Legal Blueprint
First course in the Starting a Nonprofit with Confidence series.
A clear, step by step foundation for starting and structuring a nonprofit the right way. Choose the correct legal structure, build a compliant board, and apply for 501(c)(3) status with confidence, instead of guessing your way through it. Includes 6 downloadable resources you can put to work right away.
Taught by May L. Harris, Esq., M.A., Founder, For Purpose OS & For Purpose Law Group
- ✦4 modules. 20 lessons.
- ✦2 hours and 31 minutes of content
- ✦6 downloadable resources
- ✦Self-paced, no live schedule
You have the mission. The legal structure is a different skill entirely.
"I filed our articles of incorporation without knowing our bylaws needed to say something specific first."
"Our board is made up of people who love the cause. None of us understood what we were legally responsible for."
"I didn't know Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ were different applications until we'd already started the wrong one."
4 modules. 20 lessons.
2 hours and 31 minutes of content. Work through it in order, or jump to the part you need right now.
1
Dream to Entity: Choosing the Right Legal Structure
5 lessons
- Introduction: Vision to Viability
- What is a Nonprofit?
- Types of Legal Structures
- Understanding 501(c)(3)
- Common Pitfalls
2
Building the Bones: Articles, Bylaws, & Board Basics
5 lessons
- Introduction: From Idea to Infrastructure
- Articles of Incorporation
- Bylaws
- Building Your Board
- Governance Policies & Your First Board Meeting
3
Getting Your 501(c)(3): Form 1023 & Form 1023-EZ
5 lessons
- Introduction: From Application to Approval
- What is Form 1023?
- Breaking Down the Full Form 1023
- Avoiding Red Flags & Common Mistakes
- Public Charity Status & What Comes Next
4
Legal Launch: Operating With Integrity
5 lessons
- Introduction: From Compliance to Confidence
- Federal & State Compliance Basics
- Fundraising Registration & Charitable Solicitation Rules
- Financial Systems & Internal Controls
- Running a Legal & Effective Board Meeting
6 downloadable resources, ready to use.
Templates and checklists you can put to work in your organization right away, not just watch and forget.
Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws Guide
Board Governance & Meeting Effectiveness Guide
Compliance Checklist
Financial Controls & Internal Systems Checklist
Sample Form 1023 Guide
State Compliance & Fundraising Registration Tracker
May L. Harris, Esq., M.A.
Founder, For Purpose OS & For Purpose Law Group
May L. Harris is the founder of For Purpose OS and the founder and managing attorney at For Purpose Law Group. A trusted advisor to nonprofits nationwide, she brings decades of legal and leadership experience to mission-driven organizations, and she writes about nonprofit law, governance, and strategy with a focus on real-world application.
May was already practicing law when a flyer came home in her son's lunchbox asking for a parent who was also a lawyer to help start a nonprofit foundation. She helped found the organization, stepped into the Executive Director role as it grew, and returned to the University of San Diego for a Master's in Nonprofit Leadership and Management while running it. She founded For Purpose Law Group in 2012.
She is the creator of the CLARITY Framework and the architect behind ēosIQ and Akademia. She has been selected to the San Diego Super Lawyers list in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Build the legal foundation before you need it.
$349, one payment, no subscription required. Start today and move through the modules at your own pace.
Get This Course, $349What people ask before enrolling.
Who is Legal Blueprint for?
Founders and early leadership teams starting a nonprofit who want the legal structure right from the beginning, rather than fixing it after the fact.
Do I need a legal background to take this course?
No. Legal Blueprint is built for founders, not attorneys. Each module walks through the concepts in plain language before asking anything of you.
Is this course self-paced?
Yes. Work through the 4 modules and 20 lessons in order, or jump to the one you need right now. There is no live schedule to keep up with.
Do I get any templates or worksheets?
Yes, 6 of them. The Sample Form 1023 Guide alone walks you through the exact application most founders get stuck on, alongside 5 other guides and checklists you can put to work right away.
How long do I have access?
Legal Blueprint is a one-time purchase with no recurring charge, and your access does not depend on holding a subscription. It continues for as long as we offer the course on Akademia, and purchasers get advance notice if that ever changes.