Best of the Nonprofit Law Blog 2014

Here are some selected highlights from NEO Law Group over the past year that we hope you’ll find helpful. 2014 was also highlighted by an addition to Erin’s family and Michele’s graduation and passage of the bar exam! Amazing year for all of us. Blog Posts Governance What Issues Should a Nonprofit Board Consider Annually? Executive Succession: […]

Independent Sector National Conference 2014: Imagine – Public Policy Action Institute

Imagine. That’s the theme of the 2014 Independent Sector National Conference currently being held in Seattle. And it’s a reminder for nonprofit board members and managers of the importance of thinking beyond our very important day-to-day matters and mere compliance. One of the Conference’s two important pre-conferences was the Public Policy Action Institute (PPAI):  The Institute is […]

Nonprofit Advocacy is More Than Lobbying

Advocacy is a powerful tool underutilized by public charities to advance their mission. And although the terms advocacy and lobbying are often used interchangeably, as lobbying is a form of advocacy, there are federal law limitations related to lobbying activities that do not extend to non-lobbying advocacy activities. Lobbying is defined as activities that attempt […]

Independent Sector Public Policy Action Institute 2013: Key Issues in Tax Reform

  Day Two of the Independent Sector Public Policy Action Institute kicked off with a session on tax reform moderated by Kyle Caldwell, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and divided into five hot topics. Charitable Deduction. Richard Schmalbeck, Duke University School of Law, discussed the availability of a charitable contribution deduction only to itemized filers and the […]

Nonprofit Webinar on Advocacy, Lobbying, Election-Related Activities

Emily and I are presenting on "Nonprofit Advocacy: Lobbying and Election-Related Activities for 501(c)(3)s" for Nonprofit Webinars on April 18, 10 a.m. Pacific Time.  Cost: Free. Many nonprofits often desire certain legislative and public policy changes by our legislators and publicly elected officials to help further or achieve their charitable missions. Nonprofits, however, often avoid […]

Citizens United Ruling

On January 21, 2010, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations (including nonprofit corporations and unions) may make direct expenditures on political advertising in support of or in opposition to a candidate for public office.  While nonprofit leaders and commentators are still analyzing what this means for […]