The nonprofit law podcast is a weekly show highlighting legal issues facing nonprofits. Hosted by Tim Mooney, an attorney with over a decade of experience in nonprofit law, this entertaining and informative program helps staff, officers and directors of nonprofits to understand the laws that impact their organizations.
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits
Shownotes at nplawcast.com Email the show
This is a re-presentation of 2007’s end of the year guide to recordkeeping - a timely reminder for all calendar fiscal year organizations!
What should we be doing at the end of a fiscal year? Listener question…
It’s big enough of a task to be mentioned alone: recordkeeping.
It’s the law
It’s a good management tool
It can protect you against false accusations by others that would like to make your organization’s existence more difficult
Corporate record book
Make one if you don’t have it… a binder with all of your important docs
IRS determination letter, articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and minutes of board meetings
This should be permanently kept and updated when necessary
Remember some of these documents must be made publicly available, so this is an important one
Lobbying and other reporting information
Keep track of hours of lobbying as a 501(c)(3)
Keep track of amount of partisan activity as a 501(c)(4)
You’ll need this for your 990 in the spring
Financial records
Bank statements, old Form 990s, internal reports by treasurers, etc.
Keep these for at least seven years (law requires 3 for some, like the 990s)
Make sure you are keeping up with donor receipts for end of the year appeals!
Email me with questions and suggested topics
Screencast on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit - go to nplawcast.com for details
Need more than a podcast? Tim-Mooney.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
What does the IRS have in store for nonprofits in 2009?
“a lengthy examination of how tax-exempt groups raise and spend money compared to how much they spend to achieve charitable goals.”
“Nonprofit student-loan groups also will be under greater scrutiny from the IRS next year, as the agency seeks to guard against abuses by organizations that are connected to for-profit businesses.”
“The IRS also will look at how nonprofit organizations and donors account for non-cash gifts, such as pharmaceuticals or used clothing, that are given to tax-exempt groups, which in-turn donate to a different nonprofit group.”
“The agency also plans to take a look at its own operations next year… consider governance issues that may be used in determining whether an organization qualifies as a charity.”
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
When is a person acting on their own versus acting on behalf of their organization?
- Joining a nonprofit as a director or a staff member doesn’t take away your individual rights
- Individuals can do things that are otherwise forbidden… donate time/money to campaign, etc.
- General rule - so long as an organization’s financial resources, facilities, or staff are not used, the organization is not going to be beholden to the individual acts of its staff, officers or directors
When do the actions become attributed to an organization? - Principles of agency are used… if the person acts as if they have power, and they actually do have the power, the IRS will usually consider the action that of the organization - Actions of individuals that weren’t ok’d by the group, but were later “implicitly ratified.” (i.e. Organization found out about the actions and did not disavow them)
Tips & Best practices
- Have a policy in place on use of organizational resources
- Encourage use of disclaimers for individuals working on non-organizational endeavors (i.e. “organization shown for identification purposes only”)
Resources
Election Year Issues (pp. 363-365) - IRS CPE Text
Election Year Activities for Section 501(c)(3) Organizations: Frequently Asked Questions - McDermott Will & Emery Closing
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
Check out the new website
New adds include a searchable database of all shows. If any links are a mess, drop me a line.
Change comes to DC - What are the plans for nonprofits?
Resources - look for something akin to the bailouts in the for profit sector, although the focus will be in the form of a newly formed Social Investment Fund Network - federal seed money leverages private sector funding
Tax law changes - any tax increases on higher income Americans could (possibly… depending on whom you ask) enhance the incentives to make charitable donations
Scrutiny - Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) of the Senate Finance Committee have been poking around the nonprofit sector for years. Sen. Grassley in particular has been the most interested in creating additional regulatory hoops for nonprofits to jump through.
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics
Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up.
Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
Check out the new website
We had a meltdown in the website code, so I made lemonade from lemons and moved everything over to a new system that should be more stable. New adds include a searchable database of all shows. If any links are a mess, drop me a line.
Fall and winter means donation time (we hope!)
federal tax law requires charities to provide receipts to donors so that that may take advantage of their generosity
IRS - true to form, does not give us any particular formatting on what charities need to provide, but they’re more than happy to create problems for charities that fail to provide them
The amount of money or a description of the item donated
A statement indicating whether or not any goods or services were provided in return for the gift; receipts from religious organizations must include a statement indicating that “intangible religious benefits” were provided but they have no monetary value for tax purposes
A good-faith estimate of the value of goods or services provided; insubstantial values need not be recorded
Email is totally acceptable - everyone thank the IRS for joining the Internet revolution!
Want to check out what our neighbors north of the border are like on this? Take a look at the Sens Foundation’s admonition not to ask for a receipt unless you really, really need one… I’ve never seen anything like that before!
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics
Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up.
Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
Election season brings out the advocacy issues for nonprofits
- Some churches are about to get in a heap of trouble… Alliance Defense Fund is trying to take on the IRS and the tax prohibition on electioneering. It’s probably going to cost some churches, but more importantly the hubris will impact the church goers
The First Amedment is alive and well, but it doesn’t simultaneously create the right to tax deductibility of donations. That’s a privilege.
- Campaign finance laws were thankfully overturned, and here’s why… In 2000, Congress passed McCain-Feingold, or BCRA - it contained a well-intentioned but overbroad provision that essentially banned any broadcast advertisement that mentioned anyone running for federal office within 60 days of the November elections.
The Supreme Court overturned it because it banned all ads in those windows, including ones that are purely within free speech categories - like lobbying
When I lobbied supporters and authors of this law, I was constantly asked what kind of things could possibly come up within 60 days of an election that nonprofits and other corporations would want to weigh in on?
