Nonprofit · name availability

Nonprofit Name Search by State

One page per state, each linking the official registry where you check a nonprofit name before filing.

Nonprofit and LLC names both live in the state business registry, so one official search usually covers both. Pick your state below to open its official registry (each portal shows agency and verification date), then confirm the naming rule on the state's own page. Registry results do not reserve a name and do not settle trademark rights.

LLC name search

The same registries with LLC naming rules, per state.

501(c)(3) reinstatement

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990-N reminder

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Nonprofit name questions

Is the nonprofit name search different from the LLC search?

Usually not. Most states keep one registry for all entity types, so the same official search covers nonprofits, LLCs, and corporations. What differs is the naming rule applied to the result: nonprofits follow the state's nonprofit corporation naming statute, not the LLC statute.

Does my nonprofit name need a designator like Inc. or Corp.?

It depends on the state. Some states require a corporate designator on nonprofit names, some make it optional, and a few restrict certain words for nonprofits (for example words that imply a school, insurer, or bank) unless the state approves them. Run the name through the official search, then confirm the naming rule on the state's own page before you file.

My name is taken. What now?

States generally reject names that are identical to, or indistinguishable from, an existing registered name. The usual fixes are changing a distinctive word; punctuation and suffix changes rarely help. The state's filing office makes the call, not this site.

Does a matching name search give me the legal right to the name?

No. A clear registry result means the name is not obviously taken in that registry. Trademark rights, DBA registrations, and the state's own review at filing time are separate checks.

Can I reserve the name while I prepare the 501(c)(3) filing?

Many states offer a name reservation for a small fee that holds the name for a set period. Whether your state offers it and on what terms is on the state's filing portal linked on this page.