CEF APPROVED BYLAWS
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Committee for Education Funding, Inc.
Article II – Purposes
Section 1. The Committee for Education Funding (Committee) is organized exclusively for nonprofit, educational and charitable purposes to promote the social welfare through the cooperation of concerned individuals, educational institutions, associations and other organizations working towards the common goal of achieving adequate federal financial support for all levels of our nation’s educational structure -from pre-school through post-graduate study –both public and private. The specific purpose of the Committee shall be to provide interested members of the public, particularly within the educational community, with information which will aid them in making more effective presentations to the Executive Branch and the Congress of the United States in support of the proposition that adequate funding for education is one of our nation’s highest priorities. In order to accomplish this purpose, the Committee shall coordinate and conduct information collection, outreach and research.
Section 2. Any lawful activity appropriate to the purposes set forth in Section I may be undertaken by the Committee including, but not limited to:
a. Holding periodic seminars, conferences and meetings to improve the understanding and awareness of the membership of the Committee as well as of the members of the Congress, their staffs, and the Executive Branch concerning the facts and the requirements of educational funding;
b. Maintaining an office to provide continuing informational service to the membership of the Committee and to assist the membership in its efforts to provide liaison with the Congress and the Executive Branch of the United States;
c. Developing, publishing and disseminating periodicals relating to education funding including a newsletter, special bulletins, pamphlets, reports, electronic communications, and the like.
d. Encouraging, conducting, and cooperating in research projects intended to further the purposes of the Committee.
e. Acquiring, evaluating and disseminating information in said areas, including, but not limited to, providing such information to the general public;
f. Any other lawful purpose consistent with the provisions of this article and which may be approved by the membership, so long as they are for purposes as described by Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as it may be amended, and are in compliance with the requirements of the D.C. Nonprofit Corporation Act.
Article III-Members
Section 1. The Committee shall be an education association, voluntary and nonprofit, of cooperating concerned individuals, educational institutions, associations and other organizations working towards the common goal of achieving adequate federal financial support for all levels of our nation’s educational structure. The requirements for affiliation with the Committee shall be as set forth in the Bylaws and any questions of eligibility shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Committee.
Section 2. Regular members shall be voting members and shall be those educational institutions, associations or other organizations which support the Committee and its purposes by participating in its activities and by paying such annual dues, as may be amended from time to time, for its support as is recommended by the Board of Directors and adopted by a meeting of the membership.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to determine eligibility for and classes of non-voting membership or other affiliations with the Committee.
Section 4. All members shall be entitled to receive regular copies of all current Committee publications.
Section 5. Maintenance of Membership. All members may be required to pay annual or other dues or assessments as may be established and amended, from time to time, by resolution adopted by the membership. The Board of Directors may recommend for adoption by the Members different dues amounts or assessments for different classes of members. Membership in the Committee may be suspended, revoked or otherwise sanctioned as determined by the Board of Directors, if:
a. a member fails to comply with these Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time, or fails to comply with any other policies or procedures of the Committee; and/or
b. a member fails to pay its dues or assessments within 90 days of the date owed to the Committee. In the event that a member is alleged to be in noncompliance under these Bylaws, the member shall be provided with notice of the allegations of noncompliance and an opportunity to respond to the allegations, prior to any vote by the Board of Directors regarding the alleged noncompliance.
Article IV –Structure
Section 1. At the annual meeting of the members, each Regular Member shall designate an individual to serve as a Member of the Committee for Education Funding. The full membership shall be responsible for electing the officers of the organization and amending, approving the budget and dues structure and construing the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Section 2. The affairs of the Committee, except as otherwise reserved to the membership shall be managed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for establishing Committee policy, and providing the officers, staff and consultants and Executive Committee with such guidance on other matters as deemed appropriate by the Board.
Section 3. Between meetings of the membership, the affairs of the Committee will be managed by the Board of Directors
Section 4. The Board of Directors shall (a) determine regulations governing payment and collection of dues; (b) manage the property and financial affairs of the Committee, with power to accept gifts on behalf of the organization; provided, however, that the membership shall approve the budget within which the Board of Directors will operate; (c) provide for the publications of the Committee; (d) appoint and determine the compensation of the Executive Director in accordance with the general policies of and budget set by the membership; (e) determine the time, place and (subject to revision by the membership) the program of meetings of the membership; and, (f) publish a record of the Annual Meeting.
