How to Incorporate a Not-for-Profit in Ontario (ONCA)
Incorporating a not-for-profit corporation in Ontario under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA): steps, documents, and charity status basics.
Steps
- Choose a name and order an Ontario-biased NUANS report.
- Draft articles of incorporation, including the purposes and any special provisions (charities need specific wording).
- File through the Ontario Business Registry and pay the government fee.
- Pass by-laws and hold the first directors' meeting.
- Get a business number from the CRA. See business number guide.
- Apply for charitable registration with the CRA if applicable.
Ongoing obligations
- File an Ontario annual return.
- Keep registers of members and directors and minutes of meetings.
- File the T2 (or T3010 for registered charities) or the non-profit information return as applicable.
Federal not-for-profits are incorporated under the CNCA with Corporations Canada instead. Compare in federal vs provincial incorporation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a not-for-profit the same as a charity?
- No. Charitable registration is a separate application to the CRA. Many not-for-profits are not registered charities.
- Which law governs Ontario not-for-profits?
- The Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 (ONCA).
Official sources
- Ontario Business Registry ↗— file and search Ontario registrations
- Corporations Canada ↗— federal incorporation
- Canada Revenue Agency — business ↗— BN, HST, payroll, T2
Related articles
What a numbered company is (e.g. 1234567 Ontario Inc.), why owners choose one, how it skips the NUANS report, and how to add a trade name.
Everything you need to know about the Ontario NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) report, 90-day validity, distinctive vs descriptive terms, and reservation rules.
A complete breakdown of Ontario incorporation expenses: official $300 OBR filing fee, NUANS search fees, corporate minute book costs, and ongoing annual filings.
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