Does your non-profit describe each member class and define its rights in its bylaws?
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Classes are groups of members that have different sets of rights. For example, some non-profits have voting and non-voting classes of members.
If you aren’t sure whether your non-profit has member classes, check its bylaws. If a non-profit has more than one class of members, it is required to describe the class and list its respective rights in the bylaws.
Note that this does not refer to different categories of members (e.g. family and individual memberships; gold and silver memberships) unless there are different rights associated with that category.
Does your non-profit know when a membership starts and ends?
By checking its bylaws.
Does your non-profit have different classes of members?
Classes are groups of members that have different sets of rights. For example, some non-profits have voting and non-voting classes of members.
If you aren’t sure whether your non-profit has member classes, check its bylaws. If a non-profit has more than one class of members, it is required to describe the class and list its respective rights in the bylaws.
Note that this does not refer to different categories of members (e.g. family and individual memberships; gold and silver memberships) unless there are different rights associated with that category.
Does your non-profit have a membership policy?
Some of the risks of not having a membership policy are that it might be confusing who is a member and for how long the membership will last. Your non-profit's bylaws should state how long the membership will last. Ideally membership is on an annual basis.
Are people who want to join your non-profit required to apply to become members?
Many non-profits have bylaws that require the board to have the final say on whether an individual can join. However, many non-profits have gotten out of the habit of taking this important step.
Having a membership policy is a good idea (we will ask you about your membership policy in the next question). It’s a good idea to have any prospective members apply using a form. This will help your non-profit to keep track of the number of members.
Does your non-profit know who its members are?
Members of a non-profit are most often defined in its bylaws. They might also be described in its constitution. Your non-profit's bylaws might use a word other than member such as supporter or congregants.
Members are the people to whom the organization is ultimately accountable (i.e. they elect the directors and have a right to attend members’ meetings), or in the case of non-voting members still retain the right to come to members' meetings and otherwise participate in the non-profit.