The American Society of Corporate Secretaries, in collaboration with The American Bar Association Section of Business Law, have produced an excellent how-to-do-it guide to setting up and operating a nonprofit organization. Within that volume is a sample set of bylaws which includes commentary on the purpose of the various sections and suggested variations on wording. A single copy is about $80, but books is well worth the price, since every section has valuable information and sample documents.
The book is Nonprofit Governance: The Executive's Guide. It is available from:
American Bar Association
Publications Orders
P.O. Box 10892
Chicago, IL 60610-0892
TEL: 800-285-2221
FAX: 312-988-5568
Providing evidence of official nonprofit status often is a precondition to receiving funds from agencies and foundations. Nonprofit status requires formal application; there is a "trial period" leading to formal designation as a tax-exempt organization. Nonprofit Governance: The Executive's Guide provides tools for a coalition that aspires to become a nonprofit, and it describes the responsibilities associated with that status.
To get an example of bylaws that are closer to home - that is an example that fits a state mathematics and science coalitions — the best source is NASSMC's member coalitions. To get help with that, send us an email by clicking here.