Organizational Development: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At Maryland Nonprofits, we're asked a lot of different questions about a lot of different things. From nonprofit management, to finance, to board governance, to fundraising, we've spent time researching the answers to many of your questions. We are now giving you an opportunity to find the answers to some of our more frequently asked questions on our website.

We have also dedicated a frequently asked questions section for our members. To view these FAQs, click here.

How many nonprofits are there in Maryland?

According to Maryland Nonprofits, there are approximately 20,777 nonprofits in Maryland. 17,341 of these are 501(c)(3) organizations (including Maryland Nonprofits) 2,127 are 501(c) 4 organizations (advocacy organizations i.e. Healthcare For all Coalition) and 1,309 are 501(c) 6 organizations (Trade Associations - organized for the good of their members i.e. Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics). There are about 75 new nonprofits formed each month in Maryland.

Nonprofits by the Numbers shows the breakdown of nonprofits in Maryland by county.

What are bylaws and why are they important?

Bylaws are the internal, written rules that govern your nonprofit corporation. They follow from the articles of incorporation and are subordinate to them. Because they can be more readily revised, bylaws are more detailed and deal with more specific issues. (For more information on charters and bylaws of nonprofit corporations in Maryland, see Subtitle 2. Nonstock Corporations of Title 5 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.)

Bylaws perform at least three functions: they determine how an organization is structured, they determine the rights of participants in the structure, and they determine the procedures by which rights can be exercised. To create bylaws, you can either follow the instructions in a self-help resource or hire a lawyer in your state to draft them for you. Typically, the bylaws are adopted by the corporation's directors at their first board meeting.

Sources for Model Bylaws can be found on the internet and in the Maryland Nonprofit's library as well. Here is a list of resources on the topic in our library:

Hummel, Joan. Starting and Running a Nonprofit Organization. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 1996.
Mancuso, Anthony. How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in All 50 States. 4th ed. Berkeley, CA: Nolo Press, 1997.
Nonprofit Corporation Forms Handbook. St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1998-2001.
Standards for Excellence: Board Composition. Baltimore, MD: Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, 2000.

Starting a Nonprofit Organization. Baltimore, MD: Community Law Center, 1999.