Your bylaws are not an employee handbook or policy manual designed to run the day-to-day operations of your nonprofit organization. For example, employee absences, vacation policies, and no-smoking policies have no place in an organization's bylaws.
Nonprofit bylaws (aka bylaws and articles of organization) explain how your organization operates. These rules explain the election process for board members, board meeting guidelines and frequency, compensation disclosures, indemnity clauses, and more. Simply put, it's an operating manual for running your nonprofit.
They contain the basic rules for the conduct of the corporation's business and affairs. The bylaws may contain any provision for managing the business and regulating the corporation's affairs that is not inconsistent with statutory law or the corporation's Articles of Incorporation.
Organizational Policies and Procedures Your bylaws are not an employee handbook or policy manual designed to run the day-to-day operations of your nonprofit organization. For example, employee absences, vacation policies, and no-smoking policies have no place in an organization's bylaws.
A corporation's governing documents must meet a list of requirements in order to pass under California law. These items should not merely be seen as a checklist, however, as they will be cited to in the event a lawsuit or investigation arises down the road.
You not only have a duty to understand your bylaws, you are legally accountable for following them. This is not optional. A court of law will side with your bylaws in any dispute brought by another board member, an employee, volunteer or recipient of services who may have a grievance.
Bylaws ensure consistent and agreed-upon voting and decision-making procedures and are particularly important should an officer or director leave the company. Bylaws also help maintain separation between your business and your personal obligations or interests.
Exemption requirements - 501(c)(3) organizations In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Top-down. A top-down org chart has the board of directors at the top, followed by the executive team, and then the staff. Decision-making authority flows from the top down, with limited input from lower levels. This org chart is suitable for larger nonprofits that need strong, centralized leadership.
Incorporation gives trustees greater protection from being personally liable. A charity that employs people or promises to provide services (that is, most of them!) will normally choose to be incorporated.