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Form Your 501(c)(3) the Right Way With a Team of Doctorate-Led Nonprofit Experts

Skip the cookie-cutter software. Work with Dr. Sharon and her team of nonprofit specialists, the people who have helped hundreds of founders launch nonprofits that get IRS approval the first time.

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Hundreds of Nonprofits Formed | Doctorate-Led Team | Nationwide Service | IRS-Approved Filings

DISCLAIMER: The Nonprofit Plug, LLC is an independent consulting and advisory firm. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or any government agency. The forms required to start a nonprofit or apply for 501(c)(3) status are available directly from the IRS, and any government filing fees are paid separately from our consulting fees. Our role is to provide expert guidance, strategy, and support.

Filing for 501(c)(3) Status Is Harder Than It Looks

You have a mission. You have heart. You have a community ready to support you. What you do not have is six months to wait while the IRS rejects your 1023 application for a missing schedule, an unclear purpose statement, or bylaws that do not pass review.

Most founders try to save money by using a one-size-fits-all software service or doing it themselves. The result is almost always the same: rejected applications, costly do-overs, and IRS approval timelines that stretch from 3 months to 12 months, sometimes longer.

Worse, the mistakes you make at formation such as weak bylaws, the wrong public charity classification, missing state registrations can follow your nonprofit for years and create real legal and tax exposure.

There is a better way.

What You Get When You Work With The Nonprofit Plug

From the first conversation through your IRS determination letter, our team of nonprofit specialists handle every detail of your formation — so you can focus on the mission, not the paperwork. You get the deep expertise of a doctorate-credentialed founder PLUS the responsiveness and capacity of a full team behind her.

Book Your Free 20-Minute Strategy Call
  • Complete state-level nonprofit incorporation filing
  • Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Custom-drafted bylaws built for your mission — not a generic template
  • Conflict of interest policy that satisfies IRS requirements
  • IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ preparation and filing
  • Initial board governance structure and meeting minutes
  • State charitable solicitation registration guidance
  • Post-approval onboarding so you know what to do next

Three Ways to Launch Your Nonprofit

Choose the package that matches where you are. Every package includes direct access to our dedicated team.

Starter

Best for:

Founders ready to file, mission is clear,
budget is tight
$ 1,999
Book a Call to Get Started
1:1 Onboarding Strategy Call
State Nonprofit Incorporation (Articles of Organization & Statement of Information)
Employer Identification Number (EIN) Registration
IRS Form 1023-EZ Preparation & Filing
State Tax Exemption Filing (if applicable)
State Charitable Solicitation Registration (if applicable)
Attorney General Filing & Bylaws (if applicable)
All State & Federal Filing Fees Included

Growth

Best for:

Founders who want their nonprofit built right from day one
$ 3,999
Book a Call to Get Started
Most Popular
Everything in Starter, PLUS:
IRS Filing Strategy & Submission — 1023 or 1023-EZ, determined by our expert assessment of your specific situation
Custom Mission & Vision Drafting
Organizational Narrative & Purpose Statement
Program & Activity Descriptions Drafted for IRS
Bylaws Education & Walkthrough
Compliance & Tax Education Session
12-Month Compliance Roadmap
Intro to Fundraising & Donor Readiness

Premium

Best for:

Founders with complex programs, grant urgency, or who want hands-on support beyond formation
$ 5,999
Book a Call to Get Started
Everything in Growth, PLUS:
3 Strategy Coaching Sessions with one of our Senior Consultants (via Zoom)
Grant Readiness Assessment & Education
Donor Management Software Setup + Custom Campaign Page
Board Recruitment Strategy & Templates
First 90 Days of Compliance Check-Ins (post-approval)
Priority Team Access During Formation
Personalized 12-Month Post-Launch Roadmap
Not sure which package fits? That is what the free 20-minute strategy call is for.

  • The Nonprofit Plug Team

Meet the Team Behind Your Nonprofit

Founder-led. Doctorate-credentialed. Backed by a team that lives and breathes nonprofit work.

Dr. Sharon

Founder & CEO

Dr. Sharon is the founder and CEO of The Nonprofit Plug LLC. With a doctorate and over 15 years of experience in nonprofit formation, compliance, and grant strategy, she has personally guided hundreds of founders through the journey from community vision to IRS-approved 501(c)(3).

