Nonprofit Corporation Legal Audit

All too often, whether a nonprofit corporation is legally compliant in its operations receives attention only after a conflict or issue arises. Instead, a nonprofit corporation can better prevent such conflicts and protect itself through regular legal audits of its corporate governance, federal and state tax exemption, other federal tax law matters, employment and volunteer […]

Starting a Related Nonprofit: 7 Initial Considerations

If your for-profit company is interested in starting a related nonprofit, here are 7 initial considerations to take into account before moving forward: 1. Are you properly intentioned? A nonprofit exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code must have a charitable, educational, or other 501(c)(3)-consistent purpose and must not be operated for the benefit of […]

‘Tis the Season to Be Compliant: Tips for Organizations on IRS Requirements for Deducting Charitable Contributions

The holiday season is a time of giving. Along with the presents exchanged at gatherings with friends and families, many gifts are made to nonprofits in the closing month of the year at holiday charity galas and auctions, through end-of-the year email and direct mail appeals, and through other fundraising events. For charities, the deductibility […]

Emerging Leaders Program: Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) of the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership "addresses the core competencies needed to effectively manage organizations and complex programs as well as the leadership skills one needs to be successful within our quickly changing sector."  Last week, Emily Chan and I spoke to the ELP group on various legal […]

Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 6/14/25

Stay informed of the week’s notable events and shared resources with this curated list of Nonprofit Resources of the Week. Notable Nonprofit Posts, Articles, & Other Resources: Nonprofits Are Under Siege: Why It’s Time to Get Loud, Get Legal, and Get Moving (May L. Harris, For Purpose Law Group) What To Do Now: How Philanthropy […]

Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 6/7/25

Stay informed of the week’s notable events and shared resources with this curated list of Nonprofit Resources of the Week. Notable Nonprofit Posts, Articles, & Other Resources: Testimony of Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits Before the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Hearing on “Public Funds, Private […]

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 […]

Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 5/3/25

Stay informed of the week’s notable events and shared resources with this curated list of Nonprofit Resources of the Week. Special recognition: May 1st was both International Workers’ Day and Law Day Notable Nonprofit Posts, Articles, & Other Resources: Harvard Signals It Will Resist Trump’s Efforts to Revoke Tax-Exempt Status ( Andrew DuehrenMaggie Haberman and […]

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 […]

President Trump … Meet Internal Revenue Code Section 7217

In an impromptu news conference in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump confirmed that he was potentially seeking to pull Harvard’s tax-exempt status, in an apparent act of retaliation for the university’s refusal to bow to a long list of demands. And he said there “could be” others, suggesting that the Internal Revenue Service could also […]