Well… we all just experienced it - the rescue bill was firmly within the 60 day window and without the wisdom of the Court (a phrase I do not often use) an election law would have stopped organizations from weighing in on the bill via broadcast ads.
Even supporters of BCRA were uncomfortable on this point… Resources
Election Law Blog on the BCRA 60 day windows Action Urged Against Politicking Pastors - The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics
Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up.
Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits. Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
- - This podcast is dedicated to the memory of Sean May. To learn more about Sean, please visit seanmaymemorial.com. - -
One less step in organizing a nonprofit!
Straight from the IRS:
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department today issued new regulations that will streamline the approval process for organizations seeking tax-exempt status as publicly supported charities.
The new regulations do away with the so-called advance rulings that granted public charity status for an initial five-year period but required exempt organizations to demonstrate, after the initial period, that they in fact received a substantial part of their support from public sources to receive a final determination letter.
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up. Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits. Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show
Craigslist Foundation Nonprofit Bootcamp Highly recommend this great day of learning about nonprofits, including nonprofit law Alliance for Justice session on lobbying was excellent NYC 2008 Podcasts should be up soon - in the meantime, check out past ones If you’re in the Bay Area, I highly encourage you to attend the west coast version on October 18, 2008 in San Mateo, CA
IRS revamps Pub 1828, the Guide to Churches and Religious Organizations
IRS Publication 1828 (PDF) - Designed for religious organizations, but this guide is an excellent parallel resource for secular charities as well
Inurement and Private Benefit
No special deals for insiders
No charitable dollars to individuals’ “private benefit”
Employment Tax
The basic ins and outs of withholding and other issues
Payment Of Employee Business Expenses
How to properly reimburse
Recordkeeping Requirements
Simple rules for keeping the IRS happy if you’re audited
Substantiation and Disclosure Rules for Donations
What you have to do when you receive tax-deductible donations
A great index to other relevant IRS pubs (special note to my silver medal for best IRS pub: Publication 557)
Update reflects some of the examples and guidance from Rev. Rul. 2007-41
Examples illustrating the application of the facts and circumstances test for campaign intervention
If you’re a non-religious org, check out the Revenue Ruling… Pub 1828 focuses on the religious org examples
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up. Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits. Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show I’ll be at the Craigslist Foundation Nonprofit Bootcamp in NYC on August 16th - if you attend and see me, feel free to say hello! Thanks to Texas Nonprofits for featuring the show on their homepage! It sparks my craving for Ironworks BBQ in Austin…
Can a staff member also serve on the board of directors?
From a listener email: keep the suggestions coming!
Some people are absolutists about this - it’s an unworkable conflict of interest. Early in my career I was confronted with an ED who was convinced it was actually illegal.
In some circumstances, this may be true - check your state laws regarding conflicts of interest, but also your bylaws and conflict of interest policies
Assuming none of these things block it, serving on the board as a staff member IS possible
It’s more of an issue for small, but growing nonprofits
Why? It’s a route to compensate a person for their work - paid as a staff member, but still present as an unpaid board member. (wearing two hats)
Pitfall: Conflict of interest - breach of duty of loyalty (for more, go back to NLP #35)
From BoardSource: “It is probably impossible to find a board member who will never have any conflicts of interest… if these associations develop into conflicts of interest and become a major obstacle to fulfilling the duty of loyalty — one of the main legal obligations of board members — it may be necessary to re-evaluate the board member’s suitability for current board service.”
If it makes sense for your organization to have a person serve as a board member, have a very strict policy regarding breach of loyalty. Best practice would be an abstention policy where the board member recuses him or herself from any votes that impact staff. Another (perhaps better) policy would be to have the board member serve in an ex officio capacity (i.e. no voting power on the board, but has full authority to be present and debate all decisions).
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up. Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits. Shownotes…. nplawcast.com Email the show I’ll be at the Craigslist Foundation Nonprofit Bootcamp in NYC on August 16th - if you attend and see me, feel free to say hello! Thanks to Texas Nonprofits for featuring the show on their homepage! It sparks my craving for Ironworks BBQ in Austin…
Can a staff member also serve on the board of directors?
From a listener email: keep the suggestions coming!
Some people are absolutists about this - it’s an unworkable conflict of interest. Early in my career I was confronted with an ED who was convinced it was actually illegal.
In some circumstances, this may be true - check your state laws regarding conflicts of interest, but also your bylaws and conflict of interest policies
Assuming none of these things block it, serving on the board as a staff member IS possible
It’s more of an issue for small, but growing nonprofits
Why? It’s a route to compensate a person for their work - paid as a staff member, but still present as an unpaid board member. (wearing two hats)
Pitfall: Conflict of interest - breach of duty of loyalty (for more, go back to NLP #35)
From BoardSource: “It is probably impossible to find a board member who will never have any conflicts of interest… if these associations develop into conflicts of interest and become a major obstacle to fulfilling the duty of loyalty — one of the main legal obligations of board members — it may be necessary to re-evaluate the board member’s suitability for current board service.”
If it makes sense for your organization to have a person serve as a board member, have a very strict policy regarding breach of loyalty. Best practice would be an abstention policy where the board member recuses him or herself from any votes that impact staff. Another (perhaps better) policy would be to have the board member serve in an ex officio capacity (i.e. no voting power on the board, but has full authority to be present and debate all decisions).
Closing Email me with questions and suggested topics Sign up for the free NLP newsletter… every week get an early look at the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up. Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com and Beyond the Podcast at nplawcast.com nplawcast.com
This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law
