The right resources can make all the difference
Produced in collaboration with nonprofit attorneys nationwide, and in Pennsylvania, this expanded resource library helps nonprofits make quicker work of meeting today’s unprecedented moments and tackling everyday challenges. This library offers sought-after sample documents, checklists, guide sheets, risk assessment tools, and many other resources designed specifically for meeting the legal needs of Pennsylvania nonprofits (though organizations in other jurisdictions will likely find these useful as well).
Some resources in this library are provided at no cost; others are available for reasonable fees. Revenue generated from sales helps fund the production of more content for this library.
Please note that these resources are for informational purposes only. They are meant to accelerate and elevate the legal work of nonprofits but are no legitimate substitute for legal advice and the benefits of conferring and working with a lawyer to tailor documents specifically for your organization’s situation. To responsibly address your nonprofit organization’s legal matters, be as proactive as you can (build systems, issue spot, and always seek the advice of an experienced nonprofit lawyer).
Check back frequently for new arrivals as we’re often adding new content, and please let us know what other legal resources you would like to see!
On the IRS Form 990, the IRS asks tax-exempt organizations if they have a written whistleblower policy, and it’s a red flag when organizations can’t answer this question in the affirmative. This time-saving template helps organizations meet the legal requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and provides a roadmap for handling any whistleblower complaints if they arise.
Quality bylaws that reflect contemporary best practices help keep nonprofit organizations healthy. This is our basic tried-and-true template, which provides a great start for non-member organizations (i.e., organizations that just have board members and do not have voting members in addition to board members). This template works for organizations that are either adopting bylaws for the first time or want a template to work from to amend and restate their existing bylaws.
This version provides for a self-perpetuating board of directors (i.e., a board of directors that elects successor board members). It also includes a cover note about special considerations, calling out provisions that organizations may want to pay closer attention to or tailor to their needs.
Quality bylaws that reflect contemporary best practices help keep nonprofit organizations healthy. This is our basic tried-and-true template, which provides a great start for most startup organizations that have two founders. (See our sample Bylaws — One Founder as the Sole Member if the organization has only one founder.)
Quality bylaws that reflect contemporary best practices help keep nonprofit organizations healthy. This is our basic tried-and-true template, which provides a great start for most startup organizations that have a single founder. (See our sample Bylaws — Two Founders as the Only Members if the organization has two founders.)
Use this template to document the initial actions of the incorporator of your new nonprofit. It’s a document used to formally appoint the initial board members of the organization. (See also our Unanimous Written Consent by the Board — Startup Matters, used by an initial board of directors for taking other official corporate action as part of the startup process.)
Use this template language to meet the legal notice requirements for advertising the existence of your new nonprofit corporation in Pennsylvania.
This template is designed to help Pennsylvania nonprofit startups that want to obtain 501(c)(3) status avoid one of the most common mistakes during the formation process. This document contains IRS-required language along with other provisions to help protect your organization. To help you save time and money, this version is annotated with explanations and finer points for your consideration and for your discussion with your organization’s legal counsel.
This template is for a nonprofit organization that is named after a living individual who is agreeing to license his/her/their name and likeness for use by the organization for its identity and branding materials. This sample agreement contemplates that the individual licensor is the founder and sole Member of a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation.
Get a grip on membership to protect your organization from turmoil and takeovers. This guide sheet helps founders and leaders understand the role of members in the governance structures of Pennsylvania nonprofit corporations. Packed with information presented in easy-to-understand language, this 2-page resource contains a visual representation to help explain the concept of membership, lists the fundamental rights of voting members in Pennsylvania nonprofit corporations (with helpful legal citations to the applicable statutory provisions), and addresses commonly asked questions about member liability.
If you are not careful when selecting a name, you can stumble into some serious startup trouble and cost your organization some woes early on. Organizations changing names and going through a rebranding process can suffer the same fate. Download our legal checklist for choosing a name for a list of steps to take and things to think through when choosing a name for your nonprofit. This guide sheet is also a helpful resource when it comes to naming and branding your nonprofit organization’s programs.