Launching a nonprofit is an exciting and meaningful step toward serving your community—but the process can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. As your Nonprofit Formation Attorney in Santa Rosa, Daryl Reese Law Group comes alongside you from the very beginning, helping you turn your mission into a fully formed, compliant, and thriving California nonprofit organization.
With decades of insider nonprofit experience and a 100% success rate on IRS and California tax-exemption applications, our team makes the formation journey clear, calm, and empowering.
Your Partner in Building a Strong Nonprofit Foundation
Forming a nonprofit isn’t just about filing paperwork. It’s about structuring an organization that can grow, serve, and make a lasting impact. That’s why our firm pairs legal precision with strategic guidance rooted in 20 years of real nonprofit leadership.
Before becoming an attorney, Daryl Reese spent two decades launching and managing nonprofits across California—including food banks, youth mentoring programs, faith-based initiatives, and emergency response organizations. This firsthand operational experience gives our team a unique understanding of what founders need to succeed both legally and practically.
We don’t just help you form a nonprofit—we help you build a mission-driven organization with a stable legal foundation for the years ahead.
Contact Daryl Reese Law Group to schedule a consultation with a lawyer today. 707-858-5000
Case Types
Why Choose a Lawyer to Start a Nonprofit With Real Nonprofit Experience
Most attorneys understand nonprofit formation from the legal side. Daryl understands it from both sides: the legal and the operational. His background includes:
- 20 years as a high-level nonprofit executive
- Managing multimillion-dollar budgets
- Overseeing governance, boards, programs, staffing, and fundraising
- Creating nonprofits during crises
- Training boards and leadership teams
- Navigating IRS and California state compliance firsthand
This isn’t theory—this is lived experience. It’s why founders repeatedly say our team “walked us through the grueling process” and made a complicated journey feel achievable.
As a Lawyer to Start a Nonprofit, we ensure you understand every step, avoid common mistakes, and launch your nonprofit with confidence.
Local Roots, Statewide Impact
Based in Santa Rosa and deeply connected to Sonoma County, we love helping founders create organizations that directly impact our community. Our office is located at:
3843 Brickway Blvd, Suite 204, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
We have proudly formed or supported numerous Sonoma County nonprofits, including:
- Sonoma Family Meal – founded during the 2017 wildfires, now a major emergency food provider
- Common Ground Society – thriving disability advocacy organization
- Camino de Sonoma – local hiking pilgrimage nonprofit
- FeatherVine – community organization supporting connection and personal growth
- Restored 2 More Inc. – recovery and restoration nonprofit
- Community Child Care Council, Redwood Gospel Mission, Pets Lifeline, and more
Our deep knowledge of Sonoma County and California regulatory requirements ensures your nonprofit launches on a strong, compliant foundation from day one.
Comprehensive Nonprofit Formation Services
As your Nonprofit Formation Attorney in Santa Rosa, we guide you through every step of the formation process—start to finish.
Nonprofit Incorporation
- Articles of Incorporation drafted and filed with California Secretary of State
- EIN acquisition
- Initial board resolutions
- Corporate records set-up
We ensure your nonprofit is structured properly from the start.
501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status (IRS)
As a recognized 501c3 Attorney, we prepare:
- IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ
- Narrative descriptions explaining mission, programs, and public benefit
- Financial projection documentation
- Compliance with IRS public charity test
And we stay with you until approval is granted.
California State Tax Exemption (FTB)
We prepare and submit:
- FTB Form 3500 or 3500A
- All California-specific documents
- AG Registry of Charitable Trusts filings
- Ongoing California compliance planning
We have never had a California FTB exemption application denied.
Governance Structure & Board Training
This training strengthens your nonprofit’s long-term health. Founders and board members receive education on:
- Roles and fiduciary duties
- Hierarchy of governing documents
- Corporate governance
- Policies and resolutions
- Compliance requirements
Bylaws Drafting & Education
We create clear, tailored, strategic bylaws and teach your board exactly how to use them.
Policy Development
We help you implement essential policies, including:
- Conflict of interest
- Gift acceptance
- Fiscal controls
- Board governance
- Document retention
Ongoing Support Beyond Formation
After your nonprofit is launched, we continue to support you with:- Annual compliance guidance
- IRS and California filings
- AG Registry requirements
- Contract review
- Board training sessions
We build long-term relationships—not one-time transactions.
100% Success Rate on IRS & California Exemption Applications
One of the strongest reasons to choose us as your 501c3 Attorney is our proven success.
We have never had an IRS or California FTB tax-exemption application denied.
Our team knows exactly what taxing authorities are looking for, and we meticulously prepare your documents to ensure a smooth approval process.
A Formation Process That Creates Calm, Not Chaos
Launching a nonprofit can feel intimidating. Our role is to bring clarity, direction, and peace of mind.
We provide:
- Plain-language explanations (no legalese)
- Open communication throughout the entire process
- Predictable timelines
- Strategic insight from real nonprofit leadership experience
- A partnership approach where we come alongside you
- A compassionate and responsive team
Even founders with no nonprofit background have created thriving organizations with our guidance.
We make the process calm, understandable, and empowering.
Our Team: Experienced, Compassionate, Mission-Aligned
Together, we bring decades of combined experience and unmatched insight into the California nonprofit world. Our nonprofit formation team includes:
Daryl Reese, Attorney At Law — Founder, MBA, JD, Master of Legal Studies, former nonprofit executive
Chanel Crawford, Attorney At Law
Robert Weiss, Of Counsel Attorney at Law
Claire Aw, Senior Paralegal
Liz Castillo, Legal Operations Coordinator
Jan Reese, Administrative Assistant (former oncology nurse of 12 years, known for creating calm)
Types of Nonprofits We Help Form
We form nonprofits across all mission areas, including:
- Arts & performing arts organizations
- Food banks & emergency food providers
- Churches & faith-based organizations
- Youth mentoring & education programs
- Recovery & rehabilitation organizations
- Animal welfare nonprofits
- Social service agencies
- Disability advocacy organizations
- Community service organizations
- Charitable foundations
- Environmental & outdoor groups
- And more across California
Your mission matters—and we help bring it to life.
Start Your Nonprofit With Confidence
Your vision deserves the strongest possible foundation—and the right legal partner can make all the difference.
Whether you’re forming a grassroots community program or a multimillion-dollar organization, we are here to help you move forward with clarity, care, and confidence.
Call for a free consultation: 707-858-5000
Email: OFFICE@DARYLREESELAW.COM
Let’s bring your mission to life—together.