Trademark Registration
for Churches & Ministries

When you retain Church & Charity Law to apply for a trademark, we start by determining whether your nonprofit’s name, logo, or slogan is capable of being trademarked.  Many nonprofit organizations have the same or nearly the same name.  So, it’s important to determine whether trademark registration is even possible before filing.  If you elect to proceed with an application for trademark, we will advise you on the proper classifications for the nonprofit’s goods and services, prepare the trademark application, and respond to inquiries and requests from the state or federal trademark office.

In general, only a name, slogan, or logo may be registered as a trademark.  But there are several other legal considerations.  First, an applicant for trademark registration must actually be using the name, slogan, or logo “in commerce”.  For a nonprofit, this usually requires actual use in association with religious, charitable, or educational services.  Second, the name, slogan, or logo must not already be registered by someone else for use in association with the same general kind or category of goods or services.  Third, it must not be “confusingly similar” to a trademark already registered in the same general category of commerce.

For nonprofits, reputation and name recognition is everything.  Unlike businesses which sell a product or service, nonprofit organizations usually rely on donations for a significant amount of their income.  This requires that donors recognize and remember the organization’s name and brand identity.  Nonprofit organizations should protect their name, slogan, and logo against intentional or accidental misappropriation by others, which may lead to donor confusion and even reputational damage.  Trademark registration creates a legal record of ownership of the nonprofit’s name, slogan, or logo, thus equipping the owner to deter, prohibit, or stop unauthorized use by others.