When it came time to file our own Form 1023, we treated it like a classroom exercise in clarity. Every question was an opportunity to teach the IRS who we were and why we existed.
Most applications fail not because the work is unworthy, but because the story is unclear. Reviewers need to see that your activities match your purpose, your budget matches your plan, and your leadership matches your mission.
We avoided the five traps that delay or derail approval:
Missing purpose or dissolution clauses.
Weak or incomplete activity descriptions.
Confusing charity classification.
Insufficient disclosure of insider benefits.
Wrong form or missing attachments.
Our solution was readiness itself, accurate, transparent, and complete documentation. We wrote our narrative in plain language, used consistent terms, and double-checked every attachment.
When approval came in 102 days, we understood why: clarity saves time.
Tip: Show, do not tell. Attach real evidence such as meeting minutes, training outlines, or sample materials. Readiness is visible on paper.
IRS Form 1023 and Instructions (PDF) IRS Application Status Tracker