Section 5. The fiscal year of the Committee shall extend from January 1st through December 31st.
Section 6. None of the Committee’s funds shall inure to the benefit of any private individual or organization except for services actually rendered or goods actually purchased. No Director shall receive any compensation for services rendered to the Committee as a Director, except that Directors and regular members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties to the Committee as authorized by resolution of the Board. Any Director or Officer who is also an employee of the Committee in a capacity other than as a Director or Officer may receive reasonable compensation for services rendered as an employee of the Committee, as determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may hire an Executive Director and other staff or other entities to oversee and conduct the day-to-day office management of the Committee. The Committee may pay compensation in reasonable amounts to agents and employees for services rendered, such amounts to be fixed by the Board or, if the Board delegates this power to any officer or officers, then by such officer or officers. In the discretion of the Board of Directors, the Committee may secure a bond for the performance of officers, agents or employees of the Committee. Upon dissolution, any remaining funds or assets shall be distributed by the Board of Directors to other education or charitable organizations, including any other nonprofit organization that is a successor to the Committee.
Article V – Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Officers
Section 1. The Board of Directors will consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, and the most immediate past-president willing and able to serve and twelve (12) other Members of the Board of Directors, eight (8) of whom shall be chosen by the full membership at the Annual Meeting, and four of whom shall be appointed by the President thereafter.
Section 2. In making selections of members for the Board of Directors, the President shall give due consideration to maintaining an appropriate balance among the dues categories on the Board membership, and between the elementary, secondary, post-secondary and other sectors of the education community and the provision of appropriate representation of those members not easily so categorized.
Section 3. The Executive Committee will consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, and the most immediate past-president willing and able to serve.
Section 4. When a vacancy shall occur:
a. The membership shall be called to fill vacancies in the office of President, Vice-President, or Treasurer;
b. For a position other than that of President, Vice-President, or Treasurer held by a representative of a Regular Member, said Regular Member shall have the right (waivable to the President) to name a successor.
Section 5. The Officers of the Committee shall be:
a. President;
b. Vice-President;
c. Treasurer;
d. Secretary-Executive Director; as appointed, pursuant to Article VIII.
Section 6. The President shall serve as chairman of membership meetings, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and shall be an ex officio non-voting member of all committees. The President may assign and delegate duties and shall be responsible for all activities within the Committee. The term of office as President is one year. A person may serve more than one term as President.
Section 7. The Vice-President shall serve as President in the absence of the President and shall assist the President in all Committee responsibilities. The term of office for this position is one year. A person may serve more than one term as Vice-President.
Section 8. The Treasurer shall be responsible (within such suitable bond as may be prescribed in the sole discretion of the Executive Committee) for the Committee’s financial affairs. Specific responsibilities include: working closely with the Secretary- Executive Director on membership and financial records, chairing the budget committee and submitting the proposed budget to the membership in advance of the annual meeting. The Treasurer may be authorized by the President to audit bills before payment, and shall arrange for the complete audit by an independent public accountant. A complete audit shall be performed no less than biennially. In any year in which an audit is not performed, a financial review shall be conducted by an independent public accountant. The decision to conduct an audit on an annual basis shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The term of office for this position is on year. A person may serve more than one term.
Section 9. The Secretary-Executive Director shall serve as secretary of the Committee’s business meetings and of Executive Committee meetings.
Section 10. The President and the Vice President shall take office at the end of the annual meeting where they are elected. The Treasurer and members of the Executive Committee shall take office at the start of the next fiscal year.
Section 11. Officers and the elected members of the Board of Directors shall be elected in the business session held on the day of the annual meeting. Officers shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
Section 12. The Committee on Nominations and Elections shall consist of at least five regular members appointed by the President. Such committee, at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting, shall present a slate of candidates to the Board of Directors for the offices of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and for eight (8) elected seats on the Board of Directors. A slate may contain more than one nominee for each elected position. Procedures for candidacy and for additional nominations shall be developed by the Committee on Nominations and Elections and approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 13. All officers and members of the Board of Directors, elected or appointed, shall be members of the organization in good standing at the time of their election.
Article VI-Meetings
Section 1. An annual meeting of the full membership shall be held at a time and place set by the Board of Directors. Such a meeting must be held at least once a year, but the Board of Directors shall have the authority, in case of emergency, to advance or postpone an annual meeting; but in no event shall an annual meeting be postponed for more than three months.
