Bylaws cover a range of topics, including finances, voting, appointing officers and directors, and even what happens if the company needs to close. While you won't need to file your corporate bylaws with the Secretary of State—unlike the Texas Certificate of Formation—every Texas corporation is required to have bylaws.
The Texas Business Organizations Code requires a nonprofit corporation to have at least three directors, one president, and one secretary. The same person cannot be both the president and secretary. Officers and directors must be natural persons, but may be known by other titles.
The Texas Business Organizations Code requires a nonprofit corporation to have at least three directors, one president, and one secretary. The same person cannot be both the president and secretary. Officers and directors must be natural persons, but may be known by other titles.
501(c)(3), (4), (8), (10) or (19) organizations are exempt from Texas franchise tax and sales tax. A federal tax exemption only applies to the specific organization to which it is granted.
Texas does require bylaws for all nonprofit corporations that must be adopted at the first organizational meeting of the organization's board of directors. However, the Texas Secretary of State doesn't require nonprofits to file their bylaws with the state.
Your bylaws should help you resolve internal conflict, and demonstrate your commitment to responsibly managing donations to both the IRS and the general public. Not all states require nonprofits to draft these governing documents, but Texas does.
To receive a 501(c)(3) tax exemption, federal requirements stipulate that all members of your board of directors be unrelated. Texas requires only two officers appointed for every nonprofit: a president and a secretary. You may add other officers as preferred or needed while establishing your nonprofit.
An effective board size should be small enough to make decisions quickly while also allowing for sufficient diversity of opinion and experience. Generally, a board of three to five members is ideal. Too many members can make decision-making difficult, and too few may not provide the necessary insight and expertise.
Nonprofit charities are under the jurisdiction of state and national laws, so they must comply with both legal systems. With that in mind, the federal government requires a minimum of three board members to acquire coveted 501c3 tax-exempt status.