Posts Categorized: Policy

Ensuring Effective Governance in Nonprofits: The Importance of Good Bylaws and Written Policies

April 29, 2024 Posted by Casey Summar in Non-profits, Nonprofits, Policy
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nonprofit members applauding good governance policies

Effective governance is essential for the sustainability and legal compliance of nonprofit organizations. At the Law Firm for Non-Profits, we believe it is important for a nonprofit board of directors to adopt and follow suitable written policies and procedures. Such documents are vital to steering the nonprofit organization on the correct path and ensuring awareness of and adherence to the laws that regulate them. The Foundation of Good Governance: Clear and Comprehensive Bylaws Good governance …

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Disclosure Requirements for Nonprofits

January 31, 2024 Posted by Casey Summar in Accountability, Attorney General, Form 990, Non-profits, Nonprofits, Policy, Taxes
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a typewriter wither the word disclosure written on the paper.

The IRS and some states require nonprofits to disclose certain documents to the public upon request. Additionally, the IRS and some states even make these documents available to the public. Donors want to be able to ensure that the nonprofits they donate to are spending their contributions wisely. Maintaining transparency – which nonprofits accomplish in …

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Refund of Parking Tax For Nonprofits

January 28, 2020 Posted by Kristen Anderson in Congress, Form 990, IRS, News, Non-profits, Nonprofits, Policy, Taxes, Unrelated Business Income

Nonprofits can now receive a refund of Parking Taxes paid in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act imposed the so-called “Parking  Tax” on nonprofits. The Parking Tax required nonprofits to pay a new form of unrelated business income tax (“UBIT”) on amounts they incurred for providing transportation and parking benefits to …

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The Non-Repeal of the Johnson Amendment

May 8, 2017 Posted by Arthur Rieman in IRS, Lobbying, Non-profits, Nonprofits, Policy, Taxes
Lyndon Johnson

Much brouhaha has been made over President Trump’s May 4 Executive Order claiming to “totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 law that bars 501(c)(3) organizations from supporting or opposing candidates for public office. As with much in politics, this is truly much ado about nothing. The Executive Order may serve …

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Are Nonprofits "Follow the Money" Obsessed?

Have the leaders of nonprofits been overly incentivized to “follow the money,” resulting in a troubling shift in the composition of boards? The answer is yes according to a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The trend may be “distort[ing] organization priorities” and may “dilute charitable values.