January 1-31, 2012

January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2012

Lead Stories

Former Employee May Sue Home For Reading Personal E-Mail

Staff was checking for business messages while employee was out on sick leave

Court Approves Part Of Cy Pres Order on Fisk Art

Says trial court had no authority to require part of sale proceeds to be placed in endowment

Charities Lose Bequests When Donor Doesn’t Change Will

Handwritten instrument failed to provide bequest when man’s wife predeceased him by several years

Nonprofit Law YOU Want to Know

Issue Notes

To the Point

Can members overturn president elect

Our Gem & Mineral Club initiated a president-elect position in 2008. The membership approved it and for two administrations all was fine. This last election a group of "unhappy members" presented a floor nomination for president. On the day of the election it was explained that there could not be a vote for president because he was voted in the previous year. This group is crying foul, saying that "they didn't know what president-elect meant" and the election was skewed because the definition wasn't given at the time of the nomination. Is there any merit to the complaint and is ignorance of the rules valid?

Lessons from Litigation

Court denies preliminary injunction to protect idea

Tax Matters

Art center denied real estate exemption

Employment Law

Whistleblower rule doesn’t protect on complaint to wrongdoer

How many cases are necessary to determine who is “employer”?

May Webinar

Getting Beyond a
Semi-Functional Board
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
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Nonprofit bylaw review

Don Kramer will review and comment on your own current or proposed bylaws

Do your Bylaws reflect the way you actually operate? Do they protect the interests of those who should be protected? Do they spell out clearly how to deal with governance issues? Or do they create uncertainty for those who have to implement them?

Most nonprofits don't spend a lot of time looking at their Bylaws until there is a question or a dispute. That's when you need bylaws that are clear and unambiguous, so your questions on how to proceed are already answered. That's when bad bylaws can lead to unnecessary controversies or even costly litigation. Nonprofit Issues editor Don Kramer will review your current or proposed Bylaws to see if they work for you.

Learn more

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SAY THAT AGAIN?

April 21, 2025

Those old enough to remember what it meant to say a story appeared “above the fold” on the front page of a newspaper may appreciate this story. People used to want to place stories above the fold because readers would at least glance at the story in the top half of the page that was visible when they picked up the paper before they looked at stuff that was below the fold and not immediately visible.

The printed version of the Philadelphia Inquirer had a four column picture and article about Pope Francis on the day after Easter that was written and printed before the Pope had died but seen by morning readers after his death had been widely reported. The fold divided the two-line headline so only the top line was visible. The top line said: “Pope meets Vance, then”

We can only imagine what readers were thinking before they flipped the page to read: “decries ‘the logic of fear’”

See our "Say That Again" collection

Special Report Available

Increasing Gender Diversity on the Boards of Nonprofit Eds and Meds: Why and How to Do It

This report provides a rare inside view on barriers women face to selection and success that are particular to nonprofit organizations and makes specific recommendations on how to improve the gender ratio.
Download the full report free

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January 1-31, 2012