Private foundations in the United States are often interested in funding promising organizations and projects that are based outside of the country. When doing so, these foundations are required to follow certain rules and procedures promulgated by the IRS to help ensure that the foreign grantees are properly using those funds for charitable purposes. Currently, […]
Author: Michele Berger
Starting a Nonprofit: Voting Membership Structure
The term “member” is a term of art defined in California Nonprofit Corporation Law (the “Law”). Generally, a member under the Law (sometimes referred to as a “statutory member” or “voting member”) means any person who, under a provision of a corporation’s articles of incorporation (“articles”) or bylaws, has the right to vote on (1) […]
Duties of the Treasurer of a Nonprofit Corporation
A Treasurer is typically charged with overseeing the management and reporting of an organization’s finances. Generally, as with other officer positions, the specific duties of the Treasurer are stated in an organization’s bylaws. Since an organization’s financial management is directly tied to the Treasurer’s responsibilities, the Treasurer’s execution of her responsibilities will have a strong […]
Duties of the Secretary of a Nonprofit Corporation
The secretary of a nonprofit organization plays a critical role in fostering communication and ensuring proper management and utilization of important organizational records. Generally, an organization’s bylaws will set the duties of the secretary, however, duties may change from time to time as may be assigned by the board. A secretary will be most useful […]
Converting a For-Profit into a Nonprofit
Increasingly, for-profit corporations are expanding their goals beyond profit-maximization and pursuing social or charitable goals. For owners of some of these corporations whose sole focus becomes a charitable purpose, conversion into a nonprofit organization can provide new sources of financial and social capital. However, whether a corporation should convert its structure into a tax-exempt, nonprofit […]
Applying for the California Property Tax Welfare Exemption: An Overview
Nonprofits exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are not automatically exempt from property taxes. In California, depending upon ownership and use of the property, eligible nonprofit organizations may separately apply and receive an exemption from local property taxes. There are three common exemptions for nonprofits owning property in California: the Church exemption, the […]
10 Significant News Events of 2016
2016 has featured a number of major events that have affected, and will continue to affect, the nonprofit sector. Some might describe 2016 as a difficult year, featuring a long, turbulent election in the United States and unexpected results that have left many groups, including nonprofits themselves and the communities they serve, anxious and uncertain […]
Starting a Nonprofit: Environmental as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Purpose
An environmental purpose is not one of the seven exempt purposes specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). However, many environmental organizations qualify for exemption under 501(c)(3) because their activities further charitable, educational, and/or scientific purposes. Although there is no explicit mention of environmental purposes in the statutes or regulations defining […]
Lorman Webinar: Complexities of Starting a Nonprofit in California
Erin is presenting a live webinar titled, Complexities of Starting a Nonprofit in California, for Lorman on October 13 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST. Here is the description of the program: This topic will cover the process of forming a California nonprofit entity, going through the legal considerations involved in each step in detail. We will also cover […]
IRS TE/GE FY 2017 Work Plan
Last week, the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) division issued their 2017 work plan. The document summarizes strategy and compliance from fiscal year (FY) 2016, as well as a plan for the coming FY 2017. As covered by the Nonprofit Law Blog last year, TE/GE currently focuses on 5 strategic areas for continuous […]
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