Next, the board members. The organization would be wise to directly approach a business leader in the community, someone with a charitable reputation who has the time and inclination to participate. Also, a business owner in the eyeglasses field would be perfect for a second board member. Group members can also be considered. Once the new three-member board has its first meeting, the articles of incorporation and bylaws can be worked out. The articles of incorporation are not difficult (viewing other nonprofits' articles can lead the way to preparing EP's articles), and bylaws can be paraphrased from other nonprofits' bylaws, and edited to specifically address EP's mission statement.

A nonprofit attorney must be brought into the meeting to review the bylaws, to help complete the tax-exempt status paperwork, and to oversee the preliminary steps that EP needs to take to become bona fide nonprofit. Once the articles of incorporation have...
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