A 14-Point Bylaws Checkup for Nonprofits

By
Ruth Peebles

Nonprofits often neglect to revise or update their bylaws unless a critical issue or crisis arises. Doing so, however, should be part of your strategic-planning process.

Your board has a fiduciary responsibility and is legally accountable for following your bylaws. It is each board member’s responsibility to know what is included in the bylaws.  When drafting your by-laws, be sure to use the following 14-point checkup:

    • Indemnification statement limiting personal liability of board members
    • Voting member rights statement (if applicable)
    • Minimum/maximum number of board members
    • Number of votes or attendees required for quorum
    • Board terms and term limits
    • Officers: titles, appointments, term limits, and responsibilities
    • Procedure for removal of board members/officers.
    • Procedure for changing/amending bylaws
    • Minimum number of board meetings per year
    • Process for convening special or emergency board or executive committee meetings
    • Process for creating or dissolving board committees.
    • Description of committee structure, roles and responsibilities, and member appointment process
    • Potential meeting methodology (in-person, conference calls, electronic)
    • Conflict of interest policy

Ruth Peebles, President of The INS Group, offers 25 years of experience in the nonprofit management. The INS Group is a national consulting firm that provides organizational development and capacity building services to nonprofits, government agencies, and faith-based institutions. Services include grant writing, grant research, strategic planning, strategic fund development planning, succession planning, executive coaching, and board training and board development. Ms. Peebles can be reached at [email protected]

Share small business news, blogs and social media tips with Project Eve’s community of small business owners and entrepreneurs today. Our contributors come from a wide range of backgrounds; so whether you are a small business owner, social media strategist, financial adviser, serial entrepreneur, or write an amateur blog we urge you to contribute a blog to our 500,000+ community today. For more information, please refer to our Content Submissions Guidelines.

Add a Blog

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

266 COMMENTS

  2. I was just looking for this info for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your web site. I wonder what is the Google’s issue that doesn’t rank this kind of informative sites closer to the top. Normally the top web sites are full of garbage.

  3. This design is incredible! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  21. Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad
    and tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop,
    just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad
    is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is
    completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  104. Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to know so much approximately this, like
    you wrote the e book in it or something. I feel that you can do with
    a few percent to drive the message home a little bit, but
    instead of that, this is fantastic blog. A great read.
    I’ll definitely be back.

  105. I am now not positive where you’re getting your information, however
    great topic. I needs to spend a while studying much more
    or figuring out more. Thank you for fantastic information I used to be searching for this info for my mission.

  106. I believe that is one of the such a lot important info for me.
    And i am satisfied reading your article. However should observation on few general things, The web site taste is wonderful,
    the articles is truly great : D. Excellent job, cheers

  157. Hey, would likely you mind if We share your blog using my twitter group? There are several folks that I consider would enjoy your content material. Please let me recognize. Thanks a lot.

  158. Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from
    an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog?
    I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty
    quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start.
    Do you have any points or suggestions? Cheers

  172. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create
    this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz respond as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to
    know where u got this from. many thanks

  183. It’s a shame a person don’t have a give button! I’d certainly give money for this brilliant blog! We suppose for the moment I’ll resolve for book-marking and putting your RSS feed in order to a Google account. We anticipate fresh updates plus will speak about this website with my Facebook party. Chat soon!

  188. Hey, would likely you mind if We share your blog using my twitter group? There are lots of folks that I consider would enjoy your content material. Please let me understand. Many thanks.

  189. Thank you a great deal for providing individuals using an extremely spectacular possibility to be able to read critical reviews coming from this site.

  190. Woah! I’m enjoying the template/theme of this website. Is actually simple, yet effective. Some sort of lot of times it is extremely hard to get that will “perfect balance” between exceptional usability and visual attractiveness. I must say might done a very excellent job with this particular.

  191. Do an individual have a spam matter on this website; We also am a blog owner, and I wished to recognize your situation; many regarding us are suffering from some great methods, and are looking in order to trade methods with other folks, why not shoot me personally an e-mail if curious.

  193. I’m curious to find out what blog platform you have been utilizing?
    I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog and I’d like to find something more safe.
    Do you have any recommendations?

  198. Hi there We are so thrilled I came across your website, I genuinely found you by blunder, while I was exploring Yahoo for something more, Anyhow I am below now and would simply like to say many thanks for a tremendous article and an all circular exciting blog (I likewise love the theme/design), I actually don’t have time in order to experience it all from the minute but We have saved it as well as added in your RSS OR ATOM feeds, then when I possess time I will get to read more, Remember to do continue the wonderful job.

  199. I simply desired to thank you thus much again. I feel not sure the points that I would have got gone through without the particular sort of hints revealed simply by you regarding that circumstance.

  200. I am commenting in order to help you to recognize what a terrific expertise my daughter enjoyed looking at through your on series page. She noticed lots of pieces, with the addition of what it is definitely like to have the awesome helping style to be able to have the rest without having hassle grasp some excruciating matters.

  209. A lot of League of Tales fans were speculating in respect of who this champion may possibly be and a huge vast majority agreed that relating to the many hint provided in the video clip, it can probably Yone, a Ionian samurai. Yone will be stated in the lore while Yasuo’s older close friend who was simply unfortunately killed by their younger friend after traffic monitoring him down to avenge his / her unsuspecting betrayal.

  224. Thanks regarding one marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it; an individual are a fantastic author. My partner and i will make sure to be able to bookmark your blog and even may come back at some point. I want to inspire that you continue your current great posts, possess an end of the week!

  259. Luton Location together together with Barnsley were being each endorsed into the Tournament without having throwing a baseball on 30 Apr right after their own closest in order to rivals the two lost as well as damaged, and also the Hatters clinched the particular subject merely by conquering Oxford 3-1 in typically the last day time regarding this period. Charlton Sports get this specific third promo location following beating Sunderland 2-1 found in the play-off finished about 26 May possibly.

  260. Maidstone Combined, Havant and Waterlooville, Braintree Area and even Aldershot Town are already relegated increase in replaced by this champions and play-off invariably winners on the National Addition South and South limbs.

  261. Brechin Town are relegated in get to Scottish Group Two right after drawing 1-1 in the closing day along with Stenhousemuir, who different went decrease after getting rid of to be able to Annan in the particular play-off semi-finals.

  262. “I picture our model’s the amazingly good a person particular — it can certainly now being recurring through some others but many of us begun often the idea a long moment ago around often the good sense that all of usa necessary young, eager gamers that might be coached and formulated, as well as try to be able to complete their own potential, micron Ferguson revealed.

  263. The expansion of his or her present installment payments on your twenty 9 for any match regular might notice Classy case 100 little league goals that season plus certainly find them protected a whole new returning to this Champion immediately after some sort of new seven-year shortage, obtaining already been relegated inside 2012-13 inspite associated with attaining 54 items.

  265. Dwight Gayle, Britt Assombalonga, Jack Marriott, Craig Mackail-Smith, George Boyd in inclusion to Shelter Tomlin practically all manufactured trademarks with regard to themselves with Peterborough – and often the position isn’t going to end right these days there…

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here