2025 CEP Conference

The biennial Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) conference was held in Los Angeles this year from November 3 through November 5. The conference attracted some great speakers and touched on many of the critically important issues facing philanthropy and the grantees, causes, and communities philanthropy supports. Here are some of the highlights with some additional resources and thoughts: […]

Treasury and IRS 2025-2026 Priority Guidance Plan

The joint Treasury and IRS Initial 2025-2026 Priority Guidance Plan was released on September 30, 2025. The Plan contains 105 guidance projects that are priorities for allocating Treasury Department and IRS resources during the 12-month period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The following are the projects that may be of importance to tax-exempt organizations […]

Nonprofit Radio: The State Of The Sector (Beginning With AI)

I recently joined fellow Nonprofit Radio contributor Amy Sample Ward (CEO, NTEN) in conversation with host Tony Martignetti about artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, governance, and the general state of the nonprofit sector. Listen to the latest podcast here or on your favorite podcast apps. This year, any conversation about the nonprofit sector finds its way […]

DOGE Subcommittee Hearing: Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild

One June 4, 2025, the Delivering on Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing: Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild. The title of the hearing as well as a majority of the witnesses invited to speak were a giveaway about the majority’s objective and predetermined […]

Purpose-Driven Board Leadership During Challenging Times

As readers of this blog may be aware, I’m a big fan of the governance model known as Purpose-Driven Board Leadership (PDBL). If you’re not familiar with PDBL, it follows four basic principles: PDBL in Context It’s important to understand that PDBL does not fully inform the roles and responsibilities of the board. But it […]

Nonprofits and the Draft Tax Bill: Lobbying & Advocacy

Charities – If the status quo is harming your ability to advance your mission consistent with your values, what can you do? What should you do? The first question is a little easier to answer from a legal perspective. But I’ll try to provide a tiny amount of personal insights on the second question at […]

Highlights from 2025 Georgetown Conference on Representing & Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations

The following are just some of the many highlights from the 2025 Conference on Representing & Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations (the “Georgetown Conference”). Not surprisingly, the current hostile political climate towards the nonprofit sector was a pervasive theme. As with all of our posts capturing highlights of events, my interpretations, opinions, and suggestions of additional resources may […]

WCTEO 2025 Highlights – Day One

The following are just some of the many highlights from day one of the 2025 Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations (WCTEO). As with all of our posts capturing highlights of events, my interpretations and opinions may be sprinkled with the general information provided by the presenters. Power Hour Plus Ofer Lion, Seyfarth Shaw LLP; Jean Tom, […]

Highlights from the ABA Exempt Organizations Committee Meeting 2/20/25

Here are some of the highlights from the American Bar Association Exempt Organizations Committee meeting held on February 20 as part of the ABA Midyear Tax Meeting. As with all of our posts capturing highlights of events, my interpretations and opinions may be sprinkled with those of the presenters. Executive Orders The opening session of the meeting […]

2024 SSIR Nonprofit Management Institute – Climate Change

Here are some of my notes for the panel discussion on nonprofits and climate change at the 2024 Nonprofit Management Institute – What’s Next for the Social Sector? – hosted by the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR). I had the pleasure of joining Judith LeBlanc, executive director of Native Organizers Alliance; Keesha Gaskins-Nathan, director for the […]