While Federal tax laws are the same nationwide, state laws governing EOs can vary dramatically among the states. This article lists the most common violations by tax-exempt organizations and the agencies in charge of enforcement.
3. Think Big. Boards without great leadership can get bogged down in the minutia. The minutia include the compliance and oversight responsibilities of the board. While it’s important to do these things well, it’s not the organization’s raison d’être. Great board chairs help steer the board clear of this phenomenon by keeping the board focused on their vision of the impact the board wants to make on the community the organization serves. Great board chairs understand that focusing on the organization’s breakthrough goals rather than busywork keeps the board energized and engaged.
According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, charter schools serve more than 3 million students throughout the nation, however, charter schools do not
Have you ever considered starting your own private family foundation? For those who have causes, you are passionate about, creating a family foundation gives you the
You may have heard of piercing the corporate veil in the context of for-profit corporations but are you aware that nonprofit corporations can also have
As discussed in last week’s Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster, there are some organizations that are, by their very nature, considered public. These include churches, schools, and hospitals. Other types of charitable organizations must pass one of two mathematical tests calculated on a four year rolling average to qualify is public.
FARA defines “foreign principal” broadly to include any, government, political party, association, corporation, or other organization that was either established under a foreign country’s laws or maintains its principal place of business in a foreign country; and any individual outside of the United States. An “agent” is an individual or entity that acts within the United States at the direction of either a foreign principal or a person whose activities are supervised or directed by a foreign principal.
ine to file Form 990 for calendar year taxpayers. the tax return is filed late, the IRS imposes late fees based on the organization’s gross receipts ($20 day per day for organization’s whose gross receipts are less than $1 million and $100 per day for organization’s whose gross receipts are more than $1 million). Failure to file Form 990 for three consecutive years will result in automatic loss of tax exempt status.
Certain countries, regimes, businesses, and individuals are subject to sanctions administered by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).
Everyday nonprofits seek to change the world on what often seems to be pennies on the dollar. Nonprofit leaders commonly think of grant money and tax-deductible donations when fundraising, but in many states being a nonprofit allows certain nonprofits to legally conduct gambling activities that would otherwise be criminalized under state law. Inadvertently violating these gambling laws can have steep consequences so if your organization is planning an event that involves some form of gambling, it pays to do it right.
Most states require you to register your organization if you solicit donations from their residents. Many states also require registration if your organization collects substantial or ongoing donations from their residents, even if you aren’t specifically targeting donors in that state. Download our comprehensive list of each state’s requirements.
Download our free guide to learn about the many elements needed to run a successful nonprofit organization, as well as how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes.