Choosing a name for your 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is the first step in our complete guide, How to Start a Nonprofit in New York. One of the most important decisions any founder will make is selecting the right name. We’re here to help with our full guide to choosing, validating, and registering a New York 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 New York 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 New York
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 New York
Corporation Name Requirements
Your New York nonprofit name must adhere to the guidelines and restrictions laid out in Section 301 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the name of a domestic or foreign corporation:
(1) Shall, unless the corporation is formed for charitable or
religious purposes, or for purposes for which the approval of the
commissioner of social services or the public health and health planning
council is required, or is a bar association, contain the word
“corporation”, “incorporated” or “limited” or an abbreviation of one of
such words; or, in the case of a foreign corporation, it shall, for use
in this state, add at the end of its name one of such words or an
abbreviation thereof.
(2) (A) Shall be such as to distinguish it from the names of
corporations of any kind, or a fictitious name of an authorized foreign
corporation filed pursuant to article thirteen of this chapter, as such
names appear on the index of names of existing domestic and authorized
foreign corporations of any kind, including fictitious names of
authorized foreign corporations filed pursuant to article thirteen of
this chapter, in the department of state, division of corporations, or a
name the right to which is reserved.
(B) Shall be such as to distinguish it from (i) the names of domestic
limited liability companies, (ii) the names of authorized foreign
limited liability companies, (iii) the fictitious names of authorized
foreign limited liability companies, (iv) the names of domestic limited
partnerships, (v) the names of authorized foreign limited partnerships,
or (vi) the fictitious names of authorized foreign limited partnerships,
in each case, as such names appear on the index of names of existing
domestic and authorized foreign limited liability companies, including
fictitious names of authorized foreign limited liability companies, in
the department of state, or on the index of names of existing domestic
or authorized foreign limited partnerships, including fictitious names
of authorized foreign limited partnerships, in the department of state,
or names the rights to which are reserved; provided, however, that no
corporation that was formed prior to the effective date of this clause
and no foreign corporation that was qualified to conduct activities in
this state prior to such effective date shall be required to change the
name or fictitious name it had on such effective date solely by reason
of such name or fictitious name being indistinguishable from the name or
fictitious name of any domestic or authorized foreign limited liability
company or limited partnership or from any name the right to which is
reserved by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign limited liability
company or limited partnership.
(3) Shall not contain any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or
derivative thereof, the use of which is prohibited or restricted by
section 404 (Approvals, notices and consents) or any other statute of
this state, unless in the latter case the restrictions have been
complied with.
(4) Shall not contain any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or
derivative thereof, in a context which indicates or implies that the
corporation, if domestic, is formed or, if foreign, is authorized for
any purpose or is possessed in this state of any power other than a
purpose for which, or a power with which, the domestic corporation may
be and is formed or the foreign corporation is authorized.
(5) (A) Shall not contain any [restricted words], or any abbreviation
or derivative thereof … unless the approval of the superintendent of financial
services is attached to the certificate of incorporation, or application for
authority or amendment thereof; or that the word “doctor”, “lawyer”, or
the phrase “state police” or “state trooper” or an abbreviation or
derivation thereof, may be used in the name of a corporation the
membership of which is composed exclusively of doctors, lawyers, state
police officers or state troopers, respectively.
(6) Shall not contain any words or phrases, or any abbreviation or
derivative thereof in a context which will tend to mislead the public
into believing that the corporation is an agency or instrumentality of
the United States or the state of New York or a subdivision thereof or
is a public corporation.
(7) Shall not contain the word “cooperative” or an abbreviation,
contraction or derivative thereof.
(8) Shall not contain any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or
derivation thereof, which, separately, or in context, shall be indecent
or obscene or shall ridicule or degrade any person, group, belief,
business or agency of government or indicate or imply any unlawful
activity.
(9) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, may, in the
case of a foundation organized for the sole purpose of publishing the
literary works of a deceased person, include the word “doctor” or any
abbreviation or derivative thereof as part of its name if such word,
abbreviation or derivative is used to identify the person whose works
are to be published.
Putting It Into Practice
Most nonprofits in New York 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.
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 New York include:
- Your corporation’s name must be distinguishable from any other name on record within the state of New York, including any reserved names.
- Your corporation’s name must include “corporation,” “incorporated,” “limited,” or an equivalent abbreviation.
- Your corporation’s name can’t contain any words or phrases that imply an affiliation with the state government of New York.
- Your corporation’s name can’t contain any of the following words, phrases, or abbreviations of such:
- board of trade state police urban development, chamber of commerce state trooper urban relocation or community renewal tenant relocation
- doctor or lawyer (unless special permission is granted)
- school, education, elementary, secondary, kindergarten, prekindergarten, preschool, nursery school, museum, history, historical, historical society, arboretum, library, college, university, or other restricted terms (unless approval is granted from the state commissioner of education)
- union, labor, council, industrial organization (when pertaining to worker’s rights, unless you attach an approval from the state board of standards and appeals)
- blind or handicapped (unless approval is granted from the state department of social services)
- exchange (unless approval is granted from the attorney general)
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:
- New York Corporation and Business Entity Database Search
- Domain Name Search
- Federal Trademark Search
- Web and Social Media Search
New York Corporation and Business Entity Database Search
To operate a nonprofit corporation in New York, its name must be unique. You can easily check if your chosen name is available by performing a search using the New York Corporation & Business Entity Database tool. You can also submit a written inquiry to the Division of Corporations to determine if your name is available.
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 New York.
File for a Name Reservation
In New York, 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 corporate name reservation in the state of New York:
- Submit a completed Application for Reservation of Name by mail to the New York State Department of State along with a $20 filing fee
Name reservations for nonprofit corporations in New York last 60 days and can be extended twice for 60-day increments once it expires by submitting a Request for Extension of Reserved Name along with another $20 filing fee.
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 New York involves a few easy steps:
- Name Your Corporation
- Choose a Registered Agent
- Choose Your Corporation’s Initial Directors and Share Structure
- File the Formation Documents
- Get an EIN
File for a DBA Name
Filing an assumed name, also called a doing business as (DBA) name, in New York 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 Certificate of Incorporation.
To learn how to file a DBA or assumed name in New York, check out our step-by-step guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a nonprofit corporation in New York?
To officially incorporate a nonprofit in New York, you must file a Certificate of Incorporation with the New York Department of State. You also must complete several other essential steps before you file that formation document, which you can find in our step-by-step guide to starting a nonprofit in New York.
How much does it cost to start a nonprofit in New York?
Filing a Certificate of Incorporation for a domestic nonprofit in New York requires a $75 filing fee.
How do I find nonprofits in New York?
Use our handy New York 501(c)(3) Lookup Table to find nonprofits in New York. You can use this tool to see if your preferred nonprofit name is in use or not.