Relay accepts U.S. non-profits with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status, a valid IRS EIN, and formation documents ready. This guide covers what to prepare and how to apply.
What you need before you start
Have these ready before opening the Relay application:
IRS EIN Letter (Form SS-4 or 147C)
IRS 501(c) Determination Letter
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (for non-profit corporations), or Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement (for qualifying non-profit LLCs)
A U.S. business address (physical, in the United States)
Government-issued photo ID for each authorized signer
Names and contact details for anyone with financial responsibility (Executive Director, Treasurer, CFO, or similar)
All documents must be legible and match the information you enter in your application.
Which non-profits can open a Relay Account?
Relay supports two types of U.S.-registered non-profits: 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and 501(c)(6) trade associations.
501(c)(3): charitable organizations, educational institutions, religious groups, and public foundations
501(c)(6): business leagues, chambers of commerce, and professional associations
Your organization must be registered in the United States and hold a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not supported, so you'll need to form a corporation or a qualifying non-profit LLC before you apply.
What documents do you need to submit?
Five items cover most non-profit applications, and each verifies a different piece of your organization's identity.
Document | What it confirms |
IRS EIN Letter (Form SS-4 or 147C) | Your organization's EIN and legal name |
IRS 501(c) Determination Letter | Your tax-exempt status |
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws | How your organization is structured and governed |
U.S. business address | A physical U.S. address for the organization |
Authorized signer information | Government-issued photo ID for each individual with financial authority on the account |
If any document is illegible or doesn't match the details in your application, the application will slow down or be sent back for corrections.
How do you pick the right business type in the application?
Choose the option in Relay that matches how your non-profit is legally set up in your state.
Your legal setup | Choose in Relay | What we'll ask for |
Non-profit corporation (most charities, foundations, churches, trade groups) | Corporation | Articles of Incorporation, plus Bylaws if they show how you're governed |
Non-profit LLC (all owners are already tax-exempt or government units) | LLC | Articles of Organization, plus Operating Agreement |
Sole proprietorship or general partnership | Not supported | Form a corporation or qualifying non-profit LLC first |
Your Relay account name and EIN must match the name on your formation documents. Picking the wrong Business Type is one of the fastest ways to delay approval.
How does ownership work for a non-profit on Relay?
Non-profits show 0% ownership during onboarding, and that value is fixed.
Because most non-profits don't have equity holders, Relay is still required to collect information about the people with financial control over the account. Add anyone with financial responsibility (Executive Director, Treasurer, CFO, or similar) as an Administrator or Authorized User, not as an owner. Each of these individuals will complete identity verification during onboarding.
Common issues that slow down non-profit applications
Wrong Business Type selected. Match your legal setup: Corporation for non-profit corporations, LLC for qualifying non-profit LLCs, then re-submit.
EIN or organization name mismatch. Your Relay account name and EIN must match your IRS EIN Letter and Articles of Incorporation exactly, character for character.
Illegible or expired documents. Upload clear copies of current documents. Scans and phone photos both work, so long as every line of text is readable.
Missing 501(c) Determination Letter. Request a replacement from the IRS if you can't locate the original. The application can't proceed without it.
Financial decision-maker listed as an owner. Add them as an Administrator or Authorized User instead. Non-profits carry 0% ownership by default and Relay can't override that.
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