Legal Services

Starting a nonprofit is an exciting way to create change, but navigating the paperwork and legal requirements can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in!

Our Nonprofit Startup Package simplifies the process, so you can focus on your mission while Maryland Nonprofits experts handle the details—all for an affordable, flat fee.

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Includes: 

• File Form 990N 
• File Maryland Annual Report 
• File Maryland Charitable Solicitation
• Registration/Annual Update
  
  Fee: $750 for 1 year, $1,000 for 2 years
  
  • If total contributions are below $25,000, no filing fees. 
  • If between $25,000 and $50,000 in contributions, add $50 filing fee for Maryland Charitable Solicitation Registration/Annual Update.

Eligibility: Gross receipts are over $50K and below $200K/year AND total assets valued at less than $500K

Includes:

• Mandatory online filing with IRS
• Tax Software filing fee ($125)
  
  Fee: $1,750 plus filing fee of $125 = $1,875
  • If underlying bookkeeping is required to prepare for the filing, additional charges will apply: $250/hour, 1 hour minimum 
  • If extension is required, additional $250 fee will apply 
  • If Maryland Annual Report and Charitable Solicitation Registration are included, additional $500 will apply

Accurate and transparent financial management and accounting is critical to ensuring your nonprofit is using its financial resources effectively. Our legal team is available to configure your bookkeeping in QuickBooks.

Includes:

• Get nonprofit license (through TechSoup) 
• Set up chart of accounts 
• Configure
• Train on how to use

Fee: $1,500 if a new organization

Already using QuickBooks, but want to improve your configuration? Let our legal team assess, review, and improve your QuickBooks setup.

Includes:

• Chart of accounts 
• Classes/functional expenses 
• Transactions 
• Grant fund tracking
• Train on use of new configuration

Fee: $1,500 base cost

Legal review of Articles of Incorporation making any updates to bring current. 

• Discuss changes, which may include statement of charitable and educational purposes, verifying/updating principal office address and resident agent information, review of membership structure (confirming alignment with program operation), adding a non-discrimination/equity statement 
• File Articles of Amendment and Restatement or Articles of Amendment
  
  Fee: $750

For businesses incorporated in other states that wish to conduct business in Maryland, we will file your Foreign Corporation Qualification.

The service includes: 

• Obtain Certificate of Good Standing from home state 
• File Foreign Corporation Qualification with Maryland’s SDAT 
• Resolve entity status in the home state
  
  Fee: $750 plus filing fees of $370 for Maryland. Plus, there may be fees for the home state.

Has your corporate charter been forfeited?

We will:

• File the required number of missing Annual Reports 
• File Articles of Revival, if necessary
  
  Fee: $750 plus filing fee of $150

• File Articles of Amendment
• IRS notification of name change, if necessary

Fee:  $500

We will submit to the Maryland State Dept. of Assessments and Taxation a Trade Name Application so that your organization may conduct business using a trade name or “doing business as” name.

Fee: $500 plus filing fee of $75

• File Articles of Dissolution 
• File Charitable Solicitation Registration (CSR) intent to close, if necessary
• File terminating 990N if desired (only for 990N filers)

Fee: $750

Comprehensive review of your bylaws followed by track changes recommendations reflecting best practices, as well as a proposed “final” version.

Fee: $1,750

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In this facilitated process, our legal counsel will assess your organization’s position in terms of governance and legal compliance, walking your board through a checklist of items to create a clear picture of board performance in the context of best practices.

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General Legal Services are available to Maryland Nonprofits Members at the member discounted hourly rate of $250/hr. Contact help@mdnonprofit.org to learn more.