Membership in a non-profit is decided by the directors. The directors of a non-profit can accept or deny memberships for any or no reason, subject to the non-profit’s bylaws. The law does require directors be 18 or older unless the bylaws state otherwise. Once a person is a member, there is a process that must be followed to remove that person as a member.

Financial statements and accounting records are two different types of records.  Accounting records is a term that covers the general register where all transactions are recorded as well as things like bank statements, credit card receipts, and invoices.  Non-profits generate financial statements from the accounting records. Financial statements provide a broad overview of a non-profit’s financial position. The statement includes a balance sheet and a statement of revenues and expenditures.

A complete set of minutes lists the date, time, location, members in attendance, and purpose/type of meeting. The minutes are intended to reflect the decisions taken at the meeting not to be a verbatim record of all of what was said.  should also include the name of the chair at the meeting, movers and seconders of motions (if required), and specific outcomes of votes e.g., whether resolution was passed or defeated.

No. To apply for incorporation, a non-profit must provide the names and contact information of at least three directors. At least one of the directors must live in BC.

The minimum qualifications for directors are they must be at least 18 years of age; must not be incapable of managing their own affairs; must not be an undischarged bankrupt; and cannot have been convicted of an offence in connection with promotion, formation or management of a corporation or unincorporated entity, or of an offence involving fraud.

These requirements are not exhaustive, and the bylaws of a non-profit may set out more requirements. If a director ceases to be qualified, the director must resign promptly.

The Societies Act requires all BC non-profits keep what are called “official records” and to make some or all of these records available to directors, members of the society, and members of the public. Non-profits also keep many kinds of documents and records that are not “official records”. These FAQs are about official records.

The Societies Act requires a non-profit to keep a register of members' names along with one piece of contact information provided by the member. This is called the membership register. The register is not  a member directory or contact list, it is an official record.