Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 155 - General Provisions Relative to Corporations
Section 12c - Contributions for Charitable, Scientific or Educational Purposes

Section 12C. Every corporation may, by its articles of organization or by-laws or by a general or special vote of its stockholders or members, authorize its directors, or its officers having the powers of directors, to make contributions, in such amounts as said directors or officers may determine to be reasonable, to corporations, trusts, funds or foundations, organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific or educational purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; provided, that in the case of a corporation having capital stock, contributions in any fiscal year shall not in the aggregate exceed one half of one per cent of its capital and surplus as of the end of the preceding fiscal year, unless contributions in excess of one half of one per cent of such capital and surplus shall be authorized by the stockholders of the corporation at a regular or special meeting, and, in the case of a corporation not having capital stock, contributions in any fiscal year shall not in the aggregate exceed one half of one per cent of the surplus of such corporation as of the end of the preceding fiscal year, unless contributions in excess of one half of one per cent of such surplus shall be authorized by the members of the corporation at a regular or special meeting. Nothing in this section shall be construed as directly or indirectly restricting or otherwise affecting, except as herein provided, the rights and powers of any corporation with reference to payments of the nature above specified.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XXII - Corporations

Chapter 155 - General Provisions Relative to Corporations

Section 1 - Application of Chapter; Secretary Defined

Section 2 - Examination of Certificates and Reports by State Secretary; Records; Reports

Section 2b - Clinics, Hospitals, Rest Homes, etc., Approval of Articles of Organization and Amendments

Section 3 - Acts of Incorporation and Corporate Organizations Subject to Legislative Action

Section 3a - Public Service Corporations; Deposit of Funds

Section 4 - Public Service Corporations; Misleading Use of Names or Titles

Section 5 - Violations of Sec. 4; Investigation; Penalties; Injunction

Section 5a - Allowances for Depreciation Ordered Set Aside by Department of Utilities or Department of Telecommunications and Cable

Section 6 - General Powers

Section 7 - Content of By-Laws

Section 8 - Conveyance of Land

Section 9 - Name of Corporation; Exception

Section 9a - Reservation of Corporate Name

Section 10 - Change of Name

Section 11 - Unauthorized Business; Restraint by Injunction

Section 12 - Free Hospital Beds for Employees of Corporation; Appropriation

Section 12a - Contributions to Communities

Section 12b - Reciprocal Insurance Contracts; Exchanges

Section 12c - Contributions for Charitable, Scientific or Educational Purposes

Section 13 - Chartered Corporations; Time for Organization; Commencement of Corporate Existence

Section 14 - First Meeting; Holders of Privileges Prior to Organization

Section 15 - Failure, Refusal or Neglect to Call Meeting; Alternative Method

Section 16 - Par Value of Common and Preferred Shares

Section 17 - Issue at Less Than Par

Section 18 - Preferred Stock; Amount; Preferences and Voting Powers; Exceptions

Section 19 - Preferred Stock; Content of Certificate

Section 20 - Increase of Capital Stock; Notice of Vote; Disposition of New Shares

Section 21 - Voting Rights, Etc. of Persons in Representative or Fiduciary Capacity

Section 22 - Records Available for Inspection by Shareholders; Record Date of Right to Vote or to Other Rights

Section 23 - Shareholders List; Filing; Failure to File

Section 45 - Record Transfer of Stock Not Paid For

Section 46 - New Certificates Upon Transfer or Pledge

Section 47 - Publication of Unclaimed Dividend List

Section 48 - False Statements; Penalty

Section 49 - Statement Required by Foreign Law; Penalty for Falsifying

Section 50 - Voluntary Dissolution

Section 50a - Failure to File Reports or Returns; Application of Secretary or Commissioner to Dissolve

Section 51 - Continuation to Close Affairs

Section 51a - Distribution of Assets on Petition; Notice; Liability of Directors

Section 52 - Appointment of Receivers; Powers; Term

Section 53 - Payment of Debts; Distribution of Surplus

Section 54 - Surrender of Certificate of Incorporation; Notice

Section 55 - Return to State Secretary of Decree of Dissolution

Section 56 - Revival of Corporations Dissolved Under Provisions of Sec. 50a