California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation
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PUBLIC COUNSEL | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT | ANNOTATED BYLAWS | APRIL 2018 Form of Bylaws California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Made possible through the support of the Annenberg Foundation About This Form: Public Counsel’s Community Development Project has designed the attached form bylaws for a non-membership California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation to serve as a drafting tool for nonprofit organizations that have chosen to incorporate in California, existing California nonprofit corporations engaged in a bylaws review, and the pro bono attorneys who represent them. The form is annotated with explanatory endnotes, including citations to applicable laws. For further instructions on how to use this form, please see the first endnote. Public Counsel will update this form periodically for changes in law, recommended practices and available resources. For the latest version, see www.publiccounsel.org/tools/publications/files/Annotated_Bylaws.pdf. Important Notes: This form contains alternative language suggestions that may be applicable based on the corporation’s activities. It is important that anyone creating bylaws for a nonprofit corporation carefully consider the explanations in the endnotes so that they will fully understand the ramifications of their drafting choices. Once the bylaws are adopted by the corporation, its officers and directors will be required to follow the procedures described in the bylaws. Please see the first endnote for more information. This form should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact an attorney for legal advice about your organization’s specific situation. This form should not be used “as is” but should be modified after careful consideration of the explanations and alternative wording choices in the text of the bylaws and endnotes. Some corporations may need to include additional provisions not discussed in this form to qualify for certain grants or government funding. ▪▪▪ Public Counsel’s Community Development Project provides free legal assistance (including bylaws review) to qualifying nonprofit organizations that share our mission of serving low- income communities and addressing issues of poverty within Los Angeles County. If your organization needs legal assistance, or to provide comments on this form, visit www.publiccounsel.org/practice_areas/community_development or call (213) 385-2977, extension 200. 610 SOUTH ARDMORE AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90005 | TEL: 213.385.2977 | FAX: 213.385.9089 | WWW.PUBLICCOUNSEL.ORG © 2018 Public Counsel Bylaws1 of [Name of Corporation] A California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation © 2018 Public Counsel TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE 1 NAME ......................................................................................................................................... 1 SECTION 1.1 CORPORATE NAME ....................................................................................................................... 1 ARTICLE 2 OFFICES .................................................................................................................................... 1 SECTION 2.1 PRINCIPAL OFFICE ........................................................................................................................ 1 SECTION 2.2 OTHER OFFICES ............................................................................................................................ 1 ARTICLE 3 PURPOSES ................................................................................................................................. 1 SECTION 3.1 GENERAL PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................... 1 SECTION 3.2 SPECIFIC PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................ 1 ARTICLE 4 LIMITATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 1 SECTION 4.1 POLITICAL ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................................. 1 SECTION 4.2 PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................... 1 ARTICLE 5 DEDICATION OF ASSETS...................................................................................................... 2 SECTION 5.1 PROPERTY DEDICATED TO NONPROFIT PURPOSES ........................................................................ 2 SECTION 5.2 DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION ............................................................................. 2 ARTICLE 6 MEMBERSHIPS ........................................................................................................................ 2 SECTION 6.1 MEMBERS ..................................................................................................................................... 2 SECTION 6.2 NON-VOTING MEMBERS ............................................................................................................... 2 ARTICLE 7 DIRECTORS .............................................................................................................................. 2 SECTION 7.1 NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS .................................................................................................... 2 7.1.1 Number ........................................................................................................................................ 2 7.1.2 Qualifications............................................................................................................................... 2 SECTION 7.2 CORPORATE POWERS EXERCISED BY BOARD ................................................................................ 2 SECTION 7.3 TERMS; ELECTION OF SUCCESSORS ............................................................................................... 3 SECTION 7.4 VACANCIES ................................................................................................................................... 3 7.4.1 Events Causing Vacancy ............................................................................................................. 3 7.4.2 Removal ....................................................................................................................................... 3 7.4.3 No Removal on Reduction of Number of Directors .................................................................... 3 7.4.4 Resignations ................................................................................................................................ 3 7.4.5 Election to Fill Vacancies ............................................................................................................ 4 SECTION 7.5 REGULAR MEETINGS ..................................................................................................................... 4 SECTION 7.6 SPECIAL MEETINGS ....................................................................................................................... 4 SECTION 7.7 NOTICE OF MEETINGS ................................................................................................................... 4 7.7.1 Manner of Giving ........................................................................................................................ 4 7.7.2 Time Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 4 7.7.3 Notice Contents ........................................................................................................................... 5 SECTION 7.8 PLACE OF BOARD MEETINGS ........................................................................................................ 5 7.8.1 Meetings by Telephone or Similar Communication Equipment .................................................. 5 SECTION 7.9 QUORUM AND ACTION OF THE BOARD .......................................................................................... 5 7.9.1 Quorum ........................................................................................................................................ 5 7.9.2 Minimum Vote Requirements for Valid Board Action ............................................................... 5 7.9.3 When a Greater Vote Is Required for Valid Board Action .......................................................... 5 SECTION 7.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE ...................................................................................................................... 5 SECTION 7.11 ADJOURNMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6 SECTION 7.12 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT ........................................................................................................... 6 SECTION 7.13 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS ............................................................................................................... 6 SECTION 7.14 ACTION WITHOUT MEETING ......................................................................................................... 6 © 2018 Public Counsel i SECTION 7.15 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS .................................................................................... 6 SECTION 7.16 NON-LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS ....................................................................................................