You can pay someone to do the paperwork and set up your org but it can be costly and still take forever.
I have not found any links that actually helped..some of it is pretty confusing.
What seems to happen is some people that already have a 501(c)3 help others to fill out the paperwork and do the steps correctly. It saves a ton of time.. literally months.
We studied all the info from IRS
and got things together one step at a time. Then we had help from a friend who already went thru the process.
It still took the better part of a year to complete but is well worth the effort.
IRS will also help with questions and stuff.. for instance if you mark a box wrong.. they will send you a letter and say " did you really mean to do that? we suggest if you want to be a public charity status you check this box" ...that was pretty cool.
"I went shopping for feminine protection. I decided on a .380 automatic."
- Karen Riply