It varies from state to state, but in the states I'm aware of (at least 3) it's not nearly as hard as you're making it sound. An attorney is not required and, w

It varies from state to state, but in the states I'm aware of (at least 3) it's not nearly as hard as you're making it sound. An attorney is not required and, while the non-profit status may take some time to approve, the existence of the corporation itself generally is essentially the same as founding a for-profit corporation. In particular, attorneys are not required, and it is generally pretty easy to get things notarized for free (most banks have notaries on staff and I've never had one charge me.) I know multiple people who have set up non-profits on their own, without any lawyers, and have not had any difficulties throughout the process.