ClearPath Launch
From intent to compliant, operating SGO
Full-service SGO formation: 501(c)(3) structuring, governing documents, state opt-in registration, and Section 25F (Education Freedom Tax Credit) compliance from the ground up. The legal foundation every other ClearPath product is built on.
Forming a compliant SGO is not a checklist exercise.
Federal requirements are structural
Federal law requires specific organizational structures, IRS-compliant governing documents, and a primary mission statement that survives regulatory scrutiny.
States stack their own rules
State approval processes vary significantly — some require standalone legislation — and each stacks additional requirements on top of the federal baseline.
Independent attempts hit friction
Most organizations attempting this independently encounter friction that delays launch by months — or, in some cases, disqualifies their application entirely.
The activation date doesn't move. Every week lost to formation friction comes out of your first giving season.
weeks of formation, including state approval
Section 25F activates — a date that doesn't move
Do the math on your start date.
Formation takes 14–20 weeks including state approval, and Section 25F activates January 1, 2027. Pick a start month and see where you land.
Interactive — go ahead, click around.
If formation starts in…
Approval lands between Oct 7 and Nov 18at the typical 14–20 weeks.
Accepting donations on day one
Formation and state approval complete before activation — your first giving season starts at full strength.
Why it matters
Done right the first time
Compliance failures at the formation stage have cascading consequences. We've structured governing documents and board policies for Section 25F compliance before the program even had final IRS rules — so your foundation is built for what the regulations actually require, not what they might mean.
State-specific navigation, not guesswork
State opt-in processes vary significantly. Some require standalone legislation; others have additional compliance layers on top of federal requirements. We've mapped every active and pending state and know exactly what each approval process requires.
The foundation the rest of your platform runs on
ClearPath Launch produces the governing documents and policies that ClearPath Donors and ClearPath Scholarship enforce operationally. Everything from your no-earmarking policy to your qualified-expense definitions flows from the formation work.
Everything Launch covers
ClearPath Launch is a complete solution — not a module you configure yourself or a feature set you have to maintain. Every item below is included and actively managed.
One-time engagement priced by organizational complexity and state filing requirements.
- 501(c)(3) formation or SGO-purpose amendment for existing organizations
- Governing documents and bylaws structured for Section 25F compliance
- Board structure design for proper arm's-length award governance
- No-earmarking policy design and board training materials
- Qualified expense policy documentation
- State opt-in registration and approval process navigation
- IRS determination letter strategy and submission support
- Structured handoff to ClearPath Donors and ClearPath Scholarship for go-live
ClearPath Launch connects to the rest of ClearPath
Talk it through before you decide.
Tell us about your organization and we’ll set up a consultation on your formation path, your state, and the timeline. It costs nothing and there is nothing to sign — and if it’s useful, we’ll walk through the platform on the same call.
What happens next
We read your submission and respond within one business day
A working session, typically 45–60 minutes — your situation, not a sales pitch
Which of the three paths fits, what your state requires, and what the timeline is
You leave with a clear recommendation — including when the answer is to join an SGO rather than form one, or to wait