(a) General rule.--Every nonprofit corporation incorporated for a charitable purpose or purposes may take, receive and hold such real and personal property as may be given, devised to, or otherwise vested in such corporation, in trust, for the purpose or purposes set forth in its articles. The board of directors or other body of the corporation shall, as trustees of such property, be held to the same degree of responsibility and accountability as if not incorporated, unless a less degree or a particular degree of responsibility and accountability is prescribed in the trust instrument, or unless the board of directors or such other body remain under the control of the members of the corporation or third persons who retain the right to direct, and do direct, the actions of the board or other body as to the use of the trust property from time to time.
(b) Nondiversion of certain property.--Property committed to charitable purposes shall not, by any proceeding under Chapter 3 (relating to entity transactions) or 59 (relating to amendments, sale of assets and dissolution) or otherwise, be diverted from the objects to which it was donated, granted or devised, unless and until the board of directors or other body obtains from the court an order under 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 77 (relating to trusts) specifying the disposition of the property.
(Dec. 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Oct. 27, 2010, P.L.837, No.85, eff. 60 days; July 9, 2013, P.L.476, No.67, eff. 60 days; Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1793, No.122, eff. 60 days)
2022 Amendment. Act 122 amended subsec. (b).
Cross References. Section 5547 is referred to in sections 202, 5548, 5548.1, 5549, 5746, 5916, 5930, 5976, 5989 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 15 - CORPORATIONS AND UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS
Chapter 55 - Corporate Powers, Duties and Safeguards
Section 5501 - Corporate capacity
Section 5503 - Defense of ultra vires
Section 5504 - Adoption, amendment and contents of bylaws
Section 5505 - Persons bound by bylaws
Section 5506 - Form of execution of instruments
Section 5507 - Registered office
Section 5508 - Corporate records; inspection by members
Section 5509 - Bylaws and other powers in emergency
Section 5510 - Certain specifically authorized debt terms
Section 5511 - Establishment of subordinate units
Section 5512 - Informational rights of a director
Section 5513 - Forum selection provisions
Section 5541 - Capital contributions of members
Section 5543 - Debt and security interests
Section 5543.1 - Usury not a defense (Repealed)
Section 5544 - Dues and assessments
Section 5545 - Income from corporate activities
Section 5546 - Purchase, sale, mortgage and lease of real property
Section 5546.1 - Insolvency or bankruptcy (Repealed)
Section 5547 - Authority to take and hold trust property
Section 5548 - Investment of trust funds
Section 5548.1 - Nonjudicial settlement agreement
Section 5549 - Transfer of trust or other assets to institutional trustee
Section 5550 - Devises, bequests and gifts after certain fundamental changes
Section 5551 - Dividends prohibited; compensation and certain payments authorized
Section 5553 - Liabilities of members
Section 5554 - Annual report of directors or other body
Section 5585 - Establishment or use of common trust funds authorized
Section 5586 - Restrictions on investments
Section 5587 - Determination of interests