Arizona Nonprofit Certificate of Disclosure: Requirements and Filing Guide
Key Takeaways
The Certificate of Disclosure (Form C003) is a mandatory document filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission at the time of incorporation
It requires all incorporators, directors, and officers to disclose felony convictions, judicial injunctions, and bankruptcy history going back seven years
The form is filed together with your Articles of Incorporation and has no standalone fee; it is included in the $40 incorporation filing cost
Online submission through the ACC eCorp portal is the fastest method, with expedited processing available for an additional $35
Updated disclosures must also be filed annually alongside your ACC annual report
Any "Yes" answer to a disclosure question requires a supplemental attachment explaining the circumstances
Filing your Arizona nonprofit's Certificate of Disclosure is not optional, and getting it wrong at incorporation can delay your entire formation timeline.
Arizona is one of the few states that requires a dedicated transparency document at the time of nonprofit incorporation, and it exists for a clear reason. When you file to form a nonprofit with the Arizona Corporation Commission, the state wants to know who is behind the organization and whether any of those individuals carry a history of financial misconduct, fraud, or serious legal trouble.
That document is the Certificate of Disclosure, Form C003. It applies to every person who holds a leadership or control role at the time your nonprofit is formed, including all incorporators, directors, officers, and anyone who manages the organization's internal affairs. Each of them must answer a set of legal history questions covering the past seven years before your incorporation can be approved.
This requirement catches many founders off guard, especially those using general nonprofit formation guides that are not Arizona-specific. Submitting your Articles of Incorporation without the Certificate of Disclosure attached will result in an incomplete filing. The two documents go in together as a single incorporation packet, and neither is valid without the other.
Who Must Be Disclosed on Form C003?
The Certificate of Disclosure applies to everyone in a leadership or control position within your Arizona nonprofit at the time of filing. This includes:
- All initial incorporators named in the Articles of Incorporation
- All directors and trustees listed at formation
- All officers who will oversee or manage the organization's internal affairs
- Any other individuals who exercise control over the organization, even if not formally titled
Every individual in the categories above must answer the disclosure questions. If your nonprofit launches with a board of five directors and two incorporators, all seven individuals must be accounted for on or alongside the form.
What Does Arizona Require You to Disclose?
Arizona's disclosure questions focus on three categories of legal and financial history, each with a seven-year lookback window:
Felony Convictions
Each named individual must disclose whether they have been convicted of a felony involving fraud, theft, misrepresentation, or restraint of trade within the last seven years.
Judicial Injunctions and Court Orders
Disclosure is required if any leader is currently subject to a court injunction or order related to securities violations, unfair business practices, or similar financial misconduct.
Bankruptcy and Administrative Dissolution
Each individual must disclose whether they served as an officer or director of a corporation that was placed into bankruptcy or receivership or was administratively dissolved by the state within the last seven years.
For each question, the form requires a simple "Yes" or "No" response. If any individual answers "Yes" to any question, you are required to attach either a Certificate of Disclosure Felony/Judgment Attachment or a Bankruptcy Attachment, providing a detailed written explanation of the circumstances.
A "Yes" answer does not automatically disqualify someone from serving or prevent your nonprofit from being approved. The ACC reviews the supplemental explanation and makes a determination based on the full context. Omitting a "Yes" answer when one is required, however, can result in rejection of your filing or future legal complications for the organization.
Step-by-Step: How to File the Arizona Certificate of Disclosure
Before you file, make sure your formation documents are ready. Nonprofit incorporation checklist: what you need before you file covers exactly what information and documents you need to have in hand before submitting anything to the ACC.
Step 1: Download or Access Form C003
You can access the Certificate of Disclosure form directly through the Arizona Corporation Commission forms page. The form is available as a fillable PDF for paper submission or can be completed within the ACC eCorp online portal.
Step 2: Enter Your Organization's Information
Provide the exact legal name of your nonprofit corporation as it will appear on your Articles of Incorporation. If you are filing as a foreign nonprofit registering in Arizona, also include your ACC file number.
Step 3: Complete the Disclosure Questions for All Named Individuals
Review the legal history of every incorporator, director, officer, and individual with control over internal affairs. For each person, check the appropriate "Yes" or "No" box for each of the three disclosure categories.
Step 4: Attach Supplemental Forms If Required
If any individual answers "Yes" to any question, complete and attach the corresponding supplemental form before submission. Do not submit the Certificate of Disclosure without the required attachment if a "Yes" response is present.
