Certificate Of Formation-Nonprofit Corporation {202}

Form 202--General Information (Certificate of Formation ­ Nonprofit Corporation) The attached form is drafted to meet minimal statutory filing requirements pursuant to the relevant code provisions. This form and the information provided are not substitutes for the advice and services of an attorney and tax specialist. Commentary A nonprofit corporation is governed by titles 1 and 2 of the Texas Business Organizations Code (BOC). Title 1, chapter 3, subchapter A, of the BOC governs the formation of a nonprofit corporation and sets forth the provisions required or permitted to be contained in the certificate of formation. Nonprofit corporations may be incorporated for any lawful purpose. Corporations formed for the purpose of operating a nonprofit institution, including an institution devoted to a charitable, benevolent, religious, patriotic, civic, cultural, missionary, education, scientific, social, fraternal, athletic, or aesthetic purpose, may be formed and governed only as a nonprofit corporation under the BOC and not as a for-profit corporation. In a nonprofit corporation, no part of the income of the corporation may be distributed to a member, director or officer of the corporation. Please note that this form cannot be used to form a corporation authorized by or under a special state statute, such as a water supply corporation, a cemetery corporation or an industrial development corporation. Taxes: Nonprofit corporations are subject to a state franchise tax and federal income taxes unless an exemption from those taxes is granted. For franchise tax information visit the web site of the Comptroller of Public Accounts at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/franchise/index.html. For information on state tax exemption, including applications and publications, visit the Comptroller's Exempt Organizations web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/exempt/index.html or call (800) 2525555. For information relating to federal income tax filing requirements, exemptions, federal employer identification numbers, tax publications and forms call (800) 829-3676 or visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) web site at www.irs.gov. This form does not include any additional statements or provisions that the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts or the IRS may require as a condition to granting a tax-exempt status. Please refer to IRS publication 557, "Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization," and Comptroller publication 96-1045, "Guidelines to Texas Tax Exemptions," for further information before completing this form. Instructions for Form Article 1--Entity Name and Type: Provide a corporate name. An organizational designation may be used, but is not required. Under section 5.053 of the BOC, if the name chosen is the same as, deceptively similar to, or similar to the name of any existing domestic or foreign filing entity, or any name reservation or registration filed with the secretary of state, the document cannot be filed. The administrative rules adopted for determining entity name availability (Texas Administrative Code, title 1, part 4, chapter 79, subchapter C) may be viewed at www.sos.state.tx.us/tac/index.shtml. If you wish the secretary of state to provide a preliminary determination on name availability, you may call (512) 463-5555, dial 7-1-1 for relay services, or e-mail your name inquiry to corpinfo@sos.state.tx.us. A final determination cannot be made until the document is received and processed by the secretary of state. Do not make financial expenditures or execute documents based 1 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Form 202 on a preliminary clearance. Also note that the preclearance of a name or the issuance of a certificate of formation under a name does not authorize the use of a name in violation of another person's rights to the name. Article 2--Registered Agent and Registered Office: The registered agent can be either (option A) a domestic entity or a foreign entity that is registered to do business in Texas or (option B) an individual resident of the state. The corporation cannot act as its own registered agent; do not enter the corporate name as the name of the registered agent. Consent: Effective January 1, 2010, a person designated as the registered agent of an entity must have consented, either in a written or electronic form, to serve as the registered agent of the entity. Although consent is required, a copy of the person's written or electronic consent need not be submitted with the certificate of formation. The liabilities and penalties imposed by sections 4.007 and 4.008 of the BOC apply with respect to a false statement in a filing instrument that names a person as the registered agent of an entity without that person's consent. (BOC § 5.207) Office Address Requirements: The registered office address must be located at a street address where service of process may be personally served on the entity's registered agent during normal business hours. Although the registered office is not required to be the entity's principal place of business, the registered office may not be solely a mailbox service or telephone answering service (BOC § 5.201). Article 3--Management: Except as provided by section 22.202 of the BOC, the affairs of a nonprofit corporation are governed by a board of directors. Board of Directors: The board of directors may be designated by any name appropriate to the customs, usages, or tenets of the corporation. If managed by a board of directors, three directors are required. A director must be a natural person; there are no residency requirements for directors. Set forth the name of the individual in the format specified. Do not use prefixes (e.g., Mr., Mrs., Ms.). Use the suffix box only for titles of lineage (e.g., Jr., Sr., III) and not for other suffixes or titles (e.g., M.D., Ph.D.). Please note that a document on file with the secretary of state is a public record that is subject to public access and disclosure. When providing address information for directors, use a business or post office box address rather than a residence address if privacy concerns are an issue. Managed by Members: A nonprofit corporation is considered to have vested the management of the corporation in the board of directors unless otherwise provided in the certificate of formation. This certificate of formation also may be used to create a nonprofit corporation that is managed solely by its members. If management of the corporation is to be vested in the nonpr