Home Performance Trustees Professional Associations Bylaws

Investment Policy Social Responsibility Mechanics of Investing in the DIT

DIT Account Statements Contact Information
 


BYLAWS OF THE TRUSTEES OF DONATIONS

ARTICLE I
Name 

The name of the Corporation shall be TRUSTEES OF DONATIONS TO THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

ARTICLE II
Purposes

2.1 The purposes and powers of the Corporation shall be as set forth in Chapter 390 of the Acts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of 1965 authorizing the merger of Bishop and Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Massachusetts (hereinafter called “Bishop and Trustees”) into this Corporation (hereinafter called “Trustees of Donations”).  Said act is incorporated by reference in and made a part of these By Laws, and in the event of any conflict or inconsistency its provisions shall control.  (See also ch. 217, Acts of 1916, Diocesan Investment Trust under Declaration of Trust dated November 3, 1939, established pursuant to ch. 163, Acts of 1939, and Chap. XC, Acts of 1810). 

ARTICLE III
Members and Managers
3.1 The members of the Corporation (hereinafter called “Trustees”) shall be elected or appointed as hereinafter provided and the total number of Trustees (excluding Trustees ex officiis) shall be divided into five approximately equal classes.  The terms of all Trustees shall begin at the annual meeting at which they are elected, or next following the Convention at which the election takes place in the case of Convention electees, or next following appointment by the Bishop in the case of the Bishop’s appointees, and shall end at the annual meeting at the conclusion of their terms. 
3.2 The Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts (hereinafter the “Bishop”), the Chancellor of the Diocese and the Diocesan Treasurer shall be Trustees ex officiis. 
3.3 At each annual meeting of the Trustees three Trustees shall be elected for five-year terms and until their successors are elected and qualified.  At each annual session of the Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, one Trustee shall be elected for a five-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.  Prior to each annual meeting of the Trustees the Bishop shall appoint one Trustee for a five-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. 
3.4 The Trustees shall serve as the Board of Managers of the Corporation as provided in Section 4 of Chapter 390 of the Acts of 1965.  It shall be the function and duty of the Trustees to manage and invest the property held in trust by the Corporation and to operate the Diocesan Investment Trust (authorized and existing under Chapter 163 of the Acts of 1939) and determine its investment policy.  The Trustees may, in writing, delegate to one or more trust companies, national banks or investment advisors, such of the duties, rights and powers of the Trustees, with respect to the property held by the Corporation, including the power to invest and re-invest the whole or any part of the said property and from time to time to change investments as the Trustees in their reasonable discretion shall deem proper.
3.5 Past Presidents and Treasurers shall be eligible to serve as Trustees Emeritus upon election at each annual meeting. They shall be eligible to attend all meetings of the Trustees, to serve on committees of the Trustees, and to participate in discussions; they shall have the right to vote and to be counted in the determination of quorums at committee meetings, but not at meetings of the full board of Trustees.

ARTICLE IV
Officers

4.1 The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Trustees, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and a Clerk, and, if the Trustees shall so determine, one or more Assistant Treasurers, all of whom shall be Trustees, and an Assistant Clerk who need not be a member of the Trustees.
4.2  The Bishop shall be Chairman of the Trustees ex officio.  The President, the Vice President, the Treasurer and the Clerk shall be elected by the Trustees at each annual meeting, each to serve for a term of one year, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.  Assistant Treasurers and an Assistant Clerk may also be elected by the Trustees at any meeting for such terms as the Trustees may determine.
4.3 The Chairman shall preside at the annual meeting of the Trustees.  The President shall preside at regular meetings of the Trustees and shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation.  In addition to the duties herein enumerated, the several officers of the Corporation shall have the duties ordinarily incident to their respective offices and such other duties, if any, as the Trustees shall specify for them.
4.4 Any vacancy in the office of Trustee may be filled for the remainder of the term by the Trustees.

