Language for a Specific Audience
Your by-laws present a fine opportunity to let potential volunteers, potential funders, and general supporters know that you will be operating in a style and manner that meets your needs and theirs. This is particularly true as your organization enters into more precise activities where your funding sources may need to identify closely with your organization through your by-laws. If, for example, you are planning to purchase property as soon as possible, having language requiring a real-estate committee will show the seriousness of that element to your board's overall agenda. If yours is an organization with a cultural/arts focus, you need to have respected artists involved in a visible manner, and a programming committee where their talents will be most useful.
Most grant makers will ask you to include a copy of your governing document in your grant application so they can ensure that your operations and their interests line up well before any actual funding requests wind up on the table. It is, therefore, important that as an organization, you are as prepared as possible for the many funding environments you can expect to be working in over the next five to seven years.
There is a fine line between being certain your by-laws accurately show how you plan to function internally so you can show external audiences that you and they are on the same page and appearing to be pandering to appeal to a specific funding source. Remember all materials that have been developed since your founding will be examined, not simply one document. The best thing to keep in mind as you write your by-laws is to be honest and realistic.
