Steps to a non-profit organization (The first five steps)

Determine what type of nonprofit organization you want to create. Choose an issue that is important to you or something that is a matter of public interest. Such issues may include arts, charities, education, politics, religion, research or some other non-commercial endeavor.
          Gender Disparity
Choose a name for your organization. Although each state has its own set of regulations, you can expect 3 general rules to apply:

• The name cannot be the same as the name of any other corporation on file with the state's corporations division.
• About half of all states require the name to end with a corporate designator, such as Corporation (Corp.), Incorporated (Inc.) or Limited (Ltd.).
• Your name cannot contain certain designations reserved for the state, such as United States, Reserve, Federal, National, Cooperative or Bank.

        Sheroes and Heroes Unite

Apply for the name that you've chosen. Take the following steps:

• Visit your state's filing office website or call your state's corporations division. Ask to see if the name is available or if it is already taken.
• If the name is available, then you can usually pay a small fee that will reserve the name for you until you've filed your Articles of Incorporation. If the name is taken, then create another name.

(I am stuck on this step)

Formulate your mission statement. As a nonprofit organization, you exist to accomplish your mission based upon your purpose, services and values.

• The mission statement is a concise expression that covers in one or two sentences the name of the organization, what it does, for whom it performs services and where it dispenses service. It should also portray how your organization is distinct from others like it.
• Make your mission statement compelling. It will be used in all published materials, funding requests and public relations handouts.
• Use some of these mission statements as examples:
• "The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment."

Hire an attorney. Your attorney will help you with your Articles of Incorporation and the bylaws.

• Hire someone with 501(c)(3) experience to help you file your state and federal exemption forms. You'll save both time and money in the long run.
• Most paralegals and attorneys have little experience with nonprofits. You can usually check out these services via the state bar association, references from fellow nonprofit owners or the Better Business Bureau.

(This step is going to be the most difficult)

Steps from: http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-501c3-Nonprofit-Organization