So here it is. Week by week.
Week 1
Save the Determination Letter in multiple places.
Cloud drive, your business inbox, a paper copy in a binder. Every grant officer, every donor's accountant, and every state agency will ask for it. Losing it is a real headache.
Apply for state tax-exempt status.
Federal 501(c)(3) does NOT automatically exempt you from state income tax, sales tax, or property tax. Each state has its own application, some auto-grant once you show your IRS letter, others require a separate filing. This can save you thousands a year.
Open a separate business bank account.
If you've been running money through a personal account temporarily, stop now. Co-mingling is the fastest way to attract IRS scrutiny.
Week 2
Register at TechSoup.
Free signup, gives 501(c)(3) orgs access to deeply discounted Microsoft, Adobe, and other software. Most small orgs save $500–$2,000 a year just on software.
Apply for Google for Nonprofits.
Free Google Workspace for nonprofits, $10,000/month in Google Ads grants, YouTube Nonprofit Program. Takes a couple of weeks to verify, so start now.
Set up bookkeeping.
Nonprofit accounting has its own rules. At minimum: a separate accounting software (QuickBooks Online, Aplos, or Wave for free), and a chart of accounts that tracks restricted vs unrestricted funds and program vs admin vs fundraising expenses. You'll need this for Form 990 every year.
Claim your Candid profile.
Funders, donor-advised funds, and careful donors check Candid (formerly GuideStar) before they give, and organizations with a Seal of Transparency average about 62% more in donor contributions. Claiming your profile and finishing the Bronze tier takes about 15 minutes. Here's the step-by-step on completing your Candid profile and earning a Seal.
Week 3
Draft your donor acknowledgment letter template.
The IRS requires donors who give $250+ to have a written acknowledgment with specific language ("no goods or services were provided in exchange for this gift" plus your EIN and the gift amount). Build the template now so you can send within 30 days of any future gift.
Build your annual compliance calendar.
Form 990 deadline (15th day of 5th month after your fiscal year ends, for a Dec 31 year, that's May 15). State corporate annual report. State charitable solicitation renewal (if registered). Add three calendar reminders for each: 90 days before, 30 days before, day of.
Week 4
Recruit one more board member.
If you only have the minimum three, you're one resignation away from problems. A board of 5–7 is much more resilient.
Write your year-1 budget.
It doesn't need to be perfect. Just project realistic income, expenses, and program activities. Your board approves it. You revisit quarterly.
What comes next
That's the foundation. Everything else, donor management, fundraising, grant writing, board meetings, audits, sits on top of this work.
When you're ready to graduate from "just starting" to "actually operating," the full All In One Nonprofit platform has 15 integrated apps designed for the nonprofit reality, board management, donor cultivation, grant tracking, compliance calendars, and more. Browse the apps to find which suite fits your stage.