7-128-101. Requirement for board of directors.
(1) Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, each nonprofit corporation shall have a board of directors.
(2) Subject to any provision set forth in the articles of incorporation,
all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the nonprofit corporation managed under the direction of, the board of directors or such other persons as the articles of
incorporation provide shall have the authority and perform the duties of a
board of directors. 7-128-102. Qualifications of directors.
A director shall be a natural person who is eighteen years of age or older. 7-128-103. Number of directors. (1) A board of directors shall consist of one or more directors, with the number specified in, or fixed in accordance with, the bylaws.
(2) The bylaws may establish, or permit the voting members or the board
of directors to establish, a range for the size of the board of directors by
fixing a minimum and maximum number of directors. 7-128-104. Election, appointment, and designation of directors.
(1) All directors except the initial directors shall be elected, appointed, or designated as provided in the bylaws. (2) The bylaws may authorize the election of all or a specified number or portion of directors, except the initial directors, by the members of one or more voting groups of voting members or by the directors of one or more authorized classes of directors. A class of voting members or directors entitled to elect one or more directors is a separate voting group for purposes of the election of directors. (3) The bylaws may authorize the appointment of one or more directors by such person or persons, or by the holder of such office or position, as the bylaws shall specify. (4) For purposes of articles 121 to 137 of this title, designation occurs when the bylaws name an individual as a director or designate the holder of some office or position as a director. 7-128-105. Terms of directors generally.
(1) The bylaws may specify the terms of directors. (2) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the terms of the initial directors of a nonprofit corporation expire at the first meeting at which directors are elected or appointed. (3) A decrease in the number of directors or in the term of office does not shorten an incumbent director's term. (4) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the term of a director filling a vacancy expires at the end of the unexpired term that such director is filling. (5) Despite the expiration of a director's term, a director continues to serve until the director's successor is elected, appointed, or designated and qualifies, or until there is a decrease in the number of directors. 7-128-106. Staggered terms for directors.
The bylaws may provide for staggering the terms of directors by dividing the total number of directors into any number of groups. 7-128-107. Resignation of directors. (1) A director may resign at any time by giving written notice of resignation to the nonprofit corporation. (2) A resignation of a director is effective when the notice is received by the nonprofit corporation unless the notice specifies a later effective date. (3) A director who resigns may deliver to the secretary of state for filing a statement to that effect pursuant to section 7-136-108. (4) If, at the beginning of a director's term on the board, the bylaws provide that a director may be deemed to have resigned for failing to attend a specified number of board meetings, or for failing to meet other specified obligations of directors, and if such failure to attend or meet obligations is confirmed by an affirmative vote of the board of directors, then such failure to attend or meet obligations shall be effective as a resignation at the time of such vote of the board. 7-128-108. Removal of directors.
(1) Directors elected by voting members or directors may be removed as follows:
(2) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws: (3) A designated director may be removed by an amendment to the bylaws deleting or changing the designation. 7-128-109. Removal of directors by judicial proceeding. (1) A director may be removed by the district court of the county in this state where a nonprofit corporation's principal office is located or, if the nonprofit corporation has no principal office in this state, by the district court of the county in which its registered office is located, or, if the nonprofit corporation has no registered office, by the district court for the city and county of Denver, in a proceeding commenced either by the nonprofit corporation or by voting members holding at least ten percent of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of such director's successor, if the court finds that the director engaged in fraudulent or dishonest conduct or gross abuse of authority or discretion with respect to the nonprofit corporation, or a final judgment has been entered finding that the director has violated a duty set forth in part 4 of this article, and that removal is in the best interests of the nonprofit corporation. (2) The court that removes a director may bar the director from reelection for a period prescribed by the court. (3) If voting members commence a proceeding under subsection (1) of this section, they shall make the nonprofit corporation a party defendant. (4) A director who is removed pursuant to this section may deliver to the secretary of state for filing a statement to that effect pursuant to section 7-136-108. 7-128-110. Vacancy on board.
(1) Unless otherwise provided in the
bylaws, if a vacancy occurs on a board of directors, including a vacancy
resulting from an increase in the number of directors:
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, unless otherwise
provided in the bylaws, if the vacant office was held by a director elected by
a voting group of voting members: (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, if the vacant office was held by a director elected by a voting group of directors, and if any persons in that voting group remain as directors, only such directors are entitled to vote to fill the vacancy. (4) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, if a vacant office was held by an appointed director, only the person who appointed the director may fill the vacancy.
(5) If a vacant office was held by a designated director, the vacancy
shall be filled as provided in the bylaws. (6) A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date, by reason of a resignation effective at a later date under section 7-128-107 (2) or otherwise, may be filled before the vacancy occurs, but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs. 7-128-111. Compensation of directors. Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the board of directors may authorize and fix the compensation of directors. |
7-128-201. Meetings. (1) The board of directors may hold regular or special meetings in or out of this state. (2) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the board of directors may permit any director to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all directors participating may hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. 7-128-202. Action without meeting.
