[RWebb]

I don't know anything about SC. But, you 1st need to set up a non-profit with the state. Find their corporations web site or however they do it and read carefully. In Oregon and some other states you will set up a corporation -- a not for profit corp. with a Board of Directors and 2 or more officers. Your Or. corp. will have Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

2nd you will register with the IRS and go thru a probationary period.

3rd the IRS will - after you do it all right and send in the rest of the forms - enshrine you as a 501c3 or other classification.

4th you will need to file forms every year with the state & IRS and pay a nominal filing fee; maybe also have yearly Board meetings.

That is the barebones outline of how to DIY.

Read up on it at the IRS web site. There are also books (your library may have some; Nola Press might publish one) designed to help ordinary folks do this. Or you can hire a lawyer to help you but nearly everyone can save that $2k or so and DIY.

SC may be similar to the Or. stuff above, but you'll need to find out.

BTW, many people think all non-profits are 501(c)(3) organizations -- not so -- there are really about a dozen different forms under 501(c) and (3) is just the most common.

So, read thru all the types to see which fits you best.