How Many Directors are Needed on a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Board?

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We are often asked how many directors a nonprofit needs. The answer really depends on a variety of factors including where the nonprofit was incorporated, whether the nonprofit is a 501(c)(3) or other 501(c) organization, what kind of 501(c)(3) the nonprofit will be, and the identities of the directors. This blog post will answer many of the frequently asked questions about the composition of nonprofit and 501(c)(3) boards of directors.

Wait! Are nonprofits and 501(c)(3)s different things?

Yes. In the United States, “nonprofit” simply refers to an organization that has a purpose other than pursuing private profit, while 501(c)(3)s are organizations that are exempt from taxation because they are organized for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary (plus a few other) purposes. All 501(c)(3)s are nonprofits, but not all nonprofits are 501(c)(3)s. A nonprofit is incorporated under State law, while recognition of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is done at the federal level by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Frequently asked questions about the number and composition of a 501(c)(3) or nonprofit board of directors:

  1. How many directors must a nonprofit have?
  2. Must we have a minimum of three directors for our nonprofit in New York?
  3. Does a nonprofit board include the Chairman, President, Secretary, Executive Director or CEO?
  4. How many directors does a 501(c)(3) board need?
  5. Can my sister, father, niece or other family member be a director in our nonprofit?
  6. Can my business partner or employee be a director in our nonprofit?
  7. Can our nonprofit pay its directors?
  8. How can a founder of a nonprofit maintain control of its board of directors?

How many directors must a nonprofit have?

The number of directors required for a nonprofit corporation depends on the corporate law of the state where the nonprofit was incorporated. For example, in New York, the minimum number is three, while in Delaware, the minimum number is one.

Must I have three directors on my board to run my nonprofit in New York?

No. It depends on whether the nonprofit is a New York not-for-profit corporation. A nonprofit incorporated in another state would be subject to the minimum director requirements of that other state, even if it was operating in New York. So if the nonprofit was incorporated as a Delaware nonstock nonprofit corporation, the minimum directors required would still be the one required by Delaware law and not the three required by New York law, even if the nonprofit has no operations in Delaware and all its operations in New York.

The above being said, if a nonprofit wants to be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, the nonprofit would need to meet IRS director requirements, regardless of where the nonprofit was incorporated.

Does a nonprofit board include the chairman, president, secretary, executive director or CEO?

A nonprofit board may, but is not required to, include officers. This is a point of confusion for many. Directors are simply directors. The official title of a member of the board is “director.” “President,” “secretary,” “chief world changer,” etc., even “executive director,” all refer to “officers.” Officers can, but need not be directors of a nonprofit. In practice, it makes sense for the officer who chairs board meetings (usually the president or chairman) and the officer taking the board meeting minutes (usually the secretary) to also wear the second hat of “director.”

Depending on the corporate law of the state where the nonprofit was incorporated, one person can hold multiple officer positions. In New York, for example, the officer responsible for chairing board meetings and the officer responsible for taking meeting minutes must be different persons, but either can hold multiple other offices like treasurer, Executive Director or CEO; and none of them legally need to also be a director.

How many directors does a 501(c)(3) board need?

There is no legally mandated number of directors needed for a 501(c)(3) board. Based on rulings made by the IRS, it seems that the IRS very strongly suggests that a 501(c)(3) board consist of at least three directors.

The core concern of the IRS is actually control by private interests. A 501(c)(3) is prohibited from providing undue benefits to private individuals, and from allowing its assets to inure to the benefit of private persons. This is IRS speak to address worries that (1) the private benefit of a nonprofit activity will outweigh public benefit; and (2) directors, officers and other “insiders” of the nonprofit receive financial benefits from the nonprofit that outweighs the benefits they provide to the nonprofit. Keeping these concerns in mind, the IRS will examine the composition of a 501(c)(3) board to see if it is controlled by one person, one family or one business. If so, the IRS could be inclined to strongly insist on board membership changes, stonewall the process by requiring the nonprofit to submit responses a multitude of inquiries, or find a rationale to outright deny 501(c)(3) recognition on grounds of substantial risk of private benefit or private inurement.

