How to Dissolve a Nonprofit Corporation in North Carolina

Whatever the underlying reason may be to closing down your North Carolina nonprofit corporation you will need to go through a process called dissolution. Dissolution requires a vote or other formal authorization, the filing of key documents with government agencies, and a group of other tasks collectively known as winding up the corporation.

The specific steps for closing a nonprofit organization will vary depending on several basic facts. Bearing that in mind, this article is limited in the following ways:

• it only covers nonprofit corporations (not all nonprofits are incorporated)
• it only covers nonprofits that have applied to the IRS and been approved specifically as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations
• it only covers voluntary dissolution based on a decision by the nonprofit's directors and, where applicable, the nonprofit's members (a nonprofit may be involuntarily dissolved through a court decree); and
• it only covers nonprofits that have started operations (there are streamlined dissolution procedures for nonprofits that have not admitted members, have no assets, and have not commenced activities).

Benefits of Formal Dissolution

Your nonprofit corporation is registered with the State of North Carolina. Through the dissolution process, you will officially cancel that registration and officially end the corporation's existence. More specifically, a properly-handled dissolution achieves at least two important goals:

• it puts your organization beyond the reach of creditors and other claimants; and
• it allows you to fulfill your legal obligations regarding the proper distribution of any remaining assets.

Authorizing Dissolution

The procedure for authorizing dissolution will vary depending on whether or not your nonprofit has members. If you're unsure of whether your nonprofit has members, you should check your articles of incorporation, bylaws, or similar organizational documents.

North Carolina's Nonprofit Corporation Act ("NCA") provides for voluntary dissolution through either:

• if there are members, action by the directors followed by a vote of the members; or
• if there are no members, a vote of the directors.

To dissolve your nonprofit, you will need a plan of dissolution. At a minimum, the plan must provide that all of your nonprofit's liabilities and obligations are to be paid and discharged, or otherwise adequately provided for, and also provide for the proper distribution of any remaining assets. You may want to get an attorney to assist you in preparing the plan.

If your nonprofit has voting members, the board first must approve the plan of dissolution and then submit it to the members. Generally, board approval of the plan will require a majority vote of the directors, but check your articles of incorporation and bylaws for different voting requirements. If the board wants the dissolution to be approved by the members at a membership meeting, members must be given at least 10 days' advance notice. The notice must include a copy or summary of the plan of dissolution. Under the NCA, a two-thirds majority of the votes actually cast, or a simple majority of the votes entitled to be cast, whichever is less, is required to approve the dissolution. Your board may also obtain approval from the members through written consent or written ballot.

If your nonprofit does not have members, it is up to the board to approve the plan of dissolution. Generally, the plan must be approved by a majority of the directors. However, check your articles of incorporation and bylaws for different rules regarding board approval. You must give at least five days' notice of the meeting and the notice must include a copy or summary of the plan of dissolution.

If your bylaws require that dissolution also be approved by any other person, that person must provide approval in writing.

Make sure to properly record the plan of dissolution, the directors' votes, and, where necessary, the members' votes. You'll need this information for filings with the state and the IRS.

Certain Matters are Unchanged by Dissolution

Among other things, dissolution alone does not:

• transfer title to the nonprofit's property
• subject the nonprofit's directors or officers to standards of conduct different from those that applied before dissolution
• change quorum or voting requirements for directors or members, change provisions for selection, resignation, or removal of directors or officers or change provisions for amending bylaws
• prevent commencement of a proceeding by or against the nonprofit
• abate or suspend a proceeding pending by or against the nonprofit on the date of dissolution; or
• terminate the authority of the nonprofit's registered agent.

Articles of Dissolution

After your board (and members, where applicable) have approved the dissolution, you'll need to file articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State ("SOS"). You are not required by law to file this document but you won't properly complete the voluntary dissolution of your nonprofit organization without it.

The articles of dissolution must contain:

• the name of your nonprofit
• the names and addresses of its officers
• the names and addresses of its directors
• the plan of dissolution
• the date dissolution was authorized, and
• a statement regarding what approval was required for dissolution (members, directors, any other person) and how approval was obtained.

A blank form for the articles of dissolution is available for download from the SOS website. There is a $15 fee to file the articles of dissolution. You must file the original and one copy.

"Winding Up"

After your nonprofit has formally authorized dissolution, it continues to exist only for the purpose of taking care of certain final matters that, collectively, are known as "winding up" the company. Winding up is largely about paying off any debts and then distributing any remaining assets, but there may also be other tasks involved. It may be appropriate to designate one or more officers or directors to handle these matters.

Generally speaking, you can only distribute money and property after you have paid off all of your nonprofit's debts. For distributions, the NCA has specific rules you will need to follow. For example, your nonprofit must return any items that were loaned to it on the condition that they would be returned upon dissolution. In addition, after paying off debts and returning loaned assets, a dissolving 501(c)(3) organization must distribute its remaining assets for tax-exempt purposes. In practice, this usually means distributing assets to one or more other 501(c)(3) organizations. Other distribution rules, contained in your articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a plan of distribution, may also apply. If you have any questions, you should consult with a lawyer.

Notice to Creditors and Other Claimants

One other part of winding up your dissolved nonprofit involves giving notice to creditors and other claimants. Giving notice is optional. However, doing so will help limit your liability and also allow you to more safely make final distributions of remaining assets.

Under the NCA, one way to give notice is by sending a written document directly to known claimants after dissolution. Proper written notice must:

• describe information that must be included in a claim
• provide a mailing address where a claim may be sent
• state the deadline, which may not be fewer than 120 days from the date of the notice, by which your dissolved nonprofit must receive the claim; and
• state that the claim will be barred if not received by the deadline.

You also may give notice to unknown claimants by publishing in a newspaper. As with sending direct notice to known claimants, there are specific rules for giving notice through publication. Generally speaking, claimants have five years after the date of newspaper publication to bring a claim.

Some of the rules for giving notice and responding to claims can be hard to understand. Therefore, if you choose to give claimants notice, you should strongly consider getting assistance from a business attorney.

Federal Tax Note

For federal tax purposes, you'll need to file IRS Form 990 or IRS Form 990-EZ. You must include a completed Schedule N (Liquidation, Termination, Dissolution, or Significant Disposition of Assets), as well as copies of your articles of dissolution, resolution to dissolve, and plan of dissolution. When completing Form 990 or Form 990-EZ, you'll need to check the "Terminated" box in the header area on Page 1 of the return. For additional, more specific guidance, check out Every Nonprofit's Tax Guide, by Stephen Fishman (Nolo), go to the IRS website, or consult with a tax professional.

Additional Information

You can find additional information, such as forms, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and filing fees, on the SOS website.

Final Note: Dissolving and winding up your nonprofit corporation is only one piece of the process of closing your organization. For further, general guidance on many of the other steps involved, check Nolo's 20-point checklist for closing a business and the Nolo article on what you need to know about closing a business.