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
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 180 - Corporations for Charitable and Certain Other Purposes
Section 1 - Application of Chapter
Section 3a - Correction of Inaccurate Corporate Records; Filing
Section 4a - Credit Counseling Services; Practice of Law
Section 6 - Corporate Powers; Religious Corporations; Indemnification of Officers, Et Al.
Section 6a - By-Laws; Contents
Section 6c - Directors, Officers or Incorporators; Good Faith Performance of Duties; Liability
Section 6d - Filing Certificate of Change Regarding Powers of Directors, Etc.
Section 9 - Evidence of Corporate Existence
Section 10 - Consolidation and Merger; Agreement; Submission of Articles; Filing Copy 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 15 - Trade or Employment Organizations
Section 16 - Approval of Certificate of Organization
Section 17d - School Teachers; Payroll Deductions for Income Protection Insurance Premiums
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 17l - Public Employee; Payroll Deductions for Qualified State Tuition Program
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.