(a) General rule.--A nonprofit corporation may be organized upon either a nonstock basis or, if so provided in its articles, upon a stock share basis.
(b) Form of certificates; uncertificated shares.--The shares of nonprofit corporations organized upon a stock share basis shall be of the denominations provided in the bylaws and shall be represented by share certificates unless the articles provide that any or all classes and series of shares, or any part thereof, shall be uncertificated shares. A provision of the articles providing for uncertificated shares shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates and the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares of the same class and series shall be identical. The fact that the corporation is a nonprofit corporation shall be noted conspicuously on the face of each certificate. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice stating:
(1) That the corporation is a nonprofit corporation incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth.
(2) The name of the registered owner.
(3) The denomination and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, of the shares issued or transferred.
(c) Rights of shareholders.--Unless otherwise provided in a bylaw adopted by the members, each share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. No dividends shall be directly or indirectly paid on the shares, nor shall the shareholders be entitled to any portion of the earnings of the corporation derived through increment of value upon its property, or otherwise incidentally made, until the dissolution of the corporation.
(d) Transferability of shares.--Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the shares shall not be transferable by operation of law or otherwise.
(e) Power to cancel shares.--A nonprofit corporation shall have power to exclude from further membership any shareholder who fails to comply with the reasonable and lawful bylaws of the corporation, and may cancel the shares of any offending member without liability for an accounting except as may be provided in the bylaws.
(f) Applicability of the Uniform Commercial Code.--The provisions of 13 Pa.C.S. Div. 8 (relating to investment securities) shall not apply in any manner to the shares of a nonprofit corporation.
(g) Cross reference.--See the definition of "member" in section 5103 (relating to definitions).
(Nov. 1, 1979, P.L.255, No.86, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; July 9, 2013, P.L.476, No.67, eff. 60 days)
Cross References. Section 5752 is referred to in sections 5504, 5541 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 15 - CORPORATIONS AND UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS
Chapter 57 - Officers, Directors and Members
Section 5701 - Applicability of subchapter
Section 5702 - Manner of giving notice
Section 5702.1 - Optional procedures for giving of notice (Repealed)
Section 5703 - Place and notice of meetings of board of directors or other body
Section 5704 - Place and notice of meetings of members
Section 5705 - Waiver of notice
Section 5706 - Modification of proposal contained in notice
Section 5707 - Exception to requirement of notice
Section 5708 - Use of conference telephone or other electronic technology
Section 5709 - Conduct of members meeting
Section 5711 - Alternative provisions
Section 5712 - Standard of care, justifiable reliance and business judgment rule
Section 5713 - Personal liability of directors
Section 5714 - Presumption of assent
Section 5715 - Exercise of powers generally
Section 5716 - Alternative standard
Section 5717 - Limitation on standing
Section 5719 - Renunciation of corporate opportunities
Section 5721 - Board of directors
Section 5722 - Qualifications of directors
Section 5723 - Number of directors
Section 5724 - Term of office of directors
Section 5725 - Selection of directors
Section 5726 - Removal of directors
Section 5727 - Quorum of and action by directors
Section 5728 - Interested directors or officers; quorum
Section 5729 - Voting rights of directors
Section 5730 - Compensation of directors
Section 5731 - Executive and other committees of the board
Section 5733 - Removal of officers and agents
Section 5733.1 - Officer's standard of care and justifiable reliance
Section 5733.2 - Personal liability of officers
Section 5741 - Third-party actions
Section 5742 - Derivative and corporate actions
Section 5743 - Mandatory indemnification
Section 5744 - Procedure for effecting indemnification
Section 5745 - Advancing expenses
Section 5746 - Supplementary coverage
Section 5747 - Power to purchase insurance
Section 5748 - Application to surviving or new corporations
Section 5749 - Application to employee benefit plans
Section 5750 - Duration and extent of coverage
Section 5751 - Classes and qualifications of membership
Section 5752 - Organization on a stock share basis
Section 5753 - Membership certificates
Section 5754 - Members grouped in local units
Section 5755 - Time of holding meetings of members
Section 5757 - Action by members
Section 5758 - Voting rights of members
Section 5759 - Voting and other action by proxy
Section 5762 - Voting by corporations
Section 5763 - Determination of members of record
Section 5764.1 - Actions by members to enforce a secondary right (Repealed)
Section 5765 - Judges of election
Section 5766 - Consent of members in lieu of meeting
Section 5767 - Appointment of custodian of corporation on deadlock or other cause
Section 5768 - Reduction of membership below stated number
Section 5769 - Termination and transfer of membership
Section 5770 - Voting powers and other rights of certain securityholders and other entities
Section 5781 - Derivative action
Section 5782 - Eligible member plaintiffs and security for costs
Section 5783 - Special litigation committee
Section 5784 - Proceeds and expenses
Section 5791 - Corporate action subject to subchapter