Creating an animal welfare association: articles of association and procedures (1901 law)

Creating an animal protection association gives you a legal framework to act, receive donations, and form partnerships. The 1901 Act makes the process accessible to everyone—provided you lay solid foundations from the start.

Why the 1901 Act framework

The 1901 Act association is a non-profit structure that can be created with a minimum of two people. It gives your project legal existence: it can open a bank account, receive donations and subsidies, employ staff, sign agreements, and take legal action. For a collective that rescues or protects animals, it is the essential foundation.

Drafting solid bylaws

The bylaws are the constitution of your association. Take the time to perfect them: amending them later requires a general assembly. They must specify in particular:

• The name and precise purpose (protection, rescue, awareness, etc.);
• The registered office;
• The members: categories, membership conditions, contributions;
• The governance: board (president, treasurer, secretary), board of directors, roles and powers;
• The procedures for general assemblies and the distribution of assets in case of dissolution.

A crucial point: include a disinterested management and a non-profit operation, a condition for aiming for public interest.

Registering the association

Registration is done with the prefecture (or online), with the bylaws and the list of directors. You then obtain:

• An RNA number (national register of associations, "W" number);
• Publication in the Official Journal of Associations (JOAFE), which gives the association legal capacity.

From there, you can open a dedicated bank account and start operating.

Aiming for public interest

To issue tax receipts to your donors—and thus allow them tax reductions—your association must meet the criteria of public interest: disinterested management, non-profit activity, and actions not benefiting a restricted circle of people. In case of doubt, the tax ruling procedure allows you to have your eligibility confirmed by the administration before issuing receipts.

Initial steps after creation

• Open an associative bank account;
• Take out liability insurance for the association and its volunteers;
• Set up accounting, even simple, from the very first euro;
• If you rescue and house animals, anticipate the obligations specific to animal holding establishments (declaration, ACACED, veterinary health) detailed in our other guides.

This article is for informational purposes and does not substitute for legal advice. For up-to-date procedures and forms, refer to Service-Public.fr and your prefecture.