Massachusetts Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation
Nonprofit articles of incorporation is the document filed to create a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation.
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your nonprofit corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the nonprofit. Only after this approval can you apply for 501c, apply for fundraising licenses, open a bank account, and otherwise conduct business.
Benefits
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your organization's name
- Is a prerequisite for applying for 501(c) tax exemption
- Provides governance and adds credibility to the business or organization
Fast Facts
| Agency: | Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth - Corporations Division |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail, fax, in-person, or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $35 by mail and $41 if filing online or by fax. |
| Turnaround: | ~2-3 business days |
| Law: |
Other Helpful Massachusetts Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Massachusetts, keep in mind:
Massachusetts Directors
- Number: minimum 1
- Qualifications: Natural persons. No residency requirement. No membership requirement.
- Term: minimum 1 year, maximum 5 years
- Quorum: majority
- Committee: minimum 1 director
Massachusetts Officers
- A president, a treasurer, and a clerk are required.
- The clerk must be a Massachusetts resident unless a resident agent was appointed.
Massachusetts Members
- Members: If there are no members then the directors are members.
- Quorum: majority of entitled votes
