Form ARTS-PB

Instructions for Completing the

Articles of Incorporation of a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation (Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3))

A corporation organized primarily or exclusively for charitable purposes and which plans to obtain state tax exempt

status under California Revenue and Taxation Code section 23701d and/or federal tax exempt status under Internal

Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) is a nonprofit Public Benefit corporation. To form a Nonprofit Public Benefit

Corporation in California, you must file Articles of Incorporation with the California Secretary of State. This form is for

use by corporations seeking tax-exempt status within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Do

not use this form if the corporation is seeking other types of tax exemptions.

• Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) has been created for ease in filing, however, you can compose your own document,

provided it meets statutory requirements.

• Before submitting the completed form, you should consult with a private attorney for advice about your specific

business needs and whether additional article provisions for the corporation are needed.

Important Additional Steps to Obtain Tax Exemption and Avoid Paying the Minimum $800 Annual Tax:

• Califor

nia nonprofit corporations are not automatically exempt from paying California franchise tax or income tax

each year. Most corporations must pay a minimum tax of $800 to the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) each

year. (California Revenue and Taxation Code section 23153.)

• A separate Exemption Application (Form FTB 3500) is required in order to obtain tax exempt status in California.

For more information, go to https://www.ftb.ca.gov/businesses/Exempt-organi

zations.

• For i

nformation regarding FTB forms and publications visit their website at https://www.ftb.ca.gov or contact the

TB at (800) 852-5711 (from within the U.S.) or (916) 845-6500 (from outside the U.S.).

Fees:

• Fi

ling Fee: The fee for filing Articles of Incorporation of a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation is $30.00.

• Faster Service Fee:

- Counter and guaranteed expedite services are available only for documents submitted in person (drop off) to

our Sacramento office.

- Counter Drop Off: A separate, non-refundable $15.00 counter drop off fee is required if you submit in

person (drop off) your completed document at our Sacramento office. The $15.00 counter drop off fee

provides priority service over documents submitted by mail. The special handling fee is not refundable

whether the document is filed or rejected.

- Guaranteed Expedite Drop Off: For more urgent submissions, documents can be processed within a

guaranteed timeframe for a non-refundable fee instead of the counter drop off fee. For detailed information

about this faster processing service through our Preclearance and Expedited Filing Services, go to

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/

service-options.

Cop

ies: Upon filing, we will return one (1) plain copy of your filed document for free, and will certify the copy upon

request and payment of a $5 certification fee. To obtain additional copies or certified copies of the filed document,

include payment for copy fees and certification fees at the time the document is submitted. Additional copy fees are

$1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. For certified copies, there is an additional $5.00

certification fee, per document.

Payment Type: Check(s) or money orders should be made payable to the Secretary of State. Do not send cash by

mail. If submitting the document in person in our Sacramento office, payment also may be made by credit card

(Visa® or MasterCard®).

Processing Times: For current processing times, go to www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/processing-times.

ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) Instructions (REV 04/2018)

2018 California Secretary of State

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be

If you are not completing this form online, please type or legibly print in black or blue ink. Complete the Articles

of Incorporation of a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation (Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) as follows:

Item Instruction Tips

1. Enter the name of the proposed

corporation exactly as it is to appear on

the records of the California Secretary

of State.

• There are legal limitations on what name can be used for the

corporation. For general corporation name requirements

and restrictions or for information on reserving a corporation

name prior to submitting Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3), go to

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/name-availability.

• A name reservation is not required to submit Form

ARTS-PB-501(c)(3).

• A preliminary search of corporation names already of record

can be made online through our Business Search at

BusinessSearch.sos.ca.gov. Please note: The Business

Search is only a preliminary search and is not intended to

serve as a formal name availability search. For information

on checking or reserving a name, go to

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/name-availability.

2a. Enter the complete street address, city,

state and zip code of the corporation’s

initial address.

• The complete street address is required, including the

street name and number, city, state and zip code.

• Address must be a physical address.

• Do not enter a P.O. Box address, an “in care of” address, or

abbreviate the name of the city.

2b. If different from the address in Item 2a,

enter the corporation’s initial mailing

address.

• This address will be used for mailing purposes and may be a

P.O. Box address or “in care of” an individual or entity.

• Do not abbreviate the name of the city.

3. The corporation must have an Agent

for Service of Process.

