Consider establishing a Non-Profit Organization

Please note that non-profit organizations are not covered in this Guide. Non-profit organizations are legal structures often used by social enterprises due to their tax benefits. They are, however, subject to extensive state and federal regulation.

There are many external resources on non-profit organizations such as:

Next steps

Now that you have an overview of what structures may be most suitable for your social venture, you should seek legal advice to ensure the structure meets all your organization’s needs.

TrustLaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation global pro bono legal program, connects social enterprises with leading law firms to provide free legal assistance on issues such as a structuring. In the US alone, TrustLaw supports over 175 social enterprises with free legal assistance.

Apply to join TrustLaw to request free legal advice for your social venture.