Full question:
We are forming a 501(c) to raise money to purchase food for the hungry...because there is not enough help here. We are calling ourselves 'The Food Cellar'. We will be working with also raising monies and grant seeking to buy mosquito nets for children in Africa to sleep under so they do not get bitten by malaria ridden mosquitoes, and also to dig water wells for people in Africa. Can we use ONE 501(c) 3 and call it' Life Nets aka The Food Cellar...so we can use ONE 501(C)3 and work for raising funds for BOTH together or individually 'Life Nets' and/or 'The Food Cellar', these (and perhaps other) humanitarian needs? We also thought of dba, but thought aka would be best for our needs. Thank you for your help.
- Category: Corporations
- Subcategory: NonProfit Corporation
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
You can form a corporation under one name, but you can register a trade name or assumed name that differs from the corporation's official name. The corporate name must reflect the purposes outlined in the Articles of Incorporation and cannot mislead about its mission.
Using 'aka' in the name may imply multiple names, which is not permitted. Instead, consider using a 'doing business as' (dba) designation. An assumed name allows a corporation to operate under different names while maintaining a single legal entity. For more details, refer to Washington statutes, including RCW 19.80.001 and RCW 24.03.045.
To summarize, you need to choose a single corporate name that aligns with your mission and consider registering an assumed name for additional fundraising efforts.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.