Nothing on this page should be construed as leagl advice.

Bylaws are the set of rules that govern the operations of a corporation. A well drafted set of bylaws will be very comprehensive, and will provide mechanisms and procedures for all of the intended operations, as well as the anticipated operations of the entity as it grows and evolves. Bylaws for not for profit corporations should define the purposes of the organization, and define the rights and responsibilities of the board of directors and employees to ensure those purposes are served as the organization grows. At Springmeyer Reddy, we also include clauses to indemnify the board of directors to the full extent allowed under California Law.

Bryan Springmeyer has helped start several California not for profit corporations and currently serves as the Program Director for the Dale Minami Public Interest Fellowship, a California not for profit corporation that provides fellowship funds to public interest lawyers. In addition to forming a not for profit corporation, it is important to seek tax exemption from the IRS, pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). This is accomplished by submitted Form 1023, and can sometimes be a lengthy process. Bryan has done extensive research in the area of 501(c)(3), especially related to seeking exemptions based on educational and charitable purposes. If you are considering starting a not for profit in California, you should recognize that the corporation may be subject to California Minimum Franchise taxes if the organization does not receive exemption under 501(c)(3) and under the California Franchise Tax rules.

If you are interested in forming a non-profit organization or seeking tax exemption, please contact us.