Bylaws — internal operating rules (decision-making, leadership, membership, dissolution).
Article I — Name and Purpose
Section 1. Name
The name of the organization is Group Income Program (the “Corporation”).
Section 2. Purpose
The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and research purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The mission is to:
Operate a community-based income sharing program to provide a stable, livable baseline income to participants.
Conduct research and educational activities related to income sharing, economic equity, and mutual aid systems.
Facilitate affinity groups and flexible income-sharing structures while maintaining transparency and long-term program sustainability.
Serve as a model for income-sharing systems that can be adopted by communities domestically and internationally.
Article II — Members and Participants
Section 1. Membership
The Corporation shall have no members in the legal sense unless explicitly specified. Participants in the program are “participants” with defined rights and responsibilities.
Section 2. Participant Eligibility
Individuals may join the program through a formal application and acceptance process.
Acceptance and re-entry are based on the Board-approved criteria to maintain program stability.
Section 3. Participant Rights and Responsibilities
Participants contribute a fixed percentage of effective income (base program, e.g., 10%).
Participants may join affinity groups, which allow higher intra-group income sharing without reducing base contributions.
Participants may leave the program or an affinity group at any time, retaining funds already received but ceasing future participation.
Re-entering participants follow the 1% ramp-up rule:
First re-entry: 1% contribution for first two months, then doubling until base rate (e.g., 10%) is reached.
Subsequent re-entries: ramp period increases linearly based on number of previous exits, per Board policy.
Section 4. Termination
Participants may be removed for failure to comply with program rules or conduct that threatens program stability, as determined by the Board.
Article III — Board of Directors
Section 1. Powers and Responsibilities
The Board manages the affairs of the Corporation, including strategic direction, financial oversight, legal compliance, and program governance.
See Board Charter for detailed roles and responsibilities.
Section 2. Composition
5–9 Directors, serving staggered terms of 2–3 years.
Board may include non-voting advisory members.
Section 3. Meetings
Regular quarterly meetings; special meetings as needed.
Quorum: majority of Directors.
Voting: majority vote, except for major programmatic changes requiring supermajority.
Section 4. Officers
Chair/President, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary; additional roles may be defined.
Section 5. Committees
Board may establish committees (Finance, Research & Evaluation, Community & Participant).
Article IV — Programs and Operations
Section 1. Income Sharing Program
Base contribution percentage applies to all participants (e.g., 10%).
Affinity groups may increase shared percentage within their group; contributions stack but total contributions may never exceed 100%.
Debt payments reduce effective income for contribution purposes. Debt rules are defined by Board-approved policy.
Windfalls and wealth taxes applied as a percentage of income-equivalent value using the 4% rule.
Section 2. Buffer Fund
1–5% of monthly inflows reserved for stabilization and emergency coverage.
Section 3. International Adjustments
PPP dollar adjustments applied to ensure equitable payouts across countries.
Residency (where participant is living) determines PPP adjustment, not citizenship.
Section 4. Research/Education Compliance
Program designed as a living research experiment under IRS 501(c)(3) research/education classification.
Contributions are tax-deductible; payouts are considered programmatic support, not taxable income.
Article V — Affinity Groups
Section 1. Formation
Participants may create or join multiple affinity groups.
Affinity groups may be group-managed or individually managed.
Section 2. Contributions and Payouts
Contributions to affinity groups are separate from base program contributions.
Group rules may allocate a portion of funds to communal accounts, exit funds, retirement funds, or individual nest-egg accounts.
Section 3. Exit Rights
Participants may leave affinity groups at any time.
Leaving reverts participant to base program and other affinity group memberships.
Article VI — Financial Management
Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year aligns with the U.S. tax year: January 1 – December 31.
Section 2. Budget and Oversight
Board approves annual budget and payout schedules.
Platform tools track participant income, contributions, and payouts.
Individual participant data remains private; organizational finances are transparent.
Section 3. Banking and Investments
Funds managed in corporate accounts; investment strategies follow Board-approved policy.
Section 4. Dissolution
Upon dissolution, remaining assets distributed to other 501(c)(3) organizations or charitable purposes, consistent with IRS rules.