ARTICLE V
Executive Committee

5.1 The Executive Committee of the Trustees shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, the Chancellor of the Diocese and one Trustee to be elected by the Trustees at each annual meeting to serve for a term of one year. 
5.2 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation between meetings of the Trustees, including without implied limitation the authority to act upon all matters of business or affairs of the Corporation except as restricted by law or by these By Laws.
5.3 At each meeting of the Trustees the Executive Committee shall report all actions taken by it since the next preceding meeting of the Trustees, and the Trustees shall have power to rescind any vote or action of the Executive Committee, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect or invalidate action already taken in reliance thereon.

ARTICLE VI
Meetings

6.1 The annual meeting of the Trustees shall be held on the fourth Wednesday of March in each year or at such other date and at such time and place as shall be determined by the Chairman and President.
6.2 Other meetings of the Trustees shall be held at such time and place as may be stated in a call issued by the President.  The Trustees shall meet not less than four times each calendar year.
6.3 Twelve Trustees present in person shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Trustees.  A majority of the members of the Executive Committee present in person shall constitute a quorum.  When a quorum is present at any meeting of either body, action may be taken by a majority vote of those present at such meeting except as otherwise required by law or these By Laws.
6.4 Ten calendar days’ notice of the time, place and purpose of all meetings of the Trustees and three calendar days’ notice of the time, place and purposes of all meetings of the Executive Committee shall be given by the Clerk or Assistant Clerk or, in the absence of both, by the President or by some other person designated by him or her; provided that no notice of any meeting of the Executive Committee shall be required if all members of the Committee are present or if notice is waived in writing by all members who are not present. 

ARTICLE VII
Committees

7.1 The Trustees shall elect a Trust Investment Committee and an Audit Committee at each Annual Meeting as hereinafter provided, and may, in addition to the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee hereinafter referred to, elect, or authorize its presiding officer to appoint, such additional committees with such duties and powers as the Trustees may deem expedient.
7.2 A majority of the members of each committee present in person shall constitute a quorum, and when a quorum is present, the committee may act by a majority vote of those present.  Each committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and file copies of them with the Clerk of the Corporation.
7.3 Each committee shall elect its own officers and establish its own rules of procedure, except that the President of the Corporation shall be ex officio Chairman of the Executive Committee.  Any committee except the Trust Investment Committee may, by the unanimous written consent of all of its members recorded with its records and those of the Corporation, act without the necessity of a meeting.
7.4 Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee shall consist of no less than three Trustees to serve for a term of one year.  No member shall serve on the Audit Committee for more than three consecutive terms.  The function of the Audit Committee shall be to assist the Trustees in maintaining appropriate accounting and reporting principles, policies and procedures for the Diocesan Investment Trust and other assets of the Corporation, and more specifically to:
(a) Approve the selection of the independent auditor and to review arrangements for and the scope of the audit;
(b) Consider the comments from the independent auditor and recommend responses to such comments and the action to be taken by the Trustees in response thereto;
(c) Discuss matters of concern to the Committee, the auditor and the Trustees relating to the financial statements or other audit results;
(c) From time to time to review the internal accounting procedures and controls with the staff of the Trustees; and
(d) Perform such additional duties as may be assigned by the Trustees.
7.5 Nominating Committee.  The President shall annually no later than two months prior to the annual meeting appoint a Nominating Committee of three to submit nominations of Trustees, officers and committee members at the annual meeting of the Trustees.
7.6 Trust Investment Committee.  At each annual meeting of the Trustees, a Trust Investment Committee shall be elected consisting of not less than five nor more than fifteen Trustees, of whom the President and the Treasurer ex officiis shall be two, to serve for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified.  It shall be the function of the Committee to review the investments managed by the Corporation and to make recommendations to the Trustees with respect thereto.  It shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly.  Special meetings may be called by the Chairman of the Committee.  No one other than the President and the Treasurer shall serve on the Trust Investment Committee more than six consecutive terms. 

ARTICLE VIII
Amendments

8.1 These By Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any meeting of the Trustees at which a quorum is present by a two-thirds vote of those present, provided that notice of the substance of the proposed amendment has been given in the call for the meeting.

Return to Top of Page