There are two types of Agents that

can be named:

• an individ

ual (e.g. officer, director, or

any other individual) who resides in

California with a physical California

street address; OR

• a registered corporate agent qualified

with the California Secretary of State.

• An Agent for Service of Process is responsible for accepting

legal documents (e.g. service of process, lawsuits, other

types of legal notices, etc.) on behalf of the corporation.

• You must provide information for either an individual OR a

registered corporate agent, not both.

• If using a registered corporate agent, the corporation must

have a current agent registration certificate on file with the

California Secretary of State as required by Section 1505.

3a & b.

If Individual Agent:

• Enter the name of the initial agent

for service of process and the

agent’s complete California street

address, city and zip code.

• If an individual is designated as the

initial agent, complete Items 3a and

3b ONLY. Do not complete Item

3c.

• The complete street address is required, including the

street name and number, city and zip code.

• Do not enter a P.O. Box address, an “in care of” address, or

abbreviate the name of the city.

• Many times, a small corporation will designate an officer or

director as the agent for service of process.

• The individual agent should be aware that the name and the

physical street address of the agent for service of process is

a public record, open to all (as are all the addresses of the

corporation provided in filings made with the California

Secretary of State.)

ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) Instructions (REV 04/2018)

2018 California Secretary of State

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be

3c. If Registered Corporate Agent:

• Enter the name of the initial

registered corporate agent exactly

as registered in California.

• If a registered corporate agent is

designated as the initial agent,

complete Item 3c ONLY. Do not

complete Items 3a and 3b.

• Before a corporation is designated as agent for another

corporation, that corporation must have a current agent

registration certificate on file with the California Secretary of

State as required by Section 1505 stating the address(es) of

the registered corporate agent and the authorized

ployees that will accept service of process of legal

documents and notices on behalf of the corporation

• A

dvanced approval must be obtained from a register

orporate agent prior to designating that corporation as your

agent for service of process.

• No California or foreign corporation may register as

California corporate agent unless the corporation currently is

authorized to engage in business in California and is in go

tanding on the records of the California Secretary of State.

• Provide your Registered Corporate Agent’s exact name as

registered with the California Secretary of State. To confirm

that you are providing the exact name of the Register

Corporate Agent, go to

https://businessfilings.sos.ca.gov/frmlist1505s.asp.

• A corporation cannot name itself as agent.

4. The purpose statement is required.

Check the applicable box to indicate

whether you are organizing for "public"

purposes, or "charitable" purposes.

Check both boxes if you are organizing

for both "public" and "charitable"

purposes.

• You must check one or both of the boxes in Item 4a.

• If you check the “public” purposes box in Item 4a, or if y

intend to apply for tax-exempt status (see Items 5a-5d), you

st enter the specific purpose of the corporation in Item

4b.

• If you check “charitable” purposes box only, you may enter

the specific purpose of the corporation in Item 4b.

5. These additional statements must not

be altered.

• Items 5a-5d: These statements are required if you intend t

app

ly for tax exempt status from the Internal Reven

ervice or the California Franchise Tax Board under Internal

Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) and California Revenue

and T

axation Code section 23701d.

• If the corporation is seeking other types of tax exemptions,

you must compose your own Articles of Incorporation.

6. Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) must be

signed by each incorporator.

• If you need more space for signatures:

- Place the additional signatures on only one side of a

standard letter-sized piece of paper (8 1/2" x 11")

clearly marked as an attachment to Form ARTS-PB-

501(c)(3) and attach the extra page(s) to the completed

Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3).

- All attachments are part of this document.

• Multiple Form ARTS-PB-501(c)(3)s with different signatures

will be returned without being filed – use only one form.

• Do not include the title of the person signing.

ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) Instructions (REV 04/2018)

2018 California Secretary of State

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be

Mail Submission Cover Sheet (Optional): To make it easier to receive communication related to this document,

including receipt of the copy of the filed document, complete the Mail Submission Cover Sheet. For the Return

Address: enter the name of a designated person and/or company and the corresponding mailing address. Please

note the Mail Submission Cover Sheet will be treated as correspondence and will not be made part of the filed

document.

Where to File: Completed forms along with the applicable fees, if any can be mailed to Secretary of State, Business

Entities Filings Unit, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2260 or delivered in person (drop off) to the

Sacramento office, 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. This form is filed only in the Sacramento

office.

