Colorado Church Admin Guide & Legal Resources

Complete guide @ www.saturatecolorado.com/adminguide

This guide will help you follow the steps to legally organizing a church in Colorado. The process is not overly complicated and it is not expensive.

This guide covers 501c3 exemptions and Affilitating with our convention, plus much more.  This guide has been designed for new and established churches. 

You can browse this resource on the web or click on the Printable Verision link below to view the entire guide in printable format.


Step 1: Have an Organizational Meeting

The first thing to do is to have an organizational meeting.

At this meeting you need to declare your church to exist. Just grab a piece of paper (or the Organizing Your Church Worksheet) - and start taking notes. This does not have to be very complicated. Issues to discuss should include:

  • What is the name of the church?
  • Will you have a church covenant, bylaws, or a constitution?
  • How will your church relate to other churches?
  • Will you have a denominational or network affiliation? Do you have a sponsoring or parenting church?
  • How will you handle finances?
    • You may want to adopt financial policies for offering procedures, spending money, counting forms, etc.
    • If you plan on opening a bank account, decide who is authorized to open a bank account in the name of the organization?
    • Also in the action – specify who the authorized signers will be. Take an offering – so you can open up a bank account.
  • Will you be incorporating your church with the State of Colorado?
    • If so, who will keep your official records and minutes of business? (Clerk)

Step 2: Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

You get an EIN from the IRS.  the easiest way is to complete the whole process online...

Apply Online Now


If you are not comfortable with sending information via the Internet, then download the form SS-4 PDF file and mail it to the address shown here.

This is like getting a "Social Security Number" for your organization. You should not be sharing this number with your sponsoring church permanantly - as most banks use EINs to link accounts together. Using the EIN of your sponsoring church or your Social Security Number can make other bank accounts liable for overdrawn funds in any related account.

Step 3: Submit Articles of Incorporation

Complete “Articles of Incorporation of a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation” form. This form must be typed and submitted to the Secretary of State's office.  The fee is $125 is files by paper and $25 if filed electronically.

Click here to start the electronic process ($25)

Paper forms ($125)

For more information go to the Colorado Secretate of State Website (http://www.sos.state.co.us/) or call the business filings representatives at (303) 894-2200.

It is wise to also submit a constitution - for sample constitutions, click here.

Step 4: Becoming Tax Exempt - 501c3

Sooner or later, if your church is growing and functioning long-term the question will arise regarding the handling of money and the tax status of funds used for the church. There is an IRS publication that you can download from the internet. It is entitled Publication 1828 - Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf)". Reading and understanding this document is highly recommended.

Depending on your situation, there are two ways you may handle becoming a 501(c)(3) organization:

1) Obtain exemption through a parent organization:  If you are in a denomination, you can get a letter which will stipulate that your church is covered in their group exemption.

Southern Baptist Churches - Use the attached is a form to request a 501c3 .  Requirements for using this form - If they are a non-affiliated congregation (mission, seed church, etc.) AND they are contributing or commit to contribute to the Cooperative Program AND are in agreement with the purpose of the convention, they are eligible to receive the 501c3 based on their sponsoring church.  If they do not intend to be a cooperating church (giving through CP and in agreement with the purpose of the convention) then they need to go through the process of obtaining their own 501c3.  (see below)

2) Apply for tax-exempt status: The IRS fee is $500. The IRS requires more details than this manual provides and the paperwork is extensive. An attorney cost to complete the incorporation status is approximately $500.If your church plans to take this route, this manual probably will not be sufficient for your needs.

We reccommend Option 1 above for Southern Baptist Churches.

Step 5: Sales Tax Exemption

If you would like to have state sales tax exemption for church-related purchases – complete the Sales Tax Exemption Application for Colorado Organizations and mail it in.

Step 6: Open a bank account

If you have not already done so, conduct a meeting with your organizational leaders and approve action that will authorize someone to open a bank account in the name of the organization. Also in the action – specify who the signers will be. When you go to the bank, bring the minutes of the business meeting signed by everyone who attending your first meeting. You may also want to bring your Articles of Incorporation (if you have it), and your EIN #. Most banks will ask for your Articles of Incorporation – but we believe it is not really required. You probably can negotiate this with the bank.

Step 7: Affiliate with your association & state convention

If your church has not already petitioned your association and the Colorado Baptist Convention for affilitation, now would be a great time.

Please note that your local association and the state convention are two seperate organizations and will have different ways to affiliate.

Click here for the Colorado Baptist Convention Form (due 60 days before convention)

Contact your association to learn about their affiliation process.  A list of associations can be found by clicking here.

Sample Constitutions

Below are some sample church constitutions in Colorado...

Here are additional resources from NAMB...