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There are two parts to choosing a name for your nonprofit. You have to make sure it's available in your state and that it doesn't infringe on another trademark. We'll cover "availability in your state" here.
Search Nonprofit Name in Your Filing State
To check your state availability, perform a “business entity search” on your state government’s website. Do this by searching “[your state] entity search." Alternatively, you can call your state’s office to check your name against existing names.
Do You Need A Fictitious Name?
Suppose your nonprofit's preferred name is taken. Or, maybe you're unsure what name you want to give your nonprofit. In that case, an easy alternative is to name it something as simple as your legal name followed by “Inc.” or another derivative (assuming that’s available).
Later, if you want to operate under a different name besides your legal name, you can file for a "Fictitious Name" (sometimes called "D/B/A" or "Assumed Name"). Once filed, you can tell other people that your nonprofit's name (or brand) is the new name.