Articles of Incorporation

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

Association for Analytic Learning about Islam and Muslim Societies, INC.
a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation

I.

The name of this corporation is Association for Analytic Learning about Islam and Muslim Societies, Inc. The corporation’s name can be abbreviated as AALIMS.

II.

A. This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person.  It is organized under the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes.

B. The specific purpose of this corporation is to promote analytic research of Muslim societies, with a focus on the roles of culture and religion in social, economic, and political trends in both the past and the present. It serves as a forum for the discussion and critical evaluation of relevant research that uses advanced descriptive, theoretical, and empirical methods of the modern social sciences. It puts a premium on interdisciplinary exchanges as a means of fostering comprehensive analyses of Muslim societies and their institutions. Thus, it seeks to broaden contacts among economists, historians, legal scholars, political scientists, and sociologists working on the Muslim world. It reaches out also to humanists, especially specialists on Islam or a part of the Muslim world, who share an appreciation of applying empirical and theoretical methods of the social sciences to the social, political, historical, or economic study of Muslim societies. The association avoids political activism of all kinds. It shall have no political affiliation. Imposing no limits on the inferences made or conclusions reached, it considers unrestricted scholarly debate and discussion as essential to intellectual advancement and refinement.

III.

The name and address in the State of California of this corporation’s initial agent for service of process is: Lisa Blaydes, 616 Serra Street, Encina Hall West, Room 100, Stanford, California 94305-6044.

IV.

A. This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Sections 170(c)(2) and 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Code Section 501(a) or (b) by a corporation contributions to which are deductible under Code Section 170(a).

C. No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except as otherwise permitted in accordance with elections duly made pursuant to Code Section 501(h) and Section 23704.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.  This corporation shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

V.

The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and that has established its tax-exempt status under Code Section 501(c)(3).