If you're looking to incorporate your nonprofit organization and don't have the funds or the inclination to pay hefty legal fees, you might be interested in two recently published books by the same title: How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation.

The leaner of the two is published by Sphinx Publishing and written by Mark Warda, an attorney and author of numerous self-help legal guides. In prose that is very easily digestible for the non-lawyer, Warda discusses the advantages and disadvantages of nonprofit status, then continues with a description of the steps that are necessary to form a nonprofit corporation. This book covers issues such as choosing and registering the name of the organization, preparing articles of incorporation, creating bylaws, and applying for tax exempt status at both the federal and state level. Following the process of incorporation are two chapters that briefly address the post-incorporation issues of fundraising and nonprofit management.

The entire second half of this book is comprised of appendices, templates and blank IRS forms. Appendix B is particularly useful, as it contains a state-by-state listing with the essential, specific information necessary to prepare articles of incorporation, bylaws, and other state incorporation forms.

How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation is also one of the recently published titles by Nolo. Authored by reputable legal expert Anthony Mancuso, this clearly written, useful how-to guide is invaluable for those embarking on the task of incorporating a nonprofit organization. This publication has far more meat on its bones than the Warda book, mainly due to its amazingly thorough treatment of this complex and, for many, intimidating legal process. It provides the layperson with very clearly written instructions on the steps necessary to obtain nonprofit status, and non-lawyers will be especially pleased with Mancuso's line-by-line assistance in completing the necessary federal forms, bylaws and articles of incorporation.

The appendices of the Nolo publication are extensive and make up a significant portion of the book. Like Warda, Mancuso has included the very practical state sheets that describe each state's nonprofit corporation laws and fees, and the book also includes blank IRS forms, publications, and document templates-all of which are available for printing and downloading via an accompanying CD-ROM disk.

While both books undoubtedly serve as useful companions to anyone embarking on the process of incorporation, the sheer comprehensiveness of Mancuso's How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation makes it a far more impressive choice.

For citations to additional materials on this topic refer to the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject heading "Nonprofit organizations — establishment and termination."