Bylaws: The "Constitution" of Nonprofits

Bylaws: The "Constitution" of Nonprofits
Tuesday, February 12 | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Webinar

Presented by: Don Kramer, Editor and Publisher, Nonprofit Issues

Moderated by: Tish Mogan, Standards for Excellence Director, PANO

Offered in Partnership with: Nonprofit Issues

Well-written and formulated bylaws help shape power relationships within a nonprofit organization, provide unambiguous procedures to prevent disputes, and reduce the risks of litigation. Bylaws should provide answers, not raise questions. Come with questions and leave with clarity and confidence in being able to recognize a workable document.

Here are some of the key issues that we will discuss:

• What should be included in your purpose clause, and why?
• When it makes sense to have a membership corporation.
• How to draft a membership clause that helps prevent a “take-over.”
• How to make the structure consistent with the question of “whose organization is it”?
• How to protect the interests of the critical players.
• How to deal with ex officio directors.
• How to write the most critical provision in the entire document.
• How to write term limits, if you have them, that can be understood by anyone.
• How to write the duties of officers so that they are not immediately in default.
• How to deal with appointment and removal of committees and their chairs.
• How to write indemnification and advancement of expense clauses to protect the organization.
• How to deal with conflict, whistleblower and other policies in the bylaws.
• How to relate the bylaws to the articles or certificate of incorporation.

In a line by line review of sample articles of incorporation and bylaws, you will learn how to avoid aspirational language, inconsistent language, passive tense and ambiguities. You will take home articles of incorporation and bylaws “annotated” with explanatory comments and sample forms.

CPE & CLE credits are available for this program; to receive credit you must register through Nonprofit Issues.

Cost:

$45 PANO Members | $90 Regular Price

Terms of Participation
Your purchase entitles you to a single login; multiple accesses to the Zoom webinar are not permitted. Please do not share the login information with others. Feel free to gather others around your conference phone or work station to listen and view the program.

Materials & Login/Call-In Instructions:
Materials (PowerPoint and other handouts), along with instructions on how to login and call-in, will be emailed to attendees a few days prior to the date of the webinar. PANO uses Zoom as our webinar platform; you can familiarize yourself with Zoom and/or join a test meeting prior to the webinar.

Can’t attend? All webinar registrants will receive the webinar recording!

What Past Participants Said About This Webinar:
“Excellent, even for those who are Bylaws-savvy.”

“Well-paced. Excellent speaker and materials.”

“The sample bylaws are SO helpful.”

“I have been involved in revising our bylaws for the last year. I wish I had [this webinar] a year ago!”

“Exactly what I hoped, with added emphasis of keeping it simple, non-detailed and 'timeless.'”

About Nonprofit Issues
Nonprofit Issues® is a national Web newsletter of "Nonprofit Law You Need To Know." Written for nonprofit officers and directors and their professional advisors, Nonprofit Issues provides clear, concise and comprehensive coverage of real issues that affect nonprofits every day. All PANO members receive a 30% discount for a yearly subscription – learn more!