Additionally, within the IRS toolbox is Form 14114, which the IRS uses in the examination of 501(c)(3)s. Form 14114 provides a relatively clear roadmap of what the IRS considers good governance. The data suggests that board control by one person, one family or one business will lead to increased audit risks.

Can my sister, father, niece or other family member be a director in our nonprofit?

Yes, multiple relatives can serve as directors on a nonprofit board. However, if the nonprofit wishes to decrease the risk of audit, those relatives should make up only a minority of the board. This means that if two family members are directors of a nonprofit, ideally a minimum of three unrelated directors should also be on the board (a minimum of five directors in total).

The niece is a special situation. The IRS has definitions to determine who is and is not considered a “family member,” with respect to board composition. As of the time of this article, nieces, nephews and cousins, and certain others, are not considered “family members.”

Can my business partner or employee be a director in our nonprofit?

Yes, persons in a business relationship can serve as directors on a nonprofit board. However, if the nonprofit wishes to avoid IRS pushback in being recognized as a 501(c)(3), and if the nonprofit wishes to decrease the risk of audit, similar considerations apply as to directors that are in a familial relationship. Specifically, directors in a business relationship should only make up a minority of the board. Thus, if two directors are related by business, at least three should not be related (a minimum of five directors in total).

As with family relationships, the IRS has defined what is and what is not considered a business relationship, so what someone thinks is a business relationship may not be what the IRS thinks is a business relationship for board composition purposes.

Can our nonprofit pay its directors?

Yes, while most directors of a vast majority of 501(c)(3) nonprofits serve on a voluntary basis, nonprofit directors can be compensated. However, paying a director, whether for his or her services as a director, officer, employee, independent contractor, or supplier of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit can create additional complexity.

Given IRS concerns regarding private benefit and inurement, the IRS worries that compensated directors will look out for each other at the expense of the public interest. While there are several ways to assuage these worries, the most straightforward way of doing so is by ensuring that a majority of directors on the board serve uncompensated. This means that if two directors are being compensated, whether as directors or otherwise, at least three should not be compensated (a minimum of of five directors in total).

Additionally, with respect to compensation of any insider of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, when compensating directors, it is important to make sure that “excess-benefit” and “self-dealing” rules are complied with, so as to avoid harsh punitive taxes and possible loss of 501(c)(3) status.

How can a founder of a nonprofit maintain control of its board of directors?

This is a very legitimate question, and one that is often asked by nonprofit founders. Nonprofit “hostile takeovers” have been attempted several times in the past, and it is reasonable for founders to want to prevent that from happening.

For a nonprofit that does not wish to be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c) tax-exempt entity, the answer is often simple: either have the founder as the only director on the board, or give the founder the sole right to choose and remove directors. However, for a nonprofit that seeks 501(c)(3) recognition, the answer is far more complicated. As discussed earlier regarding the composition of 501(c)(3) boards, the IRS has is concerned about nonprofits being controlled by one person, one family or one business. This equally extends to measures taken for a founder to maintain control over a nonprofit or its board of directors. Extensive control by a founder would likely cause delays in 501(c)(3) determination, add complexity to the application process through the need to submit additional documentation, or outright denial of 501(c)(3) recognition. Further, if the nonprofit bypasses these hurdles and gets its 501(c)(3) status recognized, it will face increased audit risks each year.

Nevertheless, for a nonprofit that seeks 501(c)(3) recognition, certain strategic measures can be taken to ensure that a founder’s vision endures. Reasonable controls, such as setting up something akin to a security council with veto powers, can be built into a nonprofit’s bylaws or constitution. These, of course, will need to be implemented in a careful, measured manner, to avoid the above mentioned issues.

This blog post is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, and should not be a substitute for legal advice. If you have questions or comments about the post, or would like to learn more about something in the post, please feel free to contact me.

Additionally, you may be interested in taking a look at my New York nonprofit law services.

34 thoughts on “How Many Directors are Needed on a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Board?”

