How to name your nonprofit (and check it is available)

What makes a nonprofit name legal

Every state requires your name to be distinguishable from other entities already on record, so two organizations in the same state cannot share a name. Some states require a corporate designator like Corporation, Incorporated, Company, or Limited (or an abbreviation), while others do not require one for nonprofits. Most states also restrict certain words, like Bank, Insurance, or anything implying a government agency. Your Secretary of State's rules spell out the specifics.

Step 1: Brainstorm names that fit

Lead with your mission, and lean clear over clever. A name people understand at a glance is worth more than a pun. Two traps to avoid: locking yourself to a single city or program you may outgrow, and choosing something so generic it is already taken everywhere. Leave room to grow.

Step 2: Check state availability

Search your Secretary of State's business database to see whether your name, or one too similar, is already registered in your state. This is the check that decides whether the state will accept your filing.

Step 3: Check the trademark

A name can be free in your state and still collide with a federal trademark. Search the USPTO's Trademark Search tool (at tmsearch.uspto.gov, which replaced the old TESS system) for your name and close variations. You do not have to trademark your own name, but you do want to avoid stepping on someone else's.

Step 4: Check the domain and social handles

Before you commit, make sure a reasonable web address is available, along with the social handles you will want. A name with no matching domain will cost you later.

Step 5: Reserve it if you are not ready to file

Most states let you reserve a name for a set period for a small fee, which holds it while you finish your paperwork. If you are filing your Articles of Incorporation soon, you can usually skip this and just file.