Starting & Managing A Nonprofit Organization

Checklist for Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization

  1. What should be the form of the organization?
    • - Why?
    • - In what jurisdiction should it be formed?
  2. Who should be its directors and officers?
    • - Why?
    • - What about their personal liability?
    • - Should there be employees?
    • - Should there be consultants?
    • - Should there be compensation arrangements?
  3. What will be the organization's programs?
    • - Will they be related? or unrelated?
  4. How will the organization achieve its' goals at the community level?
    • - What will be the criteria for its members?
  5. How can the organization be exempt from Federal and State Taxation?
  6. How will it be funded?
    • - By gifts?
    • - By grants?
  7. Will it be public or private?
  8. To what extent will the gifts be deductible?
  9. What reports must be filed with Federal and State agencies?
  10. What are the state law fund-raising requirements?
  11. Should the organization engage in lobbying or political campaign activities?
  12. How many directors does the organization have?
    • - What are their voting rights?
    • - How is a quorum ascertained?
    • - How is notice properly given?
    • - What is the length and number of their terms of office?
  13. What officers are in organization?
    • - What are their duties?
    • - What is the length and terms of office?
    • - Can more than one office be held by the same individual?
  14. How frequent must the governing board meet?
    • - Will they meet in person?
    • - Can board members vote by mail or unanimous consent?
    • - Can they use proxies?
  15. What are members rights?
    • - When must they meet?
    • - What notice of the meetings must be given?
    • - How can they vote?
    • - What issues must be decided by members? By directors?
    • - May there be an executive committee of the governing board?
    • - Duties?
    • - What limitations are there on its functions?
  16. What about an advisory committee?
    • - Which are standing committees?
  17. How are the organization's governing instruments amended?
  18. What is the process for dissolving the organization?
    • - For distributing its assets and net income upon dissolution?