ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION  OF MERCY REFUGEES HOUSE

The undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the nonprofit laws of the State of Washington (RCW 24.03), hereby adopts the following Articles of Incorporation:

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the corporation (“Corporation”) shall be “MERCY REFUGEES HOUSE”

ARTICLE II
DURATION
The term of existence shall be perpetual.

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE

General Purpose: The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to operate as a nonprofit corporation. The Corporation is not organized for the private gain of any person and shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by: (a) a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law); (b) a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law); or (c) a corporation under the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act (RCW 24.03). The corporation is an independent entity and has no affiliation to any political or religious associations. The corporation is an international organization and may have representatives and bureaus in all countries.

Specific Purpose: The Corporation is aiming to support refugees all over the globe regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, political association, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The initial effort shall be focused on refugees who have been imprisoned or tortured, however, other refugees who have left their countries due to religious, gender, or various discriminations will also benefit from the mid-term and long-term goals and objectives set by the corporation.

The specific purposes of the corporation are divided into the following categories:

Short-term purposes: Assist in reducing refugees’ financial problems from the start of their asylum-seeking process.
Mid-term purposes: Assist in resolving the bureaucratic problems of the refugees, expedite the process of dealing with their case, and find appropriate sources of income and employment suitable for the asylum-seeking periods.
Long-term purposes: Assist in supporting the capabilities of the asylum-seekers after their transfer to a third country, and facilitate their transition to becoming permanent residence.

The Corporation may therefore seek, apply for, and receive donations, grants, loans, and other funding from individuals, organizations, corporations, government agencies, and others to support and conduct, in any manner, any lawful activities in furtherance of these charitable, scientific, and educational purposes.

ARTICLE IV
CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The Executive Committee is obliged recommend and submit a budget for expenditures to be reviewed by the Board of Trustees three months prior to the end of a fiscal year, and to present the annual report of the previous year a maximum two months after the finishing of the fiscal year.

In the case of a kinship relation between one of the members of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Executive Committee, or a member of the Executive Committee and one of the executive managers, a conflict of interest will be deemed to exist. In such a case, effected members are to make known their association to the involved committees and immediately recuse themselves from voting decisions. Such affected members will not be entitled to vote, or otherwise influence any decisions favoring the position of another relative.

Refugees who are members of the Board of Trustees or Executive Committee of the Corporation shall not be entitled to make decisions about the salaries of the members of the Board of Trustees, members of Executive Committee or any other staff and executives of the Corporation because of the deemed conflict of interest. However, such persons are authorized to take decisions on the subject of financial assistance for other refugees who do not hold decision-making and executive positions with the Corporation.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF TRUSTEES & BOARD OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

Officers: The Corporation shall have a Board of Trustees and executive committees.

ARTICLE VI
DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of the Corporation, the net assets are to be distributed as follows: to organizations of similar purposes, as determined by the Board of Directors, which have established tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Other miscellaneous matters not set out in the articles of incorporation shall be dealt with in accordance with the rules and provisions laid out by the United States.