Dr. Sharon built NPP LLC because she believed nonprofit founders deserved more than what software services and one-size-fits-all filing companies offered. Today, she leads a team of nonprofit specialists who share her commitment to getting it right, not just getting it done.

Her clients have launched organizations serving youth development, faith-based communities, health equity, and community advancement, and many continue working with NPP LLC for ongoing compliance, grant strategy, and financial management long after their nonprofit is approved.

“My job, and my team’s job, is to make sure you do not just get approved. You get built right.” Dr. Sharon

Doctorate-credentialed nonprofit expert with 15+ years guiding founders from community vision to IRS-approved 501(c)(3).

Christi McDaniel

Nonprofit Expert & Formation Specialist

Christi McDaniel is a seasoned nonprofit consultant with over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as a Nonprofit Consultant for The Nonprofit Plug, where she equips emerging and established founders with the strategy, structure, and compliance systems needed to build sustainable, fundable organizations.

Christi is the Owner of The Power Legacy, which she has led for the past 7 years, helping purpose-driven leaders launch and scale impactful nonprofits and community initiatives. She is also the Founder of a youth-based nonprofit organization, Children Striving Together, which she has successfully led for 13 years and counting, serving and empowering young people through mentorship, enrichment, and leadership development programming.

Known for her clarity, structure, and results-driven approach, Christi specializes in IRS tax-exempt approvals, state compliance, board development, grant readiness, fundraising strategy, and long-term sustainability planning.

A God-fearing leader with a heart for community transformation, she is passionate about turning vision into structure and purpose into legacy, helping changemakers build organizations that truly last.

Formation specialist with 15+ years of experience who handles the day-to-day filings, bylaws, and IRS paperwork that get your nonprofit approved the first time.

  • Testimonials

What Founders Say About Working With Our Team

Real founders. Real nonprofits. Real results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who exactly will I be working with?

You work with our team of nonprofit specialists, led by Dr. Sharon. Your initial consultation and ongoing strategy is handled by our senior consultants, with Dr. Sharon overseeing every engagement and reviewing key deliverables. You get the strategic depth of a doctorate-led firm AND the responsiveness of a full team.

How long does the nonprofit formation process take from start to finish?

Most clients receive their IRS determination letter within 3 to 6 months of filing. The 1023-EZ (Starter package) typically receives approval in 2 to 4 weeks. Full Form 1023 filings (Growth and Premium packages) take longer because the IRS reviews them in detail. Our team files your application within 1 week of you signing on. The rest of the timeline is the IRS.

What happens if my application gets rejected or the IRS asks for more information?

It almost never happens with our filings, because our team drafts your application to clearly meet IRS requirements. In the rare case the IRS sends a follow-up letter, we handle the response for you at no extra cost — it is included in every package.

What states do you serve?

We serve nonprofit founders in all 50 states. Federal 501(c)(3) status is a federal designation, and our team handles state incorporation in whichever state you choose to incorporate in.

Do you handle state charitable solicitation registrations?

Yes. State charitable solicitation registration is included in all of our packages, when applicable. Most nonprofits that solicit donations need to register in their home state at minimum, and in any state where they actively fundraise.

What is the difference between LegalZoom or Swyft Filings and working with NPP LLC?

Software-based services file your paperwork, they do not advise you. The difference shows up in the details: cookie-cutter bylaws that do not protect your nonprofit, generic purpose statements that get questioned by the IRS, and no team to call when something goes wrong. With NPP LLC, you get a doctorate-credentialed founder, a dedicated team of nonprofit specialists, and white-glove service from start to finish. The cost difference pays for itself the first time you avoid a rejection or a delay.

What is included in the free 20-minute strategy call?

One of our senior nonprofit consultants will walk you through your mission, your timeline, and any specific concerns. We will recommend which package fits your situation (or tell you honestly if you do not need our help yet). There is no pressure and no pitch, just expert guidance.

Ready to Form Your Nonprofit With a Team That Cares?

Book your free 20-minute strategy call with our team. Walk away with a clear plan, even if you do not hire us.
Book My Free Strategy Call
No pressure. No obligation. Just expert guidance.

Disclaimer

The Nonprofit Plug, LLC is an independent consulting and advisory firm. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or any government agency. The forms required to start a nonprofit or apply for 501(c)(3) status are available directly from the IRS, and any government filing fees are paid separately from our consulting fees. Our role is to provide expert guidance, strategy, and support.