Short answer: yes. But the legal requirement isn't the real question. Most first-time founders need to understand what a board actually does, who should be on it, and how to set up governance from day one.

There's a myth that new nonprofits can't get grants. It's not true, but it's not completely wrong either. Most major foundations want a track record. The key is knowing which funders specifically support new and emerging organizations, and what they're looking for when you apply.