H.R. 9495: What’s Next?

In a post published on November 19, 2024, we described H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives mostly along party lines on November 21. HR 9495, labeled by some as the ‘Nonprofit Killer Bill’ because it would have provided the Treasury Secretary with […]

End of Chevron Deference: What Does it Mean for Nonprofits?

In 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States (Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo) overruled the principle of Chevron deference and held that courts may not defer to a government administrative agency interpretation of the law (including as set forth in a regulation) simply because a statute is ambiguous and must instead exercise their independent judgment in deciding […]

NEO Law Group – 20th Anniversary!

I started NEO Law Group twenty years ago in January 2005. And I’ve had the immense pleasure of spending over twelve of those years working with my co-principal/business partner Erin Bradrick and our senior counsel Michele Berger. I’m also very grateful for our nonprofit clients, our colleagues, and our friends doing such important work and […]

Nonprofit Radio: Looking To 2025: Is It Paranoia Or Prudence?

I recently joined fellow Nonprofit Radio contributor Amy Sample Ward (CEO, NTEN) in conversation with host Tony Martignetti about what we expect to see in the new year. Listen to the podcast here. Our esteemed contributors share what they’re looking to next year, with the uncertainty of a new president and administration. On the table […]

H.R. 9495: Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act

Editor’s Update (11/21/24): The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed H.R. 9495 this morning 219-184 mostly along party lines. The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration. Exactly seven days after the Presidential election, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives failed to acquire the two-thirds majority it needed for fast track approval of H.R. 9495, […]

Treasury and IRS 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan

The joint Treasury and IRS Initial 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan was released on October 3, 2024. The Plan contains 231 guidance projects that are priorities for allocating Treasury Department and IRS resources during the 12-month period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The following are the projects listed for exempt organizations with some additional commentary […]

The Mission Statement: Some New Thoughts

Nonprofits exist to advance their mission. That seems simple enough. As does the corresponding statement: the mission is the reason for a nonprofit’s existence. The public expression of the mission is typically a short, pithy phrase that is part of the leadership’s elevator pitch. Below are a few examples of mission statements from well-known organizations. […]

2024 Northern California Grantmakers Annual Conference

On Tuesday, June 18, Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) held its Annual Conference: Imagine and Act in Oakland, California. The NCG website included the following in its description of the Conference: We can only act on what we can imagine. As philanthropy is called to meet this moment, we need to expand our imagination. How can we […]

Grantmakers Conference Supplement: Q&A

Conferences of grantmaker organizations focus on many critically important topics. But I have noticed that nonprofit and exempt organizations law tends to be an underappreciated area of coverage, even when it might inform several areas of focus. And for those willing to make the investment in learning and managing nuances and complexities, a better understanding […]