Small Business and Nonprofit Resources

The Business Center
Business coaching and business acceleration programming

Business Resource & Innovation Center
From the Free Library of Philadelphia

City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce

Contracts Hub
Database of opportunities for vendors to work with the City of Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia’s Power Up Your Business Program
Offering workshops and an extended 12-week course in small business management

Community First Fund
Offering business counseling and group lending, microloans, and grant opportunities.

Department of Licenses and Inspections
City of Philadelphia’s L&I Department website

The Enterprise Center
Assists local entrepreneurs in West Philadelphia

Entrepreneur Works
Provides entrepreneurs with access to capital, one-on-one technical assistance, business training & networking opportunities

Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association
Business workshops, intensive courses, and technical assistance

The Merchants Fund
Provides charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardship

PA Department of Community and Economic Development

Penn Law Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic
University of Pennsylvania Law School program that offers no-cost legal assistance with trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets

Penn Law Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic
University of Pennsylvania Law School program that offers no-cost assistance to small businesses

Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers
Provides a list of Small Business Development Centers

PIDC
Educational workshops, one-on-one business counseling, financial coaching

SBA
The U.S. Small Business Administration

SCORE Philadelphia
Provides free and confidential business advice and counseling

Temple Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Provides comprehensive development services and workshops to business owners

VestedIn
Business grants, loans, and business acceleration programming

Vets First Verification Program
Affords verified firms owned and controlled by Veterans the opportunity to compete for VA set-asides

Villanova Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship
Providing legal services for start-up businesses

Villanova Intellectual Law Clinic
For business owners in need of assistance with patenting

The Welcoming Center
Provides programs and initiatives for immigrant entrepreneurs

Women’s Business Enterprise Center East
Provides resources to entrepreneurs and business owners looking to expand

Women’s Opportunities Resource Center
Provides training, individual business assistance, job placement, and access to business and financial resources

Business Licensing Requirements in Philadelphia – Guide
Business Licensing Requirements in Philadelphia – Video
Presented by Philadelphia VIP and Zane Johnson of MZA Legal

Business Registration in Pennsylvania – Guide
Prepared by Pennsylvania Department of States Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations

Choosing Your Corporate Entity: C Corps, Nonprofits, and Hybrid Entities
Prepared for Philadelphia VIP by Rana Ozer, esq.

Corporate Transparency Act Guide
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Daycare Provider Guide
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Dissolving a Small Business
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Entrepreneur’s Guide: Starting and Growing a Business in Pennsylvania
Prepared by Pennsylvania Department Community & Economic Development

How to Start a Business – Guide
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP 

Immigration Impacts on Small Business Ownership Webinar
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Legal Checkups – Smart Practices for a Healthy Business
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Model Employee Handbooks for Small Business
Prepared by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Arent Fox LLP

Succession Planning
Prepared by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Tax Considerations for Small Businesses – Part 1
Tax Considerations for Small Businesses – Part 2
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Understanding Small Business Bankruptcy
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Writing a Business Plan – Guide
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP and Penn Law Financial Literacy Project

Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University
Technical assistance for nonprofits

The Nonprofit Partnership
Capacity building programs and services

PAnonprofitlaw.com
PAnonprofitlaw.com offers state-specific legal tools and resources for the day-to-day and strategic needs of Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations. (Please note: Limited content on this website is free.  Other content is available at a cost.)

PHENND
Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development

PIDC
Nonprofit capital and financing

Regional Foundation Center
Free Library of Philadelphia

RSVP VEC of Montgomery County
Responding to Community Needs through Volunteerism: Volunteer Executive Consultants; helps nonprofit organizations in need of management assistance.

Urban Affairs Coalition
Offering fiscal sponsorship, consulting services, and fee for service options to nonprofits

Volunteer Accountants for Nonprofits
Offers free assistance with creating a budget for nonprofit

501c3 vs 501c4: Everything You Need to Know
Published on Up Counsel

Choosing Your Corporate Entity: C Corps, Nonprofits, and Hybrid Entities
Prepared for Philadelphia VIP by Rana Ozer, Esq.

Compensating Nonprofit Board Members – Guide
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Conflict of Interest Policies: Disclosure, Monitoring and Enforcement
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Developing Better Bylaws – A Webinar on Improving Your Organization’s Governance
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Drafting Bylaws for a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation – Guide
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Finding the Right Board Members
Prepared by the National Council of Nonprofits

How to Form a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation
Published on NOLO.com

Model Board of Directors Orientation Manual
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Legal Assessment Checklist for Nonprofits
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Risk Management Manual for Nonprofits
Prepared by the DC Bar Pro Bono Program

Sample PA Articles of Incorporation Form for Nonprofits
Prepared by Fleming Petenko Law

Summary of Steps to Form a PA Nonprofit Corporation and Obtain Tax-Exempt Status
Prepared by Fleming Petenko Law

Your Nonprofit Organization’s Board of Directors
A guide outlining the general and specific responsibilities of vital roles in an organization’s board of directors; prepared by the AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO)

Applying for Tax-Exempt Status

Before Applying for Tax Exempt Status

Charitable Contributions Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements

Form 1023-EZ Eligibility Worksheet

Form 990 Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions About Applying for Tax Exemption
Form 1023 is the Application for Recognition of Exemption Under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Online Fundraising Compliance Guide
Prepared by Harbor Compliance

Public Charity Compliance Guide

Which Forms Do Exempt Organizations File?
Table indicating the appropriate 990 Series form tax exempt organizations must file as part of their annual return dependent on financial activity

A Guide to Being a Fiscal Sponsor: Is it a Good Fit for Your Organization?
A fiscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3) public charity that agrees to sponsor a project (fiscal agent) that may lack tax exempt status, allowing the agent to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations under the sponsor’s exempt status; prepared by Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Justice

Colvin Fiscal Sponsorship Guide
Prepared by Gregory L. Colvin

PBP Intro to Fiscal Sponsorships
Prepared by Pro Bono Partnership

Quick Resource Guide: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. 501(c)(3)
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

A Nonprofit’s Guide to OSHA
Guide to compliance with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration; prepared by Pro Bono Partnership

A Nonprofit’s Guide to Risk Management and Insurance
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Dissolving a Nonprofit Corporation in Pennsylvania
Prepared by Philadelphia VIP

Employee Benefits for Nonprofits
Prepared by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta

Federal Grant Information
A centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities; managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Good Financial Policies for Nonprofits 101
Prepared by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta

Good Financial Policies for Nonprofits 102
Prepared by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta

Grant Writing 101
Prepared by Michigan Community Resources

Legal Issues of Working with Volunteers
Prepared by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta

Pennsylvania Attorney General Handbook for Charitable Nonprofit Organizations
Prepared by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Political Activity – What Your Organization Needs to Know
Prepared by D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

Risks and Rewards of Crowdfunding for Nonprofits
Prepared by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta

Sample Employee Handbook
Prepared by National Council of Nonprofit Associations

“…Your Huddled Masses Yearning”: An Update for Nonprofits Serving Undocumented Immigrants
Outlines legal limitations, risks, and tips for nonprofit organizations serving undocumented immigrants; prepared by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta