Your Bylaws establish procedures for holding elections, organizing meetings and other essential operations of your nonprofit.
Your nonprofit’s Bylaws are your organizations internal affairs guidebook. Your Bylaws establish procedures for holding elections, organizing meetings, quorum requirements, membership structure (if needed) and other essential operations of your nonprofit. Your Bylaws will serve as your organizational manual and will help guide you through the orderly operation of your corporation.
Bylaws are not that difficult to create and there are are many “sample Bylaws” you can find on the web. Below is a complete set of Bylaws comprised of excerpts from several established nonprofits. You are free to cut/paste the language as needed or download our Free Sample Bylaws Template as a word doc or pdf using the links at the right.
Before we start there is one thing to note. Unlike your Articles of Incorporation, the IRS does not require any specific language to be included in your Bylaws. But best practices suggest that you should still include certain reference to your organizations structure and purpose to serve as a reminder about the makeup of your nonprofit.
Some things to keep in mind as you begin:
Download Sample Nonprofit Bylaws:
The name of the corporation is YOUR NONPROFIT NAME HERE.
Section 1. Nonprofit Purpose
This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
This language is recommended to be in your Articles of Incorporation by the IRS. It is not necessary to include this in your Bylaws> If you plan to apply for 501.c.3 status, then it is a good idea to restate this in your bylaws.
Section 2. Specific Purpose
Here you put the purpose of your organization as well as the specific activities you will be involved in. It is a good idea to list the major activities of your nonprofit without being too specific about the details. You want to have a focused scope of work without limiting the ability to grow the organization in the future. The following sample is from Noble Paws, Inc. in Fairbanks Alaska.
Noble Paws provides dog sled training and services for persons with special needs, disabilities and at-risk behaviors. This service includes the use of a trained dog sled team and handicap accessible dog sleds. The sleds are modified and/or custom made to accommodate the specific needs of the participants.
The specific objectives and purpose of this organization shall be:
Membership in your nonprofit can be limited to your board of directors or it can also include members of the public. This is a decision you will have to make at your first meeting when you adopt your Bylaws. The following example outlines requirements and governance of a nonprofit that is open to public membership. It is extracted from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Sample Bylaws with Membership.
If you do not intend to have public membership, then the following wording is all that is necessary:
The membership of the corporation shall consist of the members of the Board of Directors.
If you intend to have public members, then continue reading.
Section 1. Eligibility for Membership
Application for voting membership shall be open to any current resident, property owner, business operator, or employee of the REGIONAL AREA (IF NECESSARY) that supports the purpose statement in Article II, Section 2. Membership is granted after completion and receipt of a membership application and annual dues. All memberships shall be granted upon a majority vote of the board.
Section 2. Annual Dues
The amount required for annual dues shall be $XXX each year, unless changed by a majority vote of the members at an annual meeting of the full membership. Continued membership is contingent upon being up-to-date on membership dues.
Section 3. Rights of Members
Each member shall be eligible to appoint one voting representative to cast the member’s vote in association elections.
Section 4. Resignation and Termination
Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the secretary. Resignation shall not relieve a member of unpaid dues, or other charges previously accrued. A member can have their membership terminated by a majority vote of the membership.
Section 5. Non-voting Membership
The board shall have the authority to establish and define non-voting categories of membership.
If you do not have public membership you can skip this Article. This is also extracted from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Sample Bylaws with Membership.
Section 1. Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the members shall be held quarterly, at a time and place designated by the chair.
Note: A membership nonprofit should hold at least one (1) member meeting each year. Some states may require more. Check with your Secretary of State to see if any state statutes apply to member meetings.
Section 2. Annual Meetings
An annual meeting of the members shall take place in the month of October (pick a month), the specific date, time and location of which will be designated by the chair. At the annual meeting the members shall elect directors and officers, receive reports on the activities of the association, and determine the direction of the association for the coming year.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the chair, the Executive Committee, or a simple majority of the board of directors. A petition signed by five percent (5%) of voting members may also call a special meeting.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings Printed notice of each meeting shall be given to each voting member, by mail, not less than two weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 5. Quorum
A quorum for a meeting of the members shall consist of at least twenty percent (20)% of the active membership.
You can set the quorum requirements for member meetings in your Bylaws and/or your Articles of Incorporation. Check with your Secretary of State office to see what quorum requirements may apply to your member meetings.
