Who owns a nonprofit?
No one.
A major misconception about nonprofit organizations concerns ownership of a nonprofit. No one person or group of people own a nonprofit organization.
Ownership is the major difference between a for-profit business and a nonprofit organization. For-profit businesses can be privately owned and can distribute earnings to employees or shareholders. But nonprofit organizations do not issue stock or pay dividends. And while nonprofit organizations earn revenue, that revenue is usually reinvested in the nonprofit organization — possibly to benefit or expand programs according to the charitable mission. But that income is not distributed to persons.
Please note that each state has its own rules and regulations regarding nonprofit management and you should seek counsel in your own state on this matter.
If there is no owner, who manages and controls a nonprofit?
Once incorporated, the newly created nonprofit organization is a separate legal entity from its founders, incorporators, directors, officers, and employees. The nonprofit corporation generally owns assets of the business and is entitled to receive the revenue from its operation.
Many nonprofits are managed by boards, others may be managed by voting members, some are managed by a combination of those. This is a state-specific concept, and you should check with your state on management issues. Many times, when a nonprofit organization first begins operating, the board members, along with the founder(s), may perform many of the tasks of the organization. As the organization grows, the board may begin hiring staff members to develop and lead programs as the board and/or voting members continue to oversee the organization.
But none of these individuals or groups have any ownership rights in the organization.
And while they don’t own the nonprofit, they do have significant legal and ethical duties that cannot be delegated to others. Learn more about directors’ duties.
What about the founder? Doesn’t the founder of a nonprofit own it?
No. The founder usually does not own the nonprofit organization. The founder does not control the nonprofit organization.
Certainly, starting a nonprofit organization takes considerable time, effort, and money. The founder may feel closer to the mission and the programs than anyone else, but the founder usually does not have any ownership rights in the nonprofit.
Often times the founder will serve on the initial board of directors, which manages the nonprofit. The board safeguards the public’s interest to ensure that the organization operates in accordance with its mission and the purpose for which it was granted tax-exempt status and protects the assets of the nonprofit.
If the founder is a member of the board of directors, a founder usually has the same responsibilities as other board members. While a founder may feel closer to the organization that they helped to form, they usually has no ownership rights regarding the nonprofit corporation.
Again, each state sets out the duties of boards of directors. You should check with your state laws regarding this.
To whom is the the nonprofit accountable?
The organization is accountable to many constituencies.
- The General Public. Most nonprofits are created to provide a charitable purpose to the public good, whether as charities, educational programs, churches or religious groups, or scientific or artistic organizations. Of course, there are other types of organizations that must be considered (professional associations, trade groups, others).
- State Agencies. Nonprofits must also comply with certain regulations in the states in which they operate. These may also require public disclosure of specific documents or the filing of certain reports.
- The IRS. Certain tax-exempt entities follow rules set by the IRS to keep their tax-exempt status.
Can a nonprofit be sold?
Generally, a nonprofit cannot be sold to another individual or organization. Each state has particular rules regarding sale of assets of a charitable organization and you should check with your state.
Additionally, the assets acquired by a nonprofit usually were acquired with the understanding that they will be used to further the mission of that organization. If a nonprofit decides to cease operations, usually the organization must settle all debts and distribute all of the nonprofit’s remaining assets to another nonprofit corporation before it can be dissolved or get specific permission from that state’s charitable division.
Learn More
Please note that some states do allow nonprofit corporations to issue stock and own stocks. This is not discussed above. Contact us for state-specific inquiries about who owns a nonprofit.
Cullinane Law Group: Can the Executive Director Serve on the Board?
Cullinane Law Group: What are the Duties of Nonprofit Directors?
Cullinane Law Group: Nonprofit Corporation Vs. 501(c)(3) Organization
The Cullinane Law Group works exclusively with the nonprofit tax-exempt sector: new nonprofits, foundations, and business associations throughout the United States who seek to create positive change.
