On Nonprofit Radio this Friday, there will be a repeat broadcast of my conversation with Tony Martignetti on the subject of the board’s role in hiring the executive. In connection with the initial broadcast, I previously posted 10 Tips for Boards on executive succession. Here, I’d like to discuss further the 7th Tip: Determine the qualities, […]
governance
Nonprofit Law 101 for Journalists
Prompted by a conversation among nonprofit leaders about the public’s and media’s general lack of knowledge about nonprofits, this article targeted at journalists briefly discusses some basics of federal tax laws applicable to 501(c)(3) organizations and common state corporate and charitable trust laws applicable to nonprofits. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) Exempt Purposes A 501(c)(3) organization […]
Where Nonprofit Boards Fall Short
A few months ago, Harvard Business Review published a great piece by Dominic Barton and Mark Wiseman titled Where Boards Fall Short. In the piece, the authors examined the ways in which boards of directors are failing their organizations and discussed areas in which we should begin to make changes regarding how we approach board […]
Independent Sector’s Principles for Good Governance
The legal duties of a board member go beyond ensuring that the organization complies with applicable law. A board member must act with reasonable care and good faith in the best interests of the organization. The best interests of a 501(3)(3) organization are related to its performance of its charitable, educational, religious or other qualifying exempt purpose. […]
Nonprofit Radio: Board Calendars
I’ll be on Nonprofit Radio speaking with host Tony Martignetti this Friday at 10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET discussing agenda items nonprofit boards should get on the board calendar at the start of the year. You can tune in to the live feed on Talking Alternative or catch up later on iTunes. We’ll be […]
7 Reasons to Review Your Bylaws Now
The bylaws of a nonprofit corporation are the board’s internal rules and instruction manual for how the nonprofit is governed. It may be the nonprofit’s single most important document. Here are 7 reasons why you should review your bylaws for legal and internal compliance: 1. To ensure legal compliance with applicable state and federal laws. […]
2 Questions Nonprofit Board Members Should Consider on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Beyond
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, consider the following two questions: Is social justice a core value of your organization and something you strive for in pursuit of advancing its mission? Is your organization investing its resources consistent with its values in a meaningful way? How to Be a Racial Justice Hero Colorlines published a great article […]
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: […]
Nonprofit Radio: Managing Dissent on Your Boards
The University of Virginia’s governing body found itself under some heat earlier this year when its proposal to silence board members from publicly voicing their dissent from board actions was made public. Ultimately, the proposed policy was abandoned and with good reason. But the broader issue of how to manage dissent on a board is worthy […]
Executive Committees: Why You Should Limit Their Authority
It is very common for an executive committee to be authorized to take action on behalf of the board on all matters in between regular board meeting. Delegating the full power of the board to an executive committee may be very useful, particularly when the board is composed of a large number of directors who […]