Legal Authority: General statutory filing provisions are found in Sections 5120-5122 et

seq. and 5130-5134 et seq.

All statutory references are to the California Corporations Code, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of Information: A Statement of Information (Form SI-100) must be filed with the California Secretary

of State within 90 days after filing the Articles of Incorporation and every two years thereafter during the

applicable filing period. The applicable filing period is the calendar month in which the Articles of Incorporation

were filed and the immediately preceding five calendar months. (Section 6210.)

Additional

Resources: For a list of other agencies you may need to contact to ensure proper compliance, go to

www.sos.ca.gov/busin

ess/be/resources. Note: The California Secretary of State does not license corporations. For

licensing requirements, please contact the city and/or county where the principal place of business is located and/or

the state agency with jurisdiction over the activities of the corporation.

ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) Instructions (REV 04/2018)

2018 California Secretary of State

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be

Secretary of State

Business Programs Division

Business Entities

1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600

For fastest service, file online at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov.

• Complete and include this form with your paper submission. This form will not be made part of

the filed document.

• Make all checks or money orders payable to the Secretary of State.

• In-person submissions (excluding Statements of Information): $15 special handling fee. Do not

include a $15 special handling fee when submitting documents by mail.

• All submissions are reviewed in the date order of receipt, with online submissions given priority.

For updated processing time information, visit www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/processing-dates.

• To obtain a certified copy, include certification fees with your submission.

Contact Person (Please type or print legibly):

First Name:

Last Name:

Phone Number:

Entity Information (Please type or print legibly):

Entity Name:

Entity Number (if applicable):

Comments:

Submission Cover Sheet (REV 03/2024)

Note: All correspondence related to your submission will be

sent to the name and address on your check or money order.

Email:

Instructions:

Business Entities Submission Cover Sheet

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Secretary of State

ARTS-PB-

501(c)(3)

This Space For Office Use Only

Articles of Incorporation of a

Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation

IMPORTANT — Read Instructions before completing this form.

Filing Fee – $30.00

Copy Fees – First page $1.00; each attachment page $0.50;

Certification Fee - $5.00

Note:

A separate California Franchise Tax Board application is required to obtain

tax exempt status. For more information, go to https://www.ftb.ca.gov.

1. Corporate Name (Go to www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/name-availability for general corporate name requirements and restrictions.)

The name of the corporation is _______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Business Addresses (Enter the complete business addresses. Item 2a cannot be a P.O.Box or “in care of” an individual or entity.)

a. Initial Street Address of Corporation - Do not enter a P.O. Box

City (no abbreviations) State Zip Code

b. Initial Mailing Address of Corporation, if different than item 2a

3. Service of Process (Must provide either Individual OR Corporation.)

INDIVIDUAL – Complete Items 3a and 3b only. Must include agent’s full name and California street address.

City (no abbreviations) State Zip Code

a. California Agent's First Name (if agent is not a corporation)

Middle Name Last Name Suffix

b. Street Address (if agent is not a corporation) - Do not enter a P.O. Box

City (no abbreviations) State

Zip Code

CORPORATION – Complete Item 3c. Only include the name of the registered agent Corporation.

c. California Registered Corporate Agent’s Name (if agent is a corporation) – Do not complete Item 3a or 3b

4. Purpose Statement

Item 4a: One or both boxes must be checked.

Item 4b: If “public” purposes is checked in Item 4a, or if you intend to apply for tax-exempt status in California, you

must enter the specific purpose in Item 4b.)

This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the priv

ate gain of any person. It is organized under

the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for: public purposes. charitable purposes.

b. The specific purpose of this corporation is to ____________________________________________________________________________ .

5. Additional Statements (See Instructions and Filing Tips.)

a. This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for the purposes set forth in Article 4 hereof within the meaning of Internal

Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).

b. No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence

legislation, and this corporation shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of

statements) on behalf of any candidate for public office.

c. The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to the purposes in Article 4 hereof and no part of the net income or assets

of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person.

d. Upon the dissolution or winding up of this corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and

liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated

exclusively for charitable, educational and/or religious purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under Internal

Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).

6. Read and Sign Below (This form must be signed by each incorporator. See Instructions. Do not include a title.)

__________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Type or Print NameSignature

ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) (REV 04/2018)

2018 California Secretary of State

www.sos.ca.gov/business/be

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