Section I -- Organizational Requirements

What does it mean to be "incorporated?"
Why is being incorporated important for councils?
How do I have my council incorporated?
How do we obtain 501(c)(3) designation (tax-exempt status)?
What guidelines should I follow to be sure my council operates efficiently?
What type of information should be included in my council's bylaws?
Sample bylaws

I have just been elected president -- now what?
What can I do to become a more effective leader?
What are common responsibilities and duties of council officers?
What records should council maintain? Who keeps them? Where? For how long?
How do I run a meeting?
How can I reduce the possibility of conflict during my meetings?
Can I be an effective leader? What are my strengths? Weaknesses? (A worksheet)

How many and what types of businesses are located in my neighborhood?
How many and what types of schools, religious institutions, and social services agencies are here?
What types of services or charitable activities do they provide to area residents?
What do the residents of my neighborhood look like?
What do they want and need?
Who among them are potential council members and/or volunteers?
How do we organize groups in my neighborhood?
What are some points we should know before going door-to-door?
What are Block watch groups? How are they formed?

Section 4 -- Government Relations and Other Partnerships

This section includes a community-produced directory of important neighborhood contacts and resources, as well as a brochure and booklet listing key information about county and state departments and county-wide elected representatives. Also included is a segment devoted to special programs sponsored by the City of Cincinnati.

Section 5 -- Grants and Grant Writing

What is the Grants Resource Center?
How do I get started writing a grant proposal?
How do I determine who to ask for funds?
What are some do's and don'ts of grant writing?
What is an RFP? How do I use it to prepare my proposal?
What are my responsibilities if I get funded?
Who can apply for an Invest Merit Grant?

Leadership Manual

Organizational Requirements

To be officially recognized by the City of Cincinnati as a community council and to participate in programs administered by the city and Invest in Neighborhoods, a neighborhood organization must be incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Ohio. Further, a community council must have bylaws stating, among other things, the purpose and mission of the organization. And, ideally, the organization should be designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable entity.

INCORPORATION

In accordance with Ohio Revised Code § 1702, the organization shall file with the Secretary of State, 30 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43266-0418. The Articles of Incorporation shall include:
1) Name
2) Location of principal office
3) Purpose
4) Names and addresses of at least three individuals as initial trustees

A filing fee of $125.00 must be submitted with application.

Every five years, the organization must file a statement of continuing existence with the Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.00. See "Instructions for Completing Statement of Continued Existence" for complete information on these filings (last page, this section).

TAX DESIGNATION

To qualify for grants from many foundations and corporations and to grant deductions for individual contributions, an organization must have a 501(c)(3) charitable tax exemption from the IRS. Obtain IRS Form 1023 for application.

To qualify, the organization must be organized and operate exclusively for one or more charitable purposes, included in which are social welfare activities designed to:
1) lessen neighborhood tensions
2) eliminate prejudice and discrimination
3) defend human and civil rights secured by law
4) combat community deterioration and juvenile delinquencies

IRS review of applications typically takes three to six months, and their examination is quite rigorous. It is highly recommended that the services of an attorney experienced in such filings be retained to prepare the application.

Organizations are required to submit annual informational returns (Form 990, Form 990EZ, Form 990 Schedule A) unless annual gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less (three-year average).

BYLAWS

As required by Ohio corporate law, each organization must have bylaws or a code of regulations governing the conduct of the affairs and management of property of the corporation. Standard provisions include:
1) Members - qualifications, rights, dues, meetings, elections and voting quorum
2) Trustees - meetings, elections, qualifications, voting quorum, term of office
3) Officers - election, term, duties
4) Committees
5) Indemnification of trustees, officers, employees and volunteers
6) Amendment, revocation, or restatement of regulations

The City of Cincinnati also requires a statement of the geographic area served and a clause disavowing discrimination in employment or membership based on race, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual or affectation preference.
See a sample of bylaws.

SURETY BONDING

For all organizations receiving monies from the City of Cincinnati, all officers and employees with fiduciary responsibilities must be covered by surety insurance. Currently, such insurance is provided for all recognized community councils by Invest in Neighborhoods under provisions of its contract with the city for administration of the Neighborhood Support Program.

Surety Bonding Defined
Surety bonds are three-party instruments by which one party (the surety) guarantees or promises a second party (the obligee) the successful performance of a third party (the principal). A surety bond is an agreement in writing that usually provides for monetary compensation should there be a failure to perform specified acts within a stated period.