Cook County Nonprofit Attorney

For over 20 years, nonprofit attorney James C. Provenza has called Cook County his home, and although we might be biased, we think Cook County is one of the best places to live in Illinois. One factor that continually strives to provide a better quality of life to Cook County citizens is the wealth of charitable and nonprofit organizations in the county. As the leading Cook County nonprofit attorney, Provenza wants to encourage individuals to further charitable giving in the county, while making it easier to establish, manager, and succeed in running a nonprofit.

In addition to nonprofit incorporation, bylaw drafting and managing, nonprofit organizational structuring, estate planning for charitable trusts, and many other practice areas, James C. Provenza & Associates, PC provides strategic counseling and legal oversight for nonprofits, while at the same time relentlessly representing nonprofits in the Cook County Probate Court. For all legal matters related to your nonprofit, contact James C. Provenza & Associates, PC today at (847) 729-3939 or visit our Glenview office at 1701 E. Lake Avenue, Suite 407.

Checklist for Forming a Not For Profit in Cook County

Due to the wide array of tax benefits and other benefits provided to nonprofits, forming a not for profit corporation in Cook County can be a legally complex process. In addition to filing all the correct paperwork with the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois Secretary of State Office, nonprofits must provide annual reports as well—this is in addition to the reports required by the IRS. Here is a brief checklist, along with links to the required documents, needed to form a not for profit corporation. Many of these guidelines are outlined in the General Not For Profit Corporation Act (805 ILCS 105).

• Application of Reservation of Name: Form NFP 104.10, which reserves the name for 90 days.
• Articles of Incorporation: Form NFP 102.10
• Federal Employer Identification Number: IRS Form SS-4.
• IRS Tax Exempt Status Application for Recognition of Exemption: Form 1023 or Form 1024

Please note that this is note a complete list of requirements, as depending on your specific nonprofit, you may need other documents.

Cook County Recorder of Deeds

Once you have completed the Articles of Incorporation, you need to file those articles with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Currently, the Cook County Recorder of Deeds is Karen A. Yarbrough. There are several Recorder offices throughout the county, including:

Nonprofits must also file their Articles of Incorporation with the Illinois Secretary of State. Please note that the Articles should state the purpose of a nonprofit in Lake County, and this purpose must be selected among the 33 purposes listed in the General Not For Profit Corporation Act, Section 103.05(a).

The current Secretary of State is Jesse White. You can find this office at the following location:

Secretary of State
Department of Business Services
501 S. Second St., Rm. 350
Springfield, IL 62756
217-782-9522

Illinois Attorney General – Charitable Trust Bureau

Every year, charitable organizations need to register with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General is Lisa Madigan, and the contact information for the Office is as follows:

Illinois Attorney General
Charitable Trust Bureau
100 W. Randolph St., 11th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 814-2595

For directions, just click on the map below and enter the address of your home or place of employment.

James C. Provenza, P.C. – Cook County Nonprofit Attorney

Forming and managing a nonprofit in Illinois is a difficult, yet highly rewarding endeavor, and James C. Provenza & Associates, PC stands at Cook County’s most regarded law firms to help you run a successful nonprofit. From drafting and strategic counseling to representing your interests in Cook County Probate Court, Attorney Provenza guarantees extensive experience and comprehensive legal oversight of your nonprofit. Contact James C. Provenza & Associates, PC today at (847) 729-3939.