Article VII — Amendments
Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the Board.
Amendments must be consistent with Articles of Incorporation and IRS 501(c)(3) requirements.
Article VIII — Conflict of Interest
Directors and participants must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from related decisions.
Policies must prevent private benefit and maintain fiduciary responsibility.
Article III: Core Values
The Organization is founded upon the following core values, which shall guide its governance, programs, and operations:
Section 1. Mutual Support
The Organization affirms that economic stability is best achieved through shared responsibility and collective contribution among participants.
Section 2. Transparency
All financial operations, governance decisions, and program methodologies shall be conducted openly and documented for review by members and, where applicable, the public.
Section 3. Autonomy
Participation in the Organization’s programs is voluntary. All members shall retain the right to make informed choices regarding their involvement, contributions, and withdrawal.
Section 4. Equity
Fairness shall be pursued by accounting for differences in economic and social context, ensuring access to adequate resources for all participants regardless of circumstance.
Section 5. Solidarity
The Organization rejects hierarchical charity models in favor of reciprocal support and collective empowerment. Every participant may both contribute to and benefit from shared resources.
Section 6. Stewardship
The Organization shall manage its financial and material resources with prudence, consistency, and accountability to sustain long-term stability and trust.
Section 7. Continuous Learning
The Organization commits to ongoing evaluation, research, and adaptation of its programs in response to data, feedback, and evolving community needs.
Section 8. Human Dignity
The Organization affirms that all individuals are entitled to an adequate standard of living, including access to food, housing, and security, and to conditions that promote rest, health, and wellbeing.
Article IV: Governance Structure
Section 1. Board of Directors
The Organization shall be governed by a Board of Directors (“the Board”) responsible for overseeing its affairs, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, and upholding its mission and values.
Section 2. Powers and Duties
The Board shall have authority to:
Establish and review organizational policy.
Approve budgets and oversee financial management.
Appoint and evaluate the Executive Director or equivalent coordinating body.
Approve major programmatic or structural changes.
Ensure compliance with all reporting and fiduciary obligations.
Section 3. Composition
The Board shall consist of no fewer than three (3) and no more than fifteen (15) Directors.
Directors shall be selected to reflect a diversity of perspectives, skills, and lived experiences relevant to the Organization’s mission.
A majority of Directors shall be independent, meaning they are not compensated employees of the Organization.
Section 4. Election and Term of Service
Directors shall serve terms of two (2) years and may be re-elected.
The initial Board shall be appointed by the incorporators; thereafter, new Directors shall be elected by majority vote of the existing Board.
Staggered terms may be implemented to ensure continuity.
Section 5. Officers
The Board shall elect from among its members a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Chair shall preside over meetings and coordinate Board activities.
The Secretary shall maintain official records and minutes.
The Treasurer shall oversee financial records and present reports on the Organization’s fiscal condition.
Additional officers may be created as needed by Board resolution.
Section 6. Committees and Affinity Circles
The Board may establish standing or ad hoc committees to advise or manage specific functions of the Organization.
Committees may include non-Board members when appropriate.
The Organization may also recognize Affinity Circles — self-organized groups of participants who share particular interests or practices aligned with the mission. Affinity Circles may propose projects, provide peer support, and assist with outreach, subject to the Board’s oversight.
Section 7. Decision-Making Process
The Organization shall strive for consensus in governance. Where consensus cannot be reached, decisions shall be made by a majority vote of the Board members present at a duly called meeting, unless otherwise specified in these bylaws.
Section 8. Meetings
The Board shall meet at least twice annually, with additional meetings as needed.
Notice of each meeting shall be provided to all Directors at least seven (7) days in advance, unless waived.
Meetings may be held electronically, provided all participants can communicate effectively in real time.
Section 9. Quorum and Voting
A quorum shall consist of a majority of current Directors.
Each Director shall have one (1) vote.
Proxy voting is not permitted.
Section 10. Compensation
Directors shall not receive compensation for their service as Board members. Reasonable reimbursement may be provided for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Section 11. Conflict of Interest
All Directors shall disclose any financial or personal interest in matters under consideration. The Board shall adopt a written conflict of interest policy in compliance with IRS guidelines.