How to form a nonprofit in South Dakota for $0 service fee.
South Dakota state filing fee is $30. Standard processing is Same day (online). We file Articles of Incorporation as a nonprofit with the South Dakota Secretary of State, prepare 501(c)(3)-compliant bylaws and board minutes, obtain your EIN, file IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ for federal tax exemption, and handle South Dakota charitable solicitation registration.
501(c)(3)
EXEMPT
From South Dakota formation to tax-exempt mission.
Why South Dakota for your mission.
No state income tax. Strong financial services industry (credit card companies relocated here for favorable usury laws). Asset-protection trust legal environment is among the most favorable in the US. Same-day online filing.
Where South Dakota nonprofits operate.
When the nonprofit structure fits.
- Your mission is charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or public-benefit
- You want donations to be tax-deductible to donors (requires 501(c)(3))
- You plan to apply for grants from foundations or government
- You can recruit at least 3 unrelated board members
- You accept that profits cannot be distributed to owners
- You will operate consistently within South Dakota or across multiple states
- You want to keep ownership and profits
- You are running a for-profit business with charitable side activity
- You cannot commit to ongoing board governance and Form 990 filing
- You want to fundraise capital from equity investors (impossible for 501(c)(3))
- Your mission is better served as a B-Corp or LLC with social purpose
Free with your South Dakota nonprofit LLC formation.
Starter is genuinely $0. We pass through the $state South Dakota nonprofit state fee at cost. Everything below is included free.
- Articles filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State, our service fee $0
- IRS EIN application (Form SS-4) filed for you
- South Dakota nonprofit-specific Operating Agreement or Bylaws template
- South Dakota nonprofit Registered Agent service: first year free, then $99/year
- Basic South Dakota nonprofit compliance calendar (annual report dates)
- Document storage, 5 GB
Add the operating stack most South Dakota nonprofit businesses need.
BOI filing + annual report filing + custom domain (1 free) + business email (3 mailboxes) + business phone line + brand kit (logo + 100 cards) + website builder + books + CRM + e-signature unlimited + document vault unlimited + audit trail + priority support. See full Growth features →
BOI filing $249 · S-Corp election $99 · Annual report filing $149 + state fee · Foreign qualification $149/state · Trademark $249/class + USPTO fee · Custom Operating Agreement $199 · Expedited state filing state fee + $50 service. Full add-on pricing →
From South Dakota formation to 501(c)(3) determination.
South Dakota nonprofit vs neighbors.
South Dakota nonprofit resources.
The File.Business Promise
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.
South Dakota Nonprofit questions.
Does my South Dakota nonprofit need to file federally for 501(c)(3)?
What is Form 1023-EZ and can my South Dakota nonprofit use it?
Does South Dakota require charitable solicitation registration?
How many board members must a South Dakota nonprofit have?
Can my South Dakota nonprofit pay its founders?
When does the South Dakota nonprofit Form 990 need to be filed?
How long until my South Dakota nonprofit can accept tax-deductible donations?
Can my South Dakota nonprofit sell goods or services?
Start your South Dakota Nonprofit in 5 minutes.
Tell us about your mission. We file with the South Dakota Secretary of State, prepare bylaws and board minutes, obtain your EIN, file Form 1023 or 1023-EZ, and register for South Dakota charitable solicitation.
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Nonprofits we have formed in South Dakota.
On the $129/yr Compliance Annual Filings plan, we cover state late fees.
When you autofile your annual report through the $129/yr plan and we miss the deadline, we pay the state's late fee. The guarantee applies to that specific plan and the filings it includes. Other File.Business services are billed at the prices on this page.