Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 180 - Corporations for Charitable and Certain Other Purposes
Section 4 - Purposes

Section 4. A corporation may be formed for any one or more of the following purposes:
(a) for any civic, educational, charitable, benevolent or religious purpose;
(b) for the prosecution of any antiquarian, historical, literary, scientific, medical, chiropractic, artistic, monumental or musical purpose;
(c) for establishing and maintaining libraries;
(d) for supporting any missionary enterprise having for its object the dissemination of religious or educational instruction in foreign countries;
(e) for promoting temperance or morality in the commonwealth;
(f) for fostering, encouraging or engaging in athletic exercises or yachting;
(g) for encouraging the raising of choice breeds of domestic animals and poultry;
(h) for the association and accommodation of societies of Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias or other charitable or social bodies of a like character and purpose;
(i) for the establishment and maintenance of places for reading rooms, libraries or social meetings;
(j) for establishing boards of trade, chambers of commerce and bodies of like nature;
(k) for providing nonprofit credit counseling services, as defined in section four A;
(l) for encouraging agriculture or horticulture; for improving and ornamenting the streets and public squares of any city or town by planting and cultivating ornamental trees therein and also otherwise improving the physical aspects of such city or town and furthering the recreation and enjoyment of the inhabitants thereof;
(m) for the purpose of purchasing, holding, preserving and maintaining burial grounds in accordance with the provisions of chapter one hundred and fourteen;
(n) for establishing a not-for-profit association of employers as authorized by section twenty-five E of chapter one hundred and fifty-two, including such not-for-profit associations of employers organized as nonprofit corporations.
If a corporation is formed under this chapter for the purpose of rendering one or more professional services as defined in chapter one hundred and fifty-six A, the relationship between the corporation or an employee thereof rendering professional service and the person receiving such service shall be the same as if such corporation or employee rendered such service to said person as an individual practitioner, including any liability arising out of the rendering of such service.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XXII - Corporations

Chapter 180 - Corporations for Charitable and Certain Other Purposes

Section 1 - Application of Chapter

Section 2 - Definitions

Section 3 - Incorporators; Manner of Incorporation; Classes of Members; Personal Liability of Officers and Directors to Corporation

Section 3a - Correction of Inaccurate Corporate Records; Filing

Section 4 - Purposes

Section 4a - Credit Counseling Services; Practice of Law

Section 5 - Investigation by Local Authorities of Proposed Corporation or Corporations Seeking Change of Location or Name

Section 6 - Corporate Powers; Religious Corporations; Indemnification of Officers, Et Al.

Section 6a - By-Laws; Contents

Section 6b - Notice of Actions Proposed Under Sec. 7 or Sec. 8a; Notice to Certain Non-Voting Members

Section 6c - Directors, Officers or Incorporators; Good Faith Performance of Duties; Liability

Section 6d - Filing Certificate of Change Regarding Powers of Directors, Etc.

Section 7 - Amendment or Restatement of Articles of Organization; Change of Purposes or Name; Approval

Section 7a - Amendment or Restatement of Articles of Organization, or Articles of Consolidation or Merger; Inability to Comply With Sec. 7 or Sec. 10; Approval

Section 8a - Sale, Lease, or Exchange of Corporate Property and Assets; Grant of Security Interest; Public Charities; Notification of Attorney General and Commissioner of Public Health; Investigation

Section 9 - Evidence of Corporate Existence

Section 10 - Consolidation and Merger; Agreement; Submission of Articles; Filing Copy of Articles

Section 10a - Consolidation and Merger With Foreign Corporations; Agreement; Governing State Law; Submission of Articles; Filing of Articles

Section 10b - Consolidation and Merger; Effect; Amendments

Section 10c - Application of Laws; Exception

Section 11 - Dissolution; Non-Charitable Corporation

Section 11a - Dissolution; Voluntary; Charitable Corporation

Section 11b - Dissolution; Involuntary; Failure of Charitable Corporation to File Annual Financial Reports

Section 11c - Filing Fees

Section 13 - Conferring of Degree or Issuance of Diploma or Certificate Purporting to Confer Degree by Medical Corporation Prohibited

Section 14 - Establishment and Maintenance of Exhibition Grounds and Holding of Exhibition by Horse Breeding Corporation

Section 15 - Trade or Employment Organizations

Section 16 - Approval of Certificate of Organization

Section 17 - By-Laws

Section 17a - Pay-Roll Deductions for Union Dues of Employees of State, County or Municipality; Revocation

Section 17b - Community Chest, United Fund, Scholarship, etc.; Pay-Roll Deductions of Town, County or State Employees

Section 17d - School Teachers; Payroll Deductions for Income Protection Insurance Premiums

Section 17f - State Employees; Payroll Deductions for Contributions to Massachusetts Independent Health Agencies

Section 17h - Public Employees; Payroll Deductions for Periodic Pass for Public Transportation

Section 17i - Payroll Deductions for Public School Teachers

Section 17j - Public Employees; Payroll Deductions for Insurance or Employee Benefits

Section 17k - State Employees; Payroll Deductions for Near-Site Parking Fees, On-Site Child Care Fees and Other Employer-Provided Benefits

Section 17l - Public Employee; Payroll Deductions for Qualified State Tuition Program

Section 17m - State Police Employees; Payroll Deductions for Contributions to State Police Museum and Learning Center, Inc.

Section 17n - University of Massachusetts Employee Payroll Deductions for Certain University Sponsored Activities; Withdrawal of Authorization; Transmittal of Sum

Section 18 - Expulsion of Member; Examination of Books by Member

Section 19 - Fines Imposed on Members by Unions

Section 20 - Medical Milk Commission; Formation; Definition

Section 21 - Medical Milk Commission; Naming and Designation of Town Where Established

Section 22 - Salary, Emolument or Other Compensation Received by Member From Dairymen Prohibited

Section 23 - Contracts for Production of Milk

Section 24 - Investigatory Powers of Department of Public Health

Section 25 - Violations; Penalty

Section 26 - Change of Location by Certain Corporations

Section 26a - Annual Statements; Required Information; Certification; Fee; Violations; Penalties

Section 26b - Corporation in Good Standing; Certificate

Section 27 - Conviction Under Liquor or Gambling Laws; Voiding Charter

Section 28 - Conviction of Conducting Illegal Match; Voiding of Charter of Club or Organization

Section 29 - Local Regulation of Entertainments, Dances, Etc.