Nonprofit Corporation Formation Filing in Alaska

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Alaska Stat. § 10.20.925 names Chapter 10.20 the Alaska Nonprofit Corporation Act.

Articles and incorporators

Section 10.20.146 calls for at least three natural persons age nineteen or older to sign and deliver duplicate articles. Section 10.20.151(a) requires the corporate name, duration, purpose, agent and registered office, initial board, and each incorporator's name and address. Section 10.20.156(a) directs the commissioner to file conforming articles and issue a certificate after payment.

Name and purpose

Section 10.20.005 permits incorporation for any lawful purpose. Under § 10.20.021(a), the chosen name cannot imply a purpose outside the articles.

Initial directors and agent

The first board's count, names, and addresses belong in the articles under § 10.20.151(a)(6), and § 10.20.086(a) requires at least three directors. Under § 10.20.026, an individual agent must reside in Alaska and use the registered office as a business office; an authorized corporation may also serve.

Fee and existence

Section 10.20.635(a)(1) directs the commissioner to set a formation fee by regulation. 3 AAC 16.050(b) sets it at $50. Corporate existence begins when the certificate issues under § 10.20.161.

What trips people up

The articles must name the initial directors and give their addresses under § 10.20.151(a)(6). Section 10.20.146 also requires duplicate signed articles from three qualified incorporators.

Common questions

Must the articles declare whether there are members? The required-articles list in § 10.20.151(a) does not include a membership declaration.

Does filing alone create the corporation? Section 10.20.161 starts existence on issuance of the certificate.

Statutes and sources

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.005: “Corporations may be organized under this chapter for any lawful purpose, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following: charitable; religious; benevolent; eleemosynary; educational; civic; cemetery; patriotic; political; social; fraternal; literary; cultural; athletic; scientific; agricultural; horticultural; animal husbandry; and professional, commercial, industrial, or trade association purposes.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.021(a): “The name of a corporation may not contain a word or phrase that indicates or implies that it is organized for a purpose other than one or more of the purposes contained in the articles of incorporation of the corporation.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.026: “A corporation shall continuously maintain in the state a registered office which may be, but need not be, the same as its place of business, and a registered agent. The registered agent may be either an individual resident of the state whose business office is the same as the registered office, or a domestic or foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state whose business office is the same as the registered office.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.086(a): “The number of directors of a corporation shall be at least three. The number of directors shall be fixed by the bylaws, except that the number constituting the initial board of directors shall be fixed by the articles of incorporation.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.146: “Three or more natural persons at least 19 years of age may act as incorporators of a corporation by signing and delivering in duplicate to the commissioner articles of incorporation for the corporation.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.151(a): “The articles of incorporation must set out (1) the name of the corporation; (2) the period of its duration, which may be perpetual; (3) the purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized; (4) provisions, not inconsistent with law, which the incorporators elect to set out in the articles of incorporation for the regulation of the internal affairs of the corporation, including provision for distribution of assets on dissolution or final liquidation; (5) the address of its initial registered office, and the name of its initial registered agent at the address; (6) the number of directors constituting the initial board of directors, and the names and addresses of the persons who are to serve as the initial directors; (7) the name and address of each incorporator.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.156(a): “Duplicate originals of the articles of incorporation shall be delivered to the commissioner. Upon finding that the articles of incorporation conform to law, the commissioner shall, when all fees prescribed by this chapter have been paid, (1) endorse on each duplicate original the word "filed," and the date of the filing; (2) file one duplicate original in the commissioner's office; (3) issue a certificate of incorporation and affix the other duplicate original to it.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.161: “Upon the issuance of the certificate of incorporation, the corporate existence begins.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.635(a)(1): “The commissioner shall establish by regulation and charge and collect fees for filing (1) articles of incorporation and issuing a certificate of incorporation;” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• Alaska Stat. § 10.20.925: “This chapter may be cited as the Alaska Nonprofit Corporation Act.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).

• 3 AAC 16.050(b): “The fee for a domestic nonprofit corporation filing articles of incorporation or a foreign nonprofit corporation filing an application for certificate of authority is $50.” Official source (accessed 2026-10-01).