  • kenneth j watkinson

    My wife and i are board menbers of a Rotary club.5013c,They tell me since we are married we can t both serve.I say its nonsense.
    • James Hsui

      From a legal perspective, there is no law prohibiting spouses from serving concurrently as board members in a nonprofit organization. However, an organization is free to establish its own board member requirements in its bylaws, which could include such a prohibition.
  • SC

    Thank you for the article it is very helpful. Since the IRS follows the "corporate law of the state". Would the IRS require a board of directors if I set up a member-managed nonprofit corporation in Texas? The Texas Business Organization Code Sec. 22.202 seems to indicate that nonprofit corporations in Texas can be managed by members and not have directors. I know other factors may come into play, but my wife and I would be the sole members and will not receive any compensation from the nonprofit. Would the IRS automatically reject the application if we only list ourselves as the President and Secretary, as permitted by Texas?
    • James Hsui

      The IRS doesn't require a nonprofit to specifically have "directors." It requires a nonprofit to have a "governing body," whatever it may be called. In the case of a member-managed nonprofit, the members are the "governing body." All other factors aside, the IRS wouldn't have a problem if you listed yourselves as "managing member" to indicate that you are part of the governing body, and "President" or "Secretary" to indicate that you are also officers with these respective titles.
  • Gandy Setiady

    I have 501c3, and I need help information what is the guidelines do and don\'t, and who is qualify to be a Board of directors, and is there any restrictions in terms of people
  • William Glasner

    Must a membership educational 501c3 chose its directors by a vote of the general membership or can a member volunteer to serve as a director and be chosen by acclamation of the current directors used certain defined criteria
    • James Hsui

      This depends entirely on the bylaws of the 501c3.
  • MB

    What is required in the state of NY to obtain a 501C3, specifically as it relates to trustees and the nomination process?
    • James Hsui

      501c3 is a federal status, and has nothing to do with NY law. NY requires nonprofit corporations to have a minimum of three directors or trustees.
  • Karen A

    Presently in our bylaws we have 5 trustees as our governing body and we would like to decrease it to 3, we are in Mass. 3 in the minimum amount required by the state. So it is my interpretation with reading your answers above that majority would have to vote for this change in the bylaws correct? we have a member that cannot physically complete her obligation due to an accident and 2 others that will be resigning. Are we able to make this amendment and then accept resignations and vote in new directors?
  • Cindia

    My initial board of directors for my NFP in Illinois includes 2 relatives and a non relative as filed in my Articles of Incorporation. However, I am adding 2 voting members to the board. Will this address the issue of not having a majority of relatives on the board?
  • Lana Snyman

    What are the rules about having non-US citizens on a USA non-profit Board of Directors?
    • James Hsui

      There are no general legal prohibitions against a non-US citizen serving on the board of directors of a USA nonprofit. However, non-US citizens living in the US must abide by their visa restrictions, which might prevent them from serving as a paid director. Additionally, certain identified persons, and citizens from certain identified countries, subject to international sanctions administered by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, might be blocked from a wide range of relationships with US entities, which may include serving on the board of directors of a USA nonprofit.
  • Dorinda M Metzger

    can a board of directors be dissolved in the state of Maryland or is it a legal requirement to have a Board of Directors in Maryland?
    • James Hsui

      A nonprofit incorporated anywhere in the United States must have a "governing body." The business, activities and affairs of a nonprofit must be managed by or under the direction of its governing body. This governing body can, but need not be, called a "board of directors." So while it is not a legal requirement to have a governing body specifically called the "board of directors," it is a legal requirement for there to be a governing body which has the same duties and obligations as a board of directors.
  • Omar Viera

    Can an H1B visa holder be a director?
    • James Hsui

      A H1B visa holder is allowed to volunteer in a nonprofit, so long as the volunteer position is not paid, does not involve duties that are normally carried out by paid persons, and there is no expectation of future compensation for the work. So under this basis, a H1B visa holder could serve as a volunteer nonprofit director.
  • Grace