Section 2. Official business to be conducted at the annual meeting of the full membership shall include but not be limited to:
a. Election of officers;
b. Reports from officers and committees, as appropriate;
c. Action on any proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Section 3. Meetings of the membership, in addition to the annual meeting, shall be called by the President or by the Executive Committee at such times deemed suitable.
Section 4. At meetings of the membership, one-third of the number of Members shall constitute a quorum; and, at meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5. Members of the Committee in good standing shall each have one vote in membership proceedings.
Section 6. Votes in the full membership shall be by voice except that the YEAS and NAYS of the Members shall be recorded on any question, at the desire of one-fifth of the members present. Voting in elections shall be by secret ballot.
Section 7. Meetings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee shall be called as needed by the President or by the Vice-President if the President is unable to do so. Decisions within the Board of Directors shall be by simple majority of the members present.
Section 8. The rules contained in the most recently published edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Committee in all cases where they are not inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation and these bylaws.
Article VII-Committees
Section 1. The President shall appoint Nominations and Elections, Budget, and may appoint other committees of such size, power, and duties as shall be deemed necessary by the President. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws or the policies of the Board of Directors, all committees shall exist for the term of the President who established them. The President shall designate a chairman from the membership of each committee, except in accordance with Article V, Section 7, whereby the Treasurer shall serve as chairman of the Budget Committee. Each appointive committee shall report through its chairperson to the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Appointments to committees shall be limited to the Regular Members, but an individual who is not a Regular Member may be invited to assist the Committee.
Article VIII-Staff
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall appoint an Executive Director who shall also serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. The Executive Director shall be responsible for staffing and maintaining the Committee offices. Other duties and functions may be assigned to the Executive Director by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee, including but not limited to:
a. Preservation of the Committee’s records;
b. Preparation and circulation of all Committee publications;
c. Membership promotion, including recruitment and retention;
d. Maintenance of the Committee’s financial records and budget controls, handling of receipts and disbursements, serving as custodian of all funds as instructed by the Board of Directors through the Treasurer;
e. Service as coordinating officer in all of the Committee’s projects and activities;
f. Fostering effective communication between member organizations;
g. Coordinating and assisting the liaison between members of the Committee and the Executive Branch, Members of Congress and members of various Congressional staffs having responsibilities in matters of education funding; and
h. Assisting the President in matters related to the annual meeting.
Article IX-Amendments
Section 1. These Bylaws govern the activities of the Committee. The adoption of any amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws shall require two-thirds or the votes cast on such proposition by the membership. Notice in writing of any such amendment must be circulated to the full membership at least ten days in advance of the meeting of the membership at which a vote is to be taken-provided that, if the Executive Committee finds it necessary that the membership act on shorter notice, notice shall be waived, but approval of an amendment under such circumstances shall require four -fifths of the votes cast.
Article X. Indemnification and Insurance
The Committee may purchase such insurance as identified in Sections 29-599.15 and 29-599.16 of the D.C. Nonprofit Corporations Act so as to make available any lawful immunity allowed by the D.C. Nonprofit Corporations Act for Directors, Officers, volunteers, agents and employees of the Committee.
Article XI-Effective Date
Section 1. The Bylaws set forth herein were adopted by the members of the Committee at the meeting in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 1976 and amended February 23, 1982 and December 5, 1984 and December 6, 1985 and December 1, 1989 and December 5, 1997, October 1998 and December 9, 2011.
CEF Structure
Board of Directors
Duties as provided in the Bylaws
- Establish CEF policy
- Providing the officers and Executive Committee with guidance on other matters as they see appropriate
- Determine regulations governing payment and collection of dues
- Manage the property and financial affairs
- Provide for the publications of the Committee
- Appoint and determine the salaries of the executive director and committee staff in accordance with the general policies of the board of directors
- Publish a record of the annual meeting
Full Committee
Duties as provided in the Bylaws
- Elect officers (President, Vice President, and Treasurer) and Board of Directors
(President appoints four additional Board members) - Amend Bylaws
- Approves the budget and dues structure
Duties as provided in the bylaws for President
- Serve as chairman of the Board of Directors
- Serve as chairman of the Executive Committee
- Ex-Officio member of all appointed committees
- May assign and delegate duties and shall be responsible for all activities within the committee.