(1) Unless otherwise provided in the
bylaws, any action required or permitted by articles 121 to 137 of this title
to be taken at a board of directors' meeting may be taken without a meeting if
each and every member of the board in writing either: (2) Action is taken under this section only if the affirmative vote for such action equals or exceeds the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take such action at a meeting at which all of the directors then in office were present and voted. (3) No action taken pursuant to this section shall be effective unless writings describing the action taken and otherwise satisfying the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, signed by all directors and not revoked pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, are received by the nonprofit corporation. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws, any such writing may be received by the nonprofit corporation by electronically transmitted facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication providing the nonprofit corporation with a complete copy of the document, including a copy of the signature on the document. Action taken pursuant to this section shall be effective when the last writing necessary to effect the action is received by the nonprofit corporation unless the writings describing the action taken set forth a different effective date. (4) Any director who has signed a writing pursuant to this section may revoke such writing by a writing signed and dated by the director describing the action and stating that the director's prior vote with respect thereto is revoked, if such writing is received by the nonprofit corporation before the last writing necessary to effect the action is received by the nonprofit corporation. (5) Action taken pursuant to this section has the same effect as action taken at a meeting of directors and may be described as such in any document. (6) All signed written instruments necessary for any action taken pursuant to this section shall be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors. 7-128-203. Notice of meeting. (1) Unless otherwise provided in articles 121 to 137 of this title or in the bylaws, regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice of the date, time, place, or purpose of the meeting. (2) Unless the bylaws provide for a longer or shorter period, special meetings of the board of directors shall be preceded by at least two days' notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting. The notice need not describe the purpose of the special meeting unless otherwise required by articles 121 to 137 of this title or the bylaws. 7-128-204. Waiver of notice.
(1) A director may waive any notice of a
meeting before or after the time and date of the meeting stated in the notice.
(2) A director's attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any
required notice to that director of the meeting unless: 7-128-205. Quorum and voting. (1) Unless a greater or lesser number is required by the bylaws, a quorum of a board of directors consists of a majority of the number of directors in office immediately before the meeting begins.
(2) The bylaws may authorize a quorum of a board of directors to consist
of: (3) If a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present is the act of the board of directors unless the vote of a greater number of directors is required by articles 121 to 137 of this title or the bylaws. (4) If provided in the bylaws, for purposes of determining a quorum with respect to a particular proposal, and for purposes of casting a vote for or against a particular proposal, a director may be deemed to be present at a meeting and to vote if the director has granted a signed written proxy to another director who is present at the meeting, authorizing the other director to cast the vote that is directed to be cast by the written proxy with respect to the particular proposal that is described with reasonable specificity in the proxy. Except as provided in this subsection (4) and as permitted by section 7-128-202, directors may not vote or otherwise act by proxy.
(5) A director who is present at a meeting of the board of directors when
corporate action is taken is deemed to have assented to all action taken at the meeting unless: (6) The right of dissent or abstention pursuant to subsection (5) of this section as to a specific action is not available to a director who votes in favor of the action taken. 7-128-206. Committees of the board. (1) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws and subject to the provisions of section 7-129-106, the board of directors may create one or more committees of the board and appoint one or more directors to serve on them. (2) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the creation of a committee of the board and appointment of directors to it shall be approved by the greater of a majority of all the directors in office when the action is taken or the number of directors required by the bylaws to take action under section 7-128-205. (3) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, sections 7-128-201 to 7-128-205, which govern meetings, action without meeting, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements of the board of directors, apply to committees of the board and their members as well.
(4) To the extent specified in the bylaws or by the board of directors,
each committee of the board shall have the authority of the board of directors under section 7-128-101; except that a committee of the board shall not: (5) The creation of, delegation of authority to, or action by a committee does not alone constitute compliance by a director with the standards of conduct described in section 7-128-401. (6) Nothing in this part 2 shall prohibit or restrict a nonprofit corporation from establishing in its bylaws or by action of the board of directors or otherwise one or more committees, advisory boards, auxiliaries, or other bodies of any kind, having such members and rules of procedure as the bylaws or board of directors may provide, in order to provide such advice, service, and assistance to the nonprofit corporation, and to carry out such duties and responsibilities for the nonprofit corporation, as may be specified in the bylaws or by the board of directors; except that, if any such committee or other body has one or more members thereof who are entitled to vote on committee matters and who are not then also directors, such committee or other body may not exercise any power or authority reserved to the board of directors in articles 121 to 137 of this title, in the articles of incorporation, or in the bylaws. |
7-128-301. Officers. (1) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, a nonprofit corporation shall have a president, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as may be designated by the board of directors. An officer shall be a natural person who is eighteen years of age or older. An officer need not be a director or a member of the nonprofit corporation, unless the bylaws so prescribe. (2) Officers may be appointed by the board of directors or in such other manner as the board of directors or bylaws may provide. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the bylaws or the board of directors. (3) The bylaws or the board of directors shall delegate to the secretary or to one or more other persons responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of minutes of the directors' and members' meetings and other records and information required to be kept by the nonprofit corporation under section 7-136-101 and for authenticating records of the nonprofit corporation. (4) The same individual may simultaneously hold more than one office in the nonprofit corporation. 7-128-302. Duties of officers. Each officer shall have the authority and shall perform the duties set forth with respect to such office in the bylaws or, to the extent not inconsistent with the bylaws, prescribed with respect to such office by the board of directors or by an officer authorized by the board of directors. 7-128-303. Resignation and removal of officers. (1) An officer may resign at any time by giving written notice of resignation to the nonprofit corporation. (2) A resignation of an officer is effective when the notice is received by the nonprofit corporation unless the notice specifies a later effective date. (3) If a resignation is made effective at a later date, the board of directors may permit the officer to remain in office until the effective date and may fill the pending vacancy before the effective date with the provision that the successor does not take office until the effective date, or the board of directors may remove the officer at any time before the effective date and may fill the resulting vacancy. (4) Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the board of directors may remove any officer at any time with or without cause. The bylaws or the board of directors may make provisions for the removal of officers by other officers or by the voting members. (5) An officer who resigns or is removed or whose appointment has expired may deliver to the secretary of state for filing a statement to that effect pursuant to section 7-136-108. 7-128-304. Contract rights with respect to officers. (1) The appointment of an officer does not itself create contract rights. (2) An officer's removal does not affect the officer's contract rights, if any, with the nonprofit corporation. An officer's resignation does not affect the nonprofit corporation's contract rights, if any, with the officer. |
7-128-401. General standards of conduct for directors and officers.