Step 5: Obtain Required Signatures
For a new domestic nonprofit, all incorporators must sign and date the Certificate of Disclosure. For a foreign nonprofit or an existing organization amending its disclosure, a currently authorized officer must sign.
Step 6: Submit Together With Your Articles of Incorporation
The Certificate of Disclosure is not submitted independently. It must be filed as part of your incorporation packet alongside your Articles of Incorporation (Form C011).
Online Submission: File through the ACC eCorp Portal. The total filing fee for your Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Disclosure together is $40. Expedited processing is available for an additional $35 if you need faster turnaround.
Paper Submission: Mail your completed Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Disclosure, and an ACC Cover Sheet to the Phoenix Corporate Filings section of the Arizona Corporation Commission. Standard processing for mailed submissions typically takes several weeks.
Ongoing Compliance: Annual Disclosure Updates
Filing the Certificate of Disclosure at incorporation is only the beginning. Arizona requires that nonprofits review and update their disclosure information on an ongoing basis.
Annual Report Filing
Each year on your organization's registration anniversary date, you are required to file an annual report with the ACC. This report includes a review of your organization's corporate information, including officer and director disclosures. Annual reports can be filed through the ACC Online Annual Report System. The standard fee for nonprofit annual reports is $10.
Mid-Year Leadership Changes
If your organization elects or appoints a new director or officer after formation, and that individual has a disclosable legal or financial event in their history, you must file a supplemental disclosure with the ACC promptly. You cannot wait until your next annual report to disclose new leadership with a relevant history.
Staying current with these obligations is part of maintaining your nonprofit's good standing with the state. What happens if a nonprofit misses a filing deadline? Explains what the consequences are and how to recover if your organization falls behind.
How This Fits Into the Broader Arizona Nonprofit Formation Process
The Certificate of Disclosure is one piece of a larger formation puzzle. For Arizona founders, the full process of getting a nonprofit legally established and federally recognized involves multiple sequential steps, from naming your organization and forming your board to obtaining your EIN and applying for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
The complete guide on how to start a nonprofit organization in Arizona in 12 steps places the Certificate of Disclosure within that full roadmap, so you understand when it is due and what comes before and after it.
Ready to Get Your Arizona Nonprofit Properly Formed?
The Certificate of Disclosure is one of several moving parts in the Arizona nonprofit incorporation process. If you want to make sure every document is filed correctly and in the right order, Beacon Nonprofit helps Arizona founders navigate formation from the first filing all the way through 501(c)(3) approval.
- Arizona Corporation Commission – eCorp Filing Portal — File your Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Disclosure, and annual reports online through the ACC's official portal
- Arizona Corporation Commission – Forms Page — Download Form C003 (Certificate of Disclosure) and other ACC nonprofit formation forms directly
- IRS – Apply for an EIN Online — Obtain your nonprofit's federal Employer Identification Number for free after ACC approval
- IRS – Apply for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status — Begin your federal exemption application once your Arizona nonprofit is legally incorporated and has an EIN
- IRS – Tax Exempt Organization Search — Verify your nonprofit's federal tax-exempt status or look up any registered organization
- Arizona Department of Revenue – Nonprofit Tax Exemptions — Learn about Arizona state transaction privilege tax exemption eligibility following federal 501(c)(3) approval
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Every nonprofit corporation incorporating in Arizona or registering as a foreign nonprofit in Arizona must file a Certificate of Disclosure (Form C003) along with the Articles of Incorporation. The requirement applies regardless of the organization's size or revenue.
A prior felony conviction does not automatically prevent nonprofit approval in Arizona. If a board member or officer has a disclosable history, the organization must provide a supplemental explanation. Full disclosure with supporting information is important, as failing to disclose required information can create filing issues.
Certain nonprofit financial documents are publicly available through federal requirements. The IRS requires tax-exempt organizations to provide copies of recent Form 990 filings and their Form 1023 application upon request. Arizona public records also include nonprofit formation filings submitted to the Arizona Corporation Commission.
The Certificate of Disclosure information should be reviewed annually along with required corporate filings. If a new officer or director creates a disclosure requirement, an updated filing may be needed rather than waiting for the annual filing period.
The Articles of Incorporation legally create the nonprofit corporation and establish details such as the organization's name, purpose, registered agent, and initial directors. The Certificate of Disclosure is a separate filing that provides required background information about organizational leaders.
The Certificate of Disclosure does not have a separate filing fee. It is submitted as part of the nonprofit incorporation filing package with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Additional fees may apply for expedited processing or other required filings.
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