Traditionally, when starting a nonprofit, the best choice for legal structure is to form a nonprofit corporation at the state level and to apply for 501(c)(3) tax exemption at the federal level.
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.
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.
Corporate bylaws are legally required in Texas. Don't mess with Texas—skipping this step could have serious consequences.
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.