Below are some of my predictions of events and trends that will impact the nonprofit sector in 2016 and beyond. Last year, while noting that good prognosticators have to go beyond stating obvious trends, I made only one prediction: “Nonprofits will increasingly recognize the importance of understanding and responding...
CURRENT AFFAIRS & OPINION
Best of the Nonprofit Law Blog 2015
An eventful year for the world, the sector, and for us at NEO Law Group. Some of my firsts: participating at Burning Man (one of our favorite clients), rapping at Independent Sector’s Annual Conference, and attending SOCAP. Here is the best stuff from the NEO Law Group over the past year: Blog...
Top 10 Events in 2015
The past 12 months have featured a number of major events that have affected, and will continue to affect, the nonprofit sector. In 2015, nonprofits mobilized to help with major crises, including the almost 8.0 magnitude earthquake in Nepal, the influx of migrant and refugees seeking new homes, and...
Proposal for a New (and Risky) Way to Substantiate Charitable Contributions
UPDATE 1/7/16: The proposed regulations have wisely been withdrawn. The Treasury Department and IRS are soliciting comments through December 16 regarding the recently proposed rule that would provide donors with another way to substantiate their contributions of $250 or more but at the cost of imposing significant new risks on charities and...
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative – Taxable Social Enterprise – Part 2
Shortly after Mark Zuckerberg announced the social good goals of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the joint pledge he made with his wife Priscilla Chan to contribute 99 percent of their Facebook shares (currently valued at about $45 billion) to the Initiative, which is structured as a limited liability...
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative – Taxable Social Enterprise – Part 1
Yesterday, Mark Zuckerberg published a touching letter written to his week-old daughter Max which announced the beginning of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The Initiative’s mission focuses on two ideas: advancing human potential and promoting equality. And the statement that raised all the attention: We will give 99% of our Facebook shares...
Independent Sector Threads: Oakland Style
Independent Sector and its regional convening partners held critical community conversations called “Threads” about the key trends, obstacles, and opportunities that will affect every organization and individual working toward the common good over the next 20 years. I had the privilege of attending the conversation in Oakland and summarizing it in...
Women Leaders Still Make Less Than Their Male Counterparts…Even in the Nonprofit Sector
GuideStar recently released its 2015 Nonprofit Compensation Report, an annual report compiled using data reported by exempt organizations to the IRS for 2013. Unfortunately, the Report’s findings regarding women leaders in the sector are not at all encouraging. According to a list compiled by the author of the...
Why Are Charities Tax-Exempt?
Charitable organizations are eligible to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This is based on a common belief that giving to charities is good for society. However, with ever increasing reports of corruption and fraud, very large amounts of monies tied up in endowment funds of...
Proposed Regulations Threaten California Nonprofits – Comments due July 13
UPDATE (10/31/15): UNFORTUNATELY, THESE REGULATIONS WERE PROMULGATED AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2016. WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH A POST ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING NONPROFITS AWARE OF THE NEW RULES AND OF INCORPORATING AN ANNUAL CHECKLIST AS PART OF EVERY BOARD CALENDAR. In a...