Twelve months ago, you had a mission and a lot of questions. Today you have a real, legally recognized nonprofit — incorporated in your state, an EIN from the IRS, 501(c)(3) status, and the policies and registrations to operate honestly and grant-ready. That is no small thing, and you did the work.
This is the last lesson in the course. Take a breath — you earned it — then let's wrap up loose ends and set you up for what comes next.
Your certificate is ready
You completed all twelve steps — from choosing your structure and recruiting an independent board, to incorporating at the state level, getting your free EIN, adopting your bylaws and governance policies, filing your 501(c)(3) (Form 1023 or the streamlined 1023-EZ), and registering for charitable solicitation. That's the right order, done the right way — your bylaws and conflict-of-interest policy go in place before you file the 1023, because the application asks about them.
Your certificate of completion is ready to download and print. Hang it in the office, share it with your board, or just keep it as proof of a year well spent.
Download your certificate of completion →
Don't lose what you built — stay compliant
Being official means staying official. From here on, your nonprofit files a 990-series return with the IRS every year. Miss it three years in a row and the IRS automatically revokes your tax-exempt status. If that happens, there is a reinstatement process you can apply for — but it's far easier to never miss a filing. Most states also require you to renew your charitable-solicitation registration on a schedule. Put both on a recurring calendar reminder today, while it's fresh.
Now: start funding the mission
You spent a year building the structure. The next chapter is keeping it funded — without burning out chasing one-off donations. As a registered Good Circles nonprofit, you can now start earning recurring, unrestricted income that funds your mission automatically.
Here's how it works: supporters pick your cause once, then a share of their everyday local spending funds you — Good Circles passes 10% of participating merchants' net profit to causes, which works out to roughly $72 per active supporter per year (an estimate). Shoppers save about 10% too (an estimate), so everyone wins, and it's free for your nonprofit. Good Circles launches Mississippi-first in September 2026.
See how recurring funding works for your nonprofit →
Keep using your resource hub
You graduated the course, but the hub doesn't close. It's your reference for the years ahead — answers on compliance, fundraising, grants, hiring, and marketing whenever a new question comes up. And when you're ready to chase grant dollars, the funder database is there to help you find foundations that actually fund work like yours.
One more thing: bring your board in
You've been the one taking the course, but a healthy nonprofit isn't a solo act. Forward this email to your board members so they can download the guides, understand the compliance calendar you now own, and lean into the funding tools with you. The founders who last are the ones who don't carry it alone.
Thank you for the work
Starting a nonprofit is one of the most generous things a person can do — you chose to build something for other people, and you saw it through. Whatever your mission is, the world needs more of it. Go do the work you came here to do. We're proud to have walked the first year with you.
This month's actions
- Download and print your certificate of completion.
- Put your annual 990 filing and state registration renewal on a recurring calendar reminder.
- Register as a Good Circles nonprofit to start earning recurring, unrestricted funding.
- Forward this email to your board so they can use the hub and funding tools with you.
- Bookmark the funder database for your first grant search.
Free resources for this lesson
- Download your certificate of completion
- Start recurring funding for your nonprofit
- Search the funder database
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