Pa. Cons. Stat. » 15 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CORPORATIONS) / Chapter 53
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

15 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301 (2026)

 Purposes.

✓ current as of May 2026
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ARTICLE B

DOMESTIC NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS GENERALLY

 

Chapter

53.  Incorporation

55.  Corporate Powers, Duties and Safeguards

57.  Officers, Directors and Members

59.  Amendments, Sale of Assets and Dissolution

 

Article Heading.  The heading of Article B was amended December 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, effective October 1, 1989.

 

 

CHAPTER 53

INCORPORATION

 

Subchapter

A.  Incorporation Generally

B.  Special Procedures Applicable to Certain Corporations

C.  Revival

 

Enactment.  Chapter 53 was added as Chapter 73 on November 15, 1972, P.L.1063, No.271, effective in 90 days. Chapter 73 was renumbered to Chapter 53 on December 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, effective October 1, 1989.

Chapter Heading.  The heading of Chapter 53 was amended December 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, effective October 1, 1989.

 

 

SUBCHAPTER A

INCORPORATION GENERALLY

 

Sec.

5301.  Purposes.

5302.  Number and qualifications of incorporators.

5303.  Corporate name (Repealed).

5304.  Required name changes by senior corporations (Repealed).

5305.  Reservation of corporate name (Repealed).

5306.  Articles of incorporation.

5307.  Advertisement.

5308.  Filing of articles.

5309.  Effect of filing of articles of incorporation.

5310.  Organization meeting.

5311.  Filing of statement of summary of record by certain corporations.

 

Subchapter Heading.  The heading of Subchapter A was amended December 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, effective October 1, 1989.

Cross References.  Subchapter A is referred to in sections 5331, 7306 of this title; section 3702 of Title 22 (Detectives and Private Police).

§ 5301.  Purposes.

(a)  General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), corporations may be incorporated under this article for any lawful purpose or purposes, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the following or similar purposes: athletic; any lawful business purpose to be conducted on a not-for-profit basis; beneficial; benevolent; cemetery; charitable; civic; control of fire; cultural; educational; encouragement of agriculture or horticulture; fraternal; health; literary; missionary; musical; mutual improvement; patriotic; political; prevention of cruelty to persons or animals; professional, commercial, industrial, trade, service or business associations; promotion of the arts; protection of natural resources; religious; research; scientific and social.

(b)  Exception.--Except as otherwise provided by Title 40 (relating to insurance) or the act of December 29, 1972 (P.L.1701, No.364), known as the Health Maintenance Organization Act, a corporation may not be incorporated under this article for the purpose of engaging in the business of writing insurance or reinsurance as principal.

(Dec. 19, 1990, P.L.834, No.198, eff. imd.)

 

1990 Amendment.  Act 198 reenacted and amended the entire section.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2016–2025 · leading case: Zampogna v. Law Enf't Health Benefits, Inc., 151 A.3d 1003 (Pa. 2016).
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Zampogna v. Law Enf't Health Benefits, Inc., 151 A.3d 1003 (Pa. 2016). · cites it 6× “1 15 Pa.C.S. § 5301(a); see also id. § 5306(a)(3) (providing that a 1 Specifically, Section 5301(a) provides: (…continued) [J-132-2016] - 2 nonprofit corporation’s articles of incorporation must contain “[a] brief statement of the purpose or purposes for which the corporation is…”
B. Casper v. Bucks Cnty. Repub. Comm., a/k/a Bucks Cnty. Repub. All. (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). · cites it 2× “15 Pa. C.S. §5301(a) (emphasis added). Further, the statute is intended to provide uniform rules for the governance and regulation of the affairs of nonprofit corporations and of their officers, directors and members and of members of other bodies, regardless of the date or…”
15 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5301(a): 2 cases
Zampogna v. Law Enf't Health Benefits, Inc., 151 A.3d 1003 (Pa. 2016). “1 15 Pa.C.S. § 5301(a); see also id. § 5306(a)(3) (providing that a 1 Specifically, Section 5301(a) provides: (…continued) [J-132-2016] - 2 nonprofit corporation’s articles of incorporation must contain “[a] brief statement of the purpose or purposes for which the corporation is…”
B. Casper v. Bucks Cnty. Repub. Comm., a/k/a Bucks Cnty. Repub. All. (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “15 Pa. C.S. §5301(a) (emphasis added). Further, the statute is intended to provide uniform rules for the governance and regulation of the affairs of nonprofit corporations and of their officers, directors and members and of members of other bodies, regardless of the date or…”
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