July 16-August 15, 2008

July 16, 2008 - August 15, 2008

Lead Stories

Court Orders Nonprofit to Provide Access to All Financial Records

Offer to show records at 10 p.m. Saturday is not within reasonable business hours

Condo Directors Not Personally Liable Although Association Is Liable for Failure to Act

California Court gives deference to directors’ judgment, but affirms Order for Association to fix building

Court Acquits Jihadists Of Some False Reporting Charges

Executives not guilty of failing to report successor status on Form 1023, but are guilty of other false statements

Ready Reference Page

New "Core Form" 990 Presents Revised Look for Nonprofit Finances

Form requires substantial additional disclosures, still retains numerous traps for the unwary

Your Legal Questions Answered

May Board members be excluded from vote?

Is there anything illegal or against 501(c)(3) rules to have mini-phone meetings by a few of the directors where decisions are made and one or more board members are completely excluded from the vote?

Lessons from Litigation

Office manager not in “position of trust”

Association’s failure to certify does not violate antitrust rules

Employment Law

When is “volunteer” entitled to pay under FLSA?

Dismissal for apparent conflict is improper

Tax Matters

Is it a charity with fee of $17,000 per month?

IRS won’t review charity web links to related organizations

April Webinar

IRS Form 990: Public Relations Opportunity or Trap for the Unwary?

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
1:30-3:00 PM ET

Because Form 990 tax information returns are instantly available to anyone anywhere at any time on the Internet, they can be a nonprofit organization's most important public relations document.

They can also be traps for the unwary that lead to confusion, serious adverse publicity, media inquiries, and governmental sanctions.

This session will explore the full (long form) Form 990 from the perspectives of the organization, a potential donor or employee, and a regulator. It will discuss the most common errors and best practices for using the Form as a tool to further the organization's mission.

Learn more and register

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

New Subscribers can have full access to the entire website and all editions for 3 months for only $17.95.

Subscribe Today

Here's what our readers say about Nonprofit Issues:
Thanks again for your excellent and helpful website - it's a wonderful resource for the non-profit community! --Stephanie H.

Thank you for your informative and keen advice on nonprofit matters. I believe it's a unique and concise place to get answers to this often wispy area called nonprofit. --Richard T.

SAY THAT AGAIN?

October 29, 2024

Marketers love to make their prospects feel special. But they sometimes don’t seem to want you to think about what they say to do it.

I received two items recently that made me wonder what they were thinking.

I got a package of discount coupons in the mail that touted a “specially curated” set of offers. I thought they might have my personal interests at heart until I saw it was addressed to “Resident.”

I also got a text message saying that “Kellyanne Conway wants YOU and only YOU to know what the latest polling shows” about the Presidential election. I could click the link to read the “exclusive” memo.

And I will be the only one to know? Really? Do they really think the recipients are that stupid?

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

YOUR ONE-STOP PLACE FOR NONPROFIT LAW YOU NEED TO KNOW

July 16-August 15, 2008