Nonprofit organizations with $50,000 or less in annual gross receipts, and $250,000 or less in assets, may use the IRS form 1023-EZ, a streamlined version of the standard form 1023 required by the IRS to apply for 501(c)(3) status. A streamlined application makes the process much easier and faster for smaller nonprofits that may not have the funds to hire an attorney, pay costly legal fees, and complete a complicated application. Even when using the short form, you'll need to supply additional information, such as your articles of incorporation or other founding documents.