developer required.
Keep your bylaws, minutes, filings, and rosters in one organized place that outlives any single officer. When a new board comes in, everything they need is already there.