    Hello James,We are a nonprofit in based in a foreign country and plan on starting a nonprofit in the US.Two out of four directors in the US office are employees of our foreign office.Are the two directors in a business relation?
    • James Hsui

      The definition of "business relationship" in the IRS form 990 instructions states that there is a business relationship between two persons when "The two persons are each a director, trustee, officer . . . in the same business or investment entity (but not in the same tax-exempt organization)."
    • Grace

      Thank you for your reply, James!So, if the directors have a business relationship in an international nonprofit(charity) then that doesn't mean they are necessarily considered a business relationship to the IRS, right?
    • James Hsui

      My pleasure, Grace. There is unfortunately no clear published guidance by the IRS on this. Based on a couple of IRS regulations, and one IRS ruling, the position of many nonprofit practitioners has been that a grant to a U.S. 501(c)(3) from a foreign entity that is equivalent to a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity, can be treated by the grant recipient in the same way as a grant from a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity (it is possible that the IRS might think differently, but so far they've not ruled otherwise in the past 40+ years). So following this same reasoning, the directors of a foreign charity that is equivalent to a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity could be treated the same as the directors of a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity.
  • Fred claus

    We recently had a couple of our board members pass away due to covid. Is it strictly the IRS that mandates the minimum number of directors or does NYS have a minimum as well? I'm just wondering if we need to replace them? We currently have three active directors but had five before the passings.
    • James Hsui

      New York nonprofits must have a minimum of three directors. That being said, if the bylaws requires more directors, then either more directors must be elected or the bylaws needs to be amended to reduce the number of directors.
  • Ivan S.

    I submitted a 1023-EZ form and only included 1 director/officer, thinking that the rest were optional. In my New York incorporation files, I list all 3 directors. Can the IRS reject my 1023-EZ on the grounds that I only included 1 director, as opposed to multiple?Thank you!
    • James Hsui

      The IRS will not reject an application on the grounds of having only 1 director. However, listing one director can increase the risk of further inquiries about an application, and the responses to those inquiries might lead to a rejection.
  • Denise Cooper

    Can a non U.S. citizen and non U.S. resident be a Board Member and CEO of a Michigan 501(c)(3) non profit?
    • James Hsui

      Yes, there are no legal prohibitions against a non-U.S. citizen or resident from serving as a board member or CEO of 501(c)(3) from a corporate law perspective. However, serving as a CEO might violate non-resident visa restrictions in certain circumstances as it may be considered unauthorized "work" in the US, although this would not be a problem if the CEO was not physically present in the US. Secondly, there are certain persons (and in some cases entire countries) that are blocked from engaging in transactions and other arrangements with US entities under international sanctions program administered by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control - these persons would be prohibited from serving as a board member or CEO of any US entity, unless an exception to the program applies or a license is available.
  • T. A. Niles

    Rating:5 stars
    Excellent, clear responses. Better than most I've read👍🏾
  • Grace

    Rating:5 stars
    Hello, some directors in our board are non us citizens and don't live in the us.Is it okay to write their international residential addresses in the IRS 1023 form?
    • James Hsui

      @Grace 1023 is a public document, which is why we don't recommend writing anyone's residential addresses, if at all possible. Usually, we suggest using the organization's address for the address of all directors. That being said, a Form 1023 won't be rejected just because the international residential address of a director was used.
  • Andrew Cao

    I am looking to form a nonprofit and seek 501c3 status. Can youth (under age of 18) serve as director and/or officer?
    • James Hsui

      Yes, but there may be a need to incorporate the nonprofit in a state other than the state where the nonprofit operates. The qualifications of directors and officers (including age requirements) are dependent on the law of the state where the nonprofit is incorporated, so if the state where the nonprofit will operate does not allow for minor (under 18) directors or officers, the solution is to incorporate in a state that does.
  • Lamont Twyne

    How can we better write up our By Laws and Rules for the Nonprofit Organization? Our mission is to help unemployed or unskilled residents in the community life skills, Reading , English , Math , computer literacy, financial management of their checking account, soft skills and communication, professionalism and customer service skills, workforce development and online job application.
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