(1) Each director shall discharge the director's duties as a director,
including the director's duties as a member of a committee of the board, and each officer with discretionary authority shall discharge the officer's duties under that authority:
(2) In discharging duties, a director or officer is entitled to rely on
information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by: (3) A director or officer is not acting in good faith if the director or officer has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted by subsection (2) of this section unwarranted. (4) A director or officer is not liable as such to the nonprofit corporation or its members for any action taken or omitted to be taken as a director or officer, as the case may be, if, in connection with such action or omission, the director or officer performed the duties of the position in compliance with this section. (5) A director, regardless of title, shall not be deemed to be a trustee with respect to the nonprofit corporation or with respect to any property held or administered by the nonprofit corporation including, without limitation, property that may be subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or transferor of such property. 7-128-402. Limitation of certain liabilities of directors and officers. (1) If so provided in the articles of incorporation, the nonprofit corporation shall eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the nonprofit corporation or to its members for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director; except that any such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the nonprofit corporation or to its members for monetary damages for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the nonprofit corporation or to its members, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, acts specified in section 7-128-403, or any transaction from which the director directly or indirectly derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the nonprofit corporation or to its members for monetary damages for any act or omission occurring before the date when such provision becomes effective.
(2) No director or officer shall be personally liable for any injury to
person or property arising out of a tort committed by an employee unless such director or officer was personally involved in the situation giving rise to the litigation or unless such director or officer committed a criminal offense in connection with such situation. The protection afforded in this subsection (2) shall not restrict other common law protections and rights that a director or officer may have. 7-128-403. Liability of directors for unlawful distributions. (1) A director who votes for or assents to a distribution made in violation of section 7-133-101 or the articles of incorporation is personally liable to the nonprofit corporation for the amount of the distribution that exceeds what could have been distributed without violating said section or the articles of incorporation if it is established that the director did not perform the director's duties in compliance with section 7-128-401. In any proceeding commenced under this section, a director shall have all of the defenses ordinarily available to a director.
(2) A director held liable under subsection (1) of this section for an
unlawful distribution is entitled to contribution: |
7-128-501. Conflicting interest transaction. (1) As used in this section, "conflicting interest transaction" means: A contract, transaction, or other financial relationship between a nonprofit corporation and a director of the nonprofit corporation, or between the nonprofit corporation and a party related to a director, or between the nonprofit corporation and an entity in which a director of the nonprofit corporation is a director or officer or has a financial interest. (2) No loans shall be made by a corporation to its directors or officers. Any director or officer who assents to or participates in the making of any such loan shall be liable to the corporation for the amount of such loan until the repayment thereof.
(3) No conflicting interest transaction shall be void or voidable or be
enjoined, set aside, or give rise to an award of damages or other sanctions in a proceeding by a member or by or in the right of the nonprofit corporation, solely because the conflicting interest transaction involves a director of the nonprofit corporation or a party related to a director or an entity in which a director of the nonprofit corporation is a director or officer or has a financial interest or solely because the director is present at or participates in the meeting of the nonprofit corporation's board of directors or of the committee of the board of directors that authorizes, approves, or ratifies the conflicting interest transaction or solely because the director's vote is counted for such purpose if: (4) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee which authorizes, approves, or ratifies the conflicting interest transaction. (5) For purposes of this section, a "party related to a director" shall mean a spouse, a descendent, an ancestor, a sibling, the spouse or descendent of a sibling, an estate or trust in which the director or a party related to a director has a beneficial interest, or an entity in which a party related to a director is a director, officer, or has a financial interest. |
This web site is provided for your information only and should not be relied on as legal advice. Remember, that when dealing with any legal matter do not rely on these materials without first seeking the advice of an attorney about your particular situation and facts. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any information available through the links you will find at this web site. These links are provided as a matter of convenience to the public. |