I have blogged about this before, but I thought a reminder was in order. The October 15 deadline for tax-exempt organizations to file a Form 990-N is is fast approaching. October 15 is a key deadline for thousands of small nonprofit organizations at risk of losing their tax-exempt status because they have not filed the [...]
Daily Dose of Nonprofit Law
Monthly Archives: September 2010
Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster: Social Welfare Organizations
A social welfare organization is an nonprofit organization exempt under Code Section 501(c)(4). It is similar to a 501(c)(3) organization in that its income is generally exempt from tax and is subject to the same limits on private inurement and excessive payments to insiders. It is different, however, in that contributions to it are not deductible as charitable contributions and it is able to conduct unlimited lobbying activities. Section 501(c)(4) exempts:
* nonprofit civic organizations operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare; and
* local associations of employees whose earnings are devoted to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.
Carter Law Group Recognized by U.S.News – Best Lawyers®
“We are excited to receive the highest ranking from U.S.News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings. When I made the decision earlier this year to build my own firm so that I could serve clients in new and better ways, I did not expect to receive national recognition this early on.” said Ellis Carter, founder of Carter Law Group. “The distinction of being selected as one of the best nonprofit/charity law firms in the country is a wonderful affirmation that our efforts to serve clients in innovative ways and create a more socially responsible model are working.”
Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Fiscal Agency
The term “Fiscal Sponsorship” describes an arrangement between a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and a project, often a new charitable effort, conducted by an organization, group, or an individual that does not have 501(c)(3) status. Fiscal sponsorship permits the exempt sponsor to accept funds restricted for the sponsored project on the project’s behalf. The sponsor, in turn, accepts the responsibility to ensure the funds are properly spent to achieve the project’s goals. This arrangement is useful for new charitable endeavors that want to “test the waters” before deciding whether to form an independent entity as well as temporary projects or coalitions that are looking for a neutral party to administer their funds.
What is a Flexible Purpose Corporation? by Keren Raz
California may soon offer a new corporate form for social enterprises. The California legislature is considering a bill, S.B. 1463, that would create a new corporate form called the Flexible Purpose Corporation. Similar in purpose to the L3C and the Benefit Corporation, the Flexible Purpose Corporation would provide directors with more flexibility to pursue environmental and social purposes in addition to profitability. To become a flexible purpose corporation, a company’s articles of incorporation would have to specify a “special purpose” that the corporation engages in, which can include but is not limited to charitable activities.
Social Enterprise in Action
The Marc Center is a thriving, creative and innovative nonprofit that is thinking strategically about how to achieve its mission through both nonprofit and for-profit ventures that provide vocational opportunities for its clients. The Marc Center is providing vocational opportunities in the areas of food service, packaging services, mailing, filing, and other low tech vocations. During my visit, I had a delicious lunch at a Banner Health facility where a Marc Center of Mesa subsidiary is in charge of food service and even provides catering. Across the country, ventures like these are commonly referred to as double bottom line “social enterprises” because they are making money and fulfilling a social mission at the same time.
