state laws (U.S) require minimum three category of people to form a nonprofit organization.
- Founders
- Directors
- Officers
Often, the same person can play all three roles.
Founder’s requirement/ Minimum number of Founders
| State | Minimum number of incorporators |
| Alabama | Persons (one or more), partnerships, domestic corporations or foreign corporations, whether for profit or not for profit |
| Alaska | One or more person |
| Arizona | One or more person |
| Arkansas | One or more person |
| California | One or more person |
| Colorado | One or more person 18 years or older. |
| Connecticut | One or more person |
| Delaware | One or more person |
| District of Columbia | 3 or more persons |
| Florida | One or more person |
| Georgia | One or more person |
| Hawaii | One or more person |
| Idaho | One or more person |
| Illinois | Either be a natural person above the age of 18 or a domestic or foreign business entity |
| Indiana | One or more person |
| Iowa | One or more person |
| Kansas | One or more person |
| Kentucky | One or more person |
| Louisiana | One or more natural person or a business entity |
| Maine | One or more person |
| Maryland | One or more person 18 years or older |
| Massachusetts | One or more person |
| Michigan | One or more person |
| Minnesota | One or more adult and a natural person |
| Mississippi | One or more person |
| Missouri | Minimum 1 natural person 18 + age. Business entities not allowed to start a non-profit organization in Missouri |
| Montana | One or more person |
| Nebraska | One or more person |
| Nevada | One or more natural person |
| New Hampshire | Minimum 5 or more people are required to act as incorporators |
| New Jersey | One or more person |
| New Mexico | One or more person |
| New York | One or more natural persons of at least 18 years of age |
| North Carolina | One or more person |
| North Dakota | One or more incorporators must be at least 18 years of age. |
| Ohio | One or more person |
| Oklahoma | 3 or more individuals or partnership, association, or corporation |
| Oregon | One or more incorporators at least 18 years age or an organization(corporation, partnership, association) |
| Pennsylvania | One or more individual at least 18 years of age or a business entity |
| Rhode Island | One or more person |
| South Carolina | One or more person |
| South Dakota | Minimum of three (3) or more natural persons who have attained the age of majority |
| Tennessee | One or more person |
| Texas | One or more ‘organizer’ who may either be a person (18 years +) or a corporation or any other legal entity. |
| Utah | One or more individual (aged 18 years or older) who may or may not be a domicile of Utah |
| Vermont | One or more individual who has attained the age of majority. Organizations cannot be incorporators |
| Virginia | 1 or more person |
| Washington | One or more adult person(s) (18 years+) |
| West Virginia | 1 or more natural person |
| Wisconsin | 1 or more natural person |
| Wyoming | 1 or more person |
Also see:
