How to Name a Nonprofit Organization in Arkansas

Choosing a name for your nonprofit organization is the first step in our complete guide, How to Start a Nonprofit in Arkansas. One of the most important decisions any 501(c)(3) founder will make is selecting the right name. We’re here to help with our full guide to choosing, validating, and registering an Arkansas nonprofit name in four easy steps.

Check out our other guides for a look at How to Start a Nonprofit Organization or How to Name a Nonprofit in other states.

Recommended: Use our Business Name Generator to brainstorm hundreds of catchy names (with available URLs) for your nonprofit.

Name Your Nonprofit in 4 Easy Steps

Naming your Arkansas nonprofit is easy. Just follow these four simple steps to secure the best name for your 501(c)(3).

SKIP AHEAD
Step 1: Choose the Right Name for Your Nonprofit
Step 2: Follow the Nonprofit Naming Rules in Arkansas
Step 3: Check if Your Business Name is Available
Step 4: Register Your Nonprofit Name

Use our 501(c)(3) Lookup Table to see if your nonprofit’s name is already in use.

Step 1: Choose the Right Name for Your Nonprofit

Selecting the right name for your organization is an important task. In order to choose the name that best represents your nonprofit’s mission and purpose, we recommend following these guidelines:

  • Be specific. A nonprofit’s name should be direct and specific enough to convey its mission. Avoid using vague words or terms that could confuse donors and prospective clients about your organization’s purpose.
  • Make it memorable. Memorability is essential when selecting a name for any business. For nonprofits, selecting a name that will stick in the minds of those who come across it will not only improve your organization’s exposure among donors and volunteers but also make it easier for potential clients to find your services.
  • Keep it professional. Nonprofits rely heavily on their public image in order to attract donors or clients who may use their services — and their first impression will stem from your organization’s name. For this reason, your nonprofit needs a professional name that communicates a serious dedication to its mission and purpose.
  • Make it emotional. Whether your organization provides services for animals, displaced persons, or any other community, emotion and charity have a strong bond. Selecting a name that appeals to the emotions of both donors and clients will help build trust as well as your organization’s credibility.

We recommend selecting at least four to five names that fit your criteria before you start researching their availability. This approach will increase your chances of securing a unique and available name.

Recommended: Use our Business Name Generator to help you find an available and unique name in your state.

Step 2: Follow the Nonprofit Naming Rules in Arkansas

Corporation Name Requirements

Your Arkansas nonprofit name must adhere to the general corporate guidelines laid out in Section 4-26-401 of the state’s Business and Commercial Law statutes:

(2) Shall not contain any word or phrase which is prohibited by law for the corporation or which indicates or implies that it is organized for any purpose other than one (1) or more of the purposes contained in the articles of incorporation;

(3) (A) Shall not be the same as or confusingly similar to the name of any domestic corporation existing under the laws of this state or any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state, or a name the exclusive right to which is, at the time, reserved under § 4-26-402, or the name of a corporation which has in effect a registration of its corporate name under § 4-26-403.

(B) No foreign corporation may be admitted to this state if its corporate name is identical with or confusingly similar to the name of any domestic corporation, or the name of any foreign corporation then admitted to this state, or any name then reserved or registered under § 4-26-402 or § 4-26-403.

Key Takeaways

Most nonprofits in Arkansas are organized as corporations, but you can choose to organize a nonprofit in four other ways: an unincorporated association, a trust, an association, or a limited liability company (LLC). Each option has specific naming requirements you must follow.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on the requirements for naming a nonprofit corporation.

Corporation Name Requirements

Incorporating is the most common way to organize a nonprofit. While naming rules for corporations vary by state, some requirements apply nationwide. State requirements in Arkansas include:

  • Your corporation’s name must be distinguishable from any other name on record within the state of Arkansas, including any reserved names.
  • Your corporation’s name can’t include any words that may infer it’s related to a government agency.
  • Your corporation’s name can’t include words like “university,” “bank,” “credit union,” or “trust” as a separate word to convey the organization is engaged in banking or trust.
  • Your corporation’s name can’t include any terms that could be considered grossly offensive.

