General provisions governing nonprofit associations are found in the California Corporations Code, commencing with section 21300.

A nonprofit association is an unincorporated association of natural persons for religious, scientific, social, literary, educational, recreational, benevolent or other purpose not that of pecuniary profit. These associations may include any lodge, order beneficial association, fraternal or beneficial society or association, historical, military, or veterans organization, labor union, foundation, or federation, or any other society, organization, or association or degree, branch subordinate lodge, or auxiliary thereof. The unincorporated association may register with the Secretary of State a facsimile or description of its name or insignia and by re-registration alter or cancel it. The Registration of Unincorporated Nonprofit Association form is available in PDF file format and can be viewed and printed from your computer using the most current version of the Adobe Reader (available for free from Adobe's website).