Talk:Getting Your Own Free Geek Started

Here's a loose list of documents needed. . ..

Memorandum of Intention, a legal document that allows you a tax-deduction for the fees you pay us and the state and federal governments for incorporation and 501(c)(3) application.

5 required legal documents for your organization, carefully prepared by our Harvard lawyer. Only a lawyer should prepare legal documents.

* Articles of Incorporation (may be called Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Articles of Agreement, Articles of Association or Charter in your state). If you are already incorporated, save $300.

* Bylaws (Click to see), which we've honed and polished for 25 years—one of your most important documents. You need them to be clear, consistent and unambiguous (especially if there should ever be internal dissension). Ours are. Use your own Bylaws if you prefer.

* Appointment of Initial Directors-Trustees, to get your new directors appointed.

* Action of Board of Directors-Trustees (or Unanimous Written Consent of Directors/ Trustees), adopting Bylaws, voting in officers, confirming the agent for service of process, etc.

* Certificate of Secretary re Adoption of Bylaws (Click to see)

* Conflict of Interest Policy, a corporate resolution adopting the conflict of interest policy that is recommended by the IRS.

* For schools, a corporate resolution for the required Racially Nondiscriminatory Policy.

10 More Legal Documents you will find most useful for your organization. (These sample documents are easy-editable MS Word documents which you can use in the coming years.)

* Unanimous Written Consent of Directors (for Corporate Resolutions). This is the easiest way to get things done if you don't want to wait until your Annual Meeting of Board of Directors and don't wish to call a Special Meeting of Board of Directors (maybe it's not convenient for your directors to get together). A corporate resolution is especially useful for amendments to Articles or Bylaws and to replace a director or officer.

* Resignation of Director or Officer. This form can be used if a director or officer resigns.

* Unanimous Written Consent of Directors to Set Time and Date for Annual Meeting of Board of Directors. If we prepare your Bylaws, the time and date will not be set so you can change the time and date without amending your Bylaws. (You must notify the IRS when you amend your Bylaws.) It is a good idea to set the time and date by using this form.

* Unanimous Written Consent of Directors to Change Location of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors. If we prepare your Bylaws, they state that the Annual Meeting of Board of Directors will be held at the principal office of the corporation. You may state a different location if you prefer by corporate resolution or if it is a one-time change, with the Waiver of Notice and Consent to Holding of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors.

* Unanimous Written Consent of Directors to Establish End of Annual Accounting Period. If we prepare your Bylaws, we will establish the end of your Annual Accounting Period. If you want to change this date, or if you use your own Bylaws and they don't establish the end of your annual accounting period, you can use this form.

* Waiver of Notice and Consent to Holding of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors. All directors should sign the Waiver of Notice and Consent to Holding of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors to avoid a challenge to the legality of the meeting or any action taken at the meeting. This is especially important if not all directors can make it to the meeting.

* Minutes of Annual Meeting of Board of Directors. These are absolutely necessary. With our Bylaws, you can have your Annual Meeting of Board of Directors by telephone, as long as everyone at the meeting can hear each other.

* Waiver of Notice and Consent for Special Meeting of Board of Directors. All directors should sign the Waiver of Notice and Consent to Holding of Special Meeting of Board of Directors to avoid a challenge to the legality of the meeting or any action taken at the meeting. This is especially important if not all directors can make it to the meeting.

* Minutes of Special Meeting of Board of Directors. These are absolutely necessary. With our Bylaws, you can have your Annual Meeting of Board of Directors by telephone, as long as everyone in the meeting can hear everyone else.

Quite a package! All tailor-made for you (nothing packaged out of a box).

And our documents are not only excellent documents from a legal standpoint (most important), but we have taken the extra effort to make them look good for you, too!

All your 501(c)(3) documents. You won't see them until it's time to date and sign.

* Form 1023

* Schedules as needed: * Schedule A Churches * Schedule B Schools, Colleges and Universities * Schedule C Hospitals and Medical Research Organizations * Schedule D 509(a)(3) Supporting Organizations * Schedule E Organizations Not Filing Form 1023 Within 27 Months of Formation * Schedule F Homes for the Elderly or Handicapped and Low-Income Housing n   * Schedule G Successors to Other Organizations * Schedule H Organizations Providing Scholarships, Fellowships, Educational Loans, or Other Educational Grants to Individuals and Private Foundations Requesting Advance Approval of Individual Grant Procedures