Unlike many other states, Arkansas doesn’t require a nonprofit corporation’s name to include an identifier such as “company,” “incorporated,” “corporation,” “limited partnership,” “partnership,” or any equivalent abbreviation.

Tax Exemption Requirements

If you plan to file for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pay close attention to the wording you use in your nonprofit’s name. Any words that imply a political or lobbying affiliation may hinder your ability to file for 501(c)(3) status.

Step 3: Check If Your Business Name Is Available

After you chose one or several name options for your nonprofit, you’ll need to make sure it’s available. Every nonprofit must have a distinguishable name so it’s helpful to confirm the availability of your desired name prior to incorporation.

The top four searches you should perform include:

Arkansas Business Entity Search

To operate a nonprofit corporation in Arkansas, its name must be unique. You can easily check if your chosen name is available by performing a search using the Arkansas Business Entity Search tool.

Domain Name Search

We strongly recommend that you also check to see if your business name is available as a web domain (URL). Even if you don’t plan to create a business website today, you may want to buy the web address to prevent others from acquiring that domain name. It’s a free search.

Federal Trademark Search

You can easily check if someone already trademarked your chosen nonprofit name by using the federal Trademark Electronic Search System. This is important even if you don’t plan to incorporate your nonprofit right away.

Once you confirm that no one else already trademarked your chosen name, you can apply for a trademark for your nonprofit.

If you need help with getting a logo for your nonprofit, try branding your business with our Free Logo Generator! Get a unique logo in minutes and start building your nonprofit’s brand immediately.

Web and Social Media Search

A strong social media presence will play a key role in expanding your reach to potential donors or clients that will use your services. That makes it important to search the web and popular social media platforms for your desired name before registering it to ensure it’s available on all the platforms where you plan to promote your organization.

Step 4: Register Your Nonprofit Name

After you choose your nonprofit’s name and confirm its availability, the next step involves registering the organization’s name. You have a few options to achieve a name registration:

Recommended: Read our full, step-by-step guide on How to Register a Business Name in Arkansas.

File for a Name Reservation

In Arkansas, domestic nonprofit corporations are not required to file for a name reservation before incorporation. However, reserving a name can prove beneficial — especially if you aren’t ready to incorporate, but want to ensure the availability of your chosen name.

To file a name reservation in the state of Arkansas:

Name reservations for nonprofit corporations in Arkansas last 120 days and can’t be renewed once it expires.

Form a Corporation

Incorporating is the most common way to organize a nonprofit and, once you select a name, it’s the next step in making your nonprofit official. Forming a corporation in Arkansas involves a few easy steps:

  1. Name Your Corporation
  2. Choose a Registered Agent
  3. Choose Your Corporation’s Initial Directors and Share Structure
  4. File the Formation Documents
  5. Get an EIN

File for a DBA Name

Filing an assumed name or fictitious name, also called a doing business as (DBA) name, in Arkansas allows your nonprofit to operate using a different name than its legal, registered business name. This can prove especially helpful if you want to change the name of an existing organization without filing an amendment to your Articles of Incorporation.

To learn how to file a DBA or fictitious/assumed name in Arkansas, check out our step-by-step guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a copy of my Articles of Incorporation in Arkansas?

You can obtain a copy of your Articles of Incorporation in Arkansas either in person or by calling (888) 233-0325.

How much does it cost to start a nonprofit corporation in Arkansas?

To file your Articles of Incorporation with the Arkansas Secretary of State it will cost $45 for online filing or $50 for a paper filing.

How do I find nonprofits in Arkansas?

Use our handy Arkansas 501(c)(3) Lookup Table to find nonprofits in Arkansas. You can use this tool to see if your preferred nonprofit name is in use or not.

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