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Difference between revisions of "Draft a Non-Profit Constitution (Societies Act FAQs)"
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Draft a Non-Profit Constitution (Societies Act FAQs) (view source)
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{{Societies Act FAQs TOC}} | {{Societies Act FAQs TOC}} | ||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society]] (PLEO) in January 2024}} | |||
==Constitution== | ==Constitution== | ||
===What is a constitution?=== | ===What is a constitution?=== | ||
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Yes. The non-profit can change the constitution by passing a special resolution at a meeting of members, such as an AGM or SGM. Once members have passed a special resolution, the non-profit must file a constitution amendment application through BC Societies Online. | Yes. The non-profit can change the constitution by passing a special resolution at a meeting of members, such as an AGM or SGM. Once members have passed a special resolution, the non-profit must file a constitution amendment application through BC Societies Online. | ||
Exception: if the non-profit was incorporated before the new ''Societies Act'' took effect on November | ''Exception: if the non-profit was incorporated before the new ''Societies Act'' took effect on 28 November 2016 and has not yet transitioned, special rules apply when those non-profits transition to the new Act. See the [[Transition (Societies Act FAQs)|transition appendix]] for more information.'' | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
===What can the non-profit be named?=== | ===What can the non-profit be named?=== | ||
The name of the non-profit that is in the constitution must be one that was approved by the registrar. For more information on non-profit names, see the Name | The name of the non-profit that is in the constitution must be one that was approved by the registrar. For more information on non-profit names, see the [[Choose a Non-Profit Name (Societies Act FAQs)|Choose a Name]] section. | ||
==Purposes== | ==Purposes== | ||
===What purposes are allowed?=== | ===What purposes are allowed?=== | ||
The purposes of the non-profit determine what actions the non-profit can undertake | The purposes of the non-profit determine what actions the non-profit can undertake and can include agricultural, artistic, benevolent, charitable, educational, environmental, patriotic, philanthropic, political, professional, recreational, religious, scientific, social or sporting purposes. Examples include a theatre company, a curling club, a daycare, and a youth treatment centre. Note that not all permitted non-profit purposes are charitable, which could cause issues if in the future the non-profit wishes to become a registered charity. For more on charitable purposes, see the [https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/charities.html CRA Charities Directorate website]. | ||
===What purposes are not permitted?=== | ===What purposes are not permitted?=== | ||
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==(Optional) Member Funded Society Clause== | ==(Optional) Member Funded Society Clause== | ||
Despite the rule that only permits the name and purposes in the non-profit's constitution, if a non-profit wishes to be a member funded society, the constitution must include a clause to that effect. | |||
However, member funded society status is a unique status that must be considered very carefully. For more information, see the [[Member-Funded Societies (Societies Act FAQs)|Member-Funded Societies]] page. | |||
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{{Societies Act FAQs NavBox}} | {{Societies Act FAQs NavBox}} | ||
