The 'incorporation' decision
The information on this page is especially for community groups who are just forming in Victoria.
It is a good idea to:
- think about your aims, funding, activities, and aspirations, and
- decide whether you want to be a not-for-profit organisation.
For more information on each of these topics see Before you start.
Once you have thought through those questions, you need to think about whether your group should incorporate.
You might be wondering what incorporation is? Incorporation gives your group its own legal identity (the group becomes a 'seaparate legal entity' from its members) and this comes with a range of benefits.
The decision about incorporation has important legal consequences, particularly for people who are going to be on the board or committee of management of a not-for-profit group.
For more information, read PilchConnect's information sheet because it explains in more detail what incorporation means and provides a general overview of some of the main differences between an ‘unincorporated' and an ‘incorporated' group. Understanding the difference between the status of incorporated or unincorporated groups is essential, especially if you are going to be on the board or committee of management of your not-for-profit group.
Given the importance of the decision about whether or not to incorporate, this may an issue on which your group may want to seek specific legal advice.