Public Charity: Public Support Tests Part I: 509(a)(1)

A 501(c)(3) organization is presumed to be a private foundation unless it qualifies as a public charity. As discussed in a previous post and on our short YouTube clip, public charity classification is generally far more advantageous due to the burdensome rules and restrictions applicable to private foundations. Most 501(c)(3) organizations qualify as public charities under Section […]

Private Foundation Rules

A Section 501(c)(3) exempt organization is presumed to be a private foundation unless it qualifies as a public charity. The distinction between the private foundation and public charity classification may be critical for organizational leaders to understand, as public charity status is generally far more advantageous when there is a choice. Since private foundations are […]

Expedited Determination Process for 501(c)(4) Organizations

The Internal Revenue Service recently released a memorandum modifying and clarifying procedures for Section 501(c)(4) applicants seeking exemption after December 23, 2014, which may potentially be engaged in political campaign intervention or providing private benefit to a political party, but that otherwise do not present any issues regarding their exempt status. The memo directs the […]

Important OMB Guidance on Reimbursement of Indirect Costs

  In 2013, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued historic guidance regarding the policies and procedures of federal grants. Applicable to all new written agreements (contracts and grants) signed after December 26, 2014, government agencies and departments that hire a nonprofit using federal funds must reimburse the organization for its reasonable […]

Emergency Powers for California Nonprofit Corporations

Under California law, specifically after the approval of Assembly Bill 491 in 2013, corporations including nonprofit public benefit, mutual benefit, and religious corporations are permitted to conduct certain corporate activities during an emergency. Types of emergencies include a natural catastrophe, an enemy attack, an act of terrorism, or a state of emergency declared by the […]

Simplified California Exemption Process for Non-Charitable Nonprofits

Effective January 1, 2014, Assembly Bill 1173 simplified the process for applying for California tax exemption by certain organizations that have a federal exemption determination letter. Non-charitable nonprofits, specifically those recognized by the IRS as exempt under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(4), (5), (6), and (7), are now permitted to file the short Form […]

Rules Affecting Donor Advised Funds

As stated in our earlier post What Is A Donor Advised Fund?, donor advised funds (DAFs) are subject to several private foundation-like rules that sponsoring organizations may not ordinarily be subject to as public charities. These rules are meant to curb abuses and create more transparency within the DAF community. Prohibited actions include providing personal […]