Section 6. Voting
All issues to be voted on shall be decided by a simple majority of those present at the meeting in which the vote takes place.
Your board of directors are members of your organization. But they are given special responsibilities and authority. If there is one section of your Bylaws that you will be referencing frequently, this is it. The following excerpt is from the ASPCA’s sample shelter Bylaws.
Section 1. General Powers
The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have control of and be responsible for the management of the affairs and property of the Corporation.
Section 2. Number, Tenure, Requirements, and Qualifications
Note: As with many things in the Bylaws, it is your choice on what to include as criteria for your board members. Requiring a cash donation to be on the board is not uncommon and many granting organizations require it.
Section 3. Regular and Annual Meetings
An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at a time and day in the month of September of each calendar year and at a location designated by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide by resolution the time and place, for the holding of regular meetings of the Board. Notice of these meetings shall be sent to all members of the Board of Directors no less than ten (10) days, prior to the meeting date.
Section 4. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the President or any two members of the Board of Directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any location, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board called by them.
Section 5. Notice
Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given at least two (2) days in advance of the meeting by telephone, facsimile or electronic methods or by written notice. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of a Director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by law or by these by-laws.
Section 6. Quorum
The presence, in person of a majority of current members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary at any meeting to constitute a quorum to transact business, but a lesser number shall have power to adjourn to a specified later date without notice. The act of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these by-laws.
Section 7. Forfeiture
Any member of the Board of Directors who fails to fulfill any of his or her requirements as set forth in Section 2 of this Article by September 1st shall automatically forfeit his or her seat on the Board. The Secretary shall notify the Director in writing that his or her seat has been declared vacant, and the Board of Directors may forthwith immediately proceed to fill the vacancy. Members of the Board of Directors who are removed for failure to meet any or all of the requirements of Section 2 of this Article are not entitled to vote at the annual meeting and are not entitled to the procedure outlined in Section 14 of this Article in these by-laws.
Section 8. Vacancies
Whenever any vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors it shall be filled without undue delay by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors at a regular meeting. Vacancies may be created and filled according to specific methods approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Compensation
Members of the Board of Directors shall not receive any compensation for their services as Directors.
Section 10. Informal Action by Directors
Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the Directors, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of Directors, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by two-thirds (2/3) of all of the Directors following notice of the intended action to all members of the Board of Directors.
Section 11. Confidentiality
Directors shall not discuss or disclose information about the Corporation or its activities to any person or entity unless such information is already a matter of public knowledge, such person or entity has a need to know, or the disclosure of such information is in furtherance of the Corporations’ purposes, or can reasonably be expected to benefit the Corporation. Directors shall use discretion and good business judgment in discussing the affairs of the Corporation with third parties. Without limiting the foregoing, Directors may discuss upcoming fundraisers and the purposes and functions of the Corporation, including but not limited to accounts on deposit in financial institutions.
Each Director shall execute a confidentiality agreement consistent herewith upon being voted onto and accepting appointment to the Board of Directors.
Note: this is not a requirement in most states and its inclusion is optional.
Section 12. Advisory Council
An Advisory Council may be created whose members shall be elected by the members of the Board of Directors annually but who shall have no duties, voting privileges, nor obligations for attendance at regular meetings of the Board. Advisory Council members may attend said meetings at the invitation of a member of the Board of Directors. Members of the Advisory Council shall possess the desire to serve the community and support the work of the Corporation by providing expertise and professional knowledge. Members of the Advisory Council shall comply with the confidentiality policy set forth herein and shall sign a confidentiality agreement consistent therewith upon being voted onto and accepting appointment to the Advisory Council.
Section 13. Parliamentary Procedure
Any question concerning parliamentary procedure at meetings shall be determined by the President by reference to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 14. Removal
Any member of the Board of Directors or members of the Advisory Council may be removed with or without cause, at any time, by vote of three-quarters (3/4) of the members of the Board of Directors if in their judgment the best interest of the Corporation would be served thereby. Each member of the Board of Directors must receive written notice of the proposed removal at least ten (10) days in advance of the proposed action. An officer who has been removed as a member of the Board of Directors shall automatically be removed from office.
Members of the Board of Directors who are removed for failure to meet the minimum requirements in Section 2 of this Article in these by-laws automatically forfeit their positions on the Board pursuant to Section 7 of this Article, and are not entitled to the removal procedure outlined in Section 14 of this Article.
