Council Resources

How to Change Your Council Name

Councils are not required to change their names to link with the new brand. A council that chooses to change its name to reflect the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning brand has at least two options:

• File an assumed business name certificate (also known as a d/b/a certificate) with its Secretary of State's office;
• Amend the council's articles of incorporation to change its corporate name now.

If your council elects to change its name by amending its articles of incorporation, you may wish to contact your Secretary of State's office for assistance. They can guide you through the specific steps for your state. To find the contact information for your local office, you may visit here. Please be sure to review the brand standards guide before formalizing the new council name. Please contact the national office to discuss your interest in changing your council's name.

A council that changes its name should not generally have to re-apply for tax-exemption at the state level. If you are requested by your state to supply information regarding your federal tax exemption, you may access the Partnership's IRS determination letter and the Certificate of Assumed Business Name here.

If you utilize the Partnership's IRS group exemption, you need only let us know your new name via e-mail to Tami Tarpley at ttarpley@pppnet.org. Please indicate whether your council has amended its articles of incorporation or adopted an assumed business name. If you have your own exemption and you have amended your articles of incorporation, you should contact the IRS Exempt Organizations unit in Cincinnati at 1-877-829-5500. When the automated menu listing begins, press #2 for exempt organizations, then press #4 to continue to the correct representative. They will instruct you where to mail the amended articles in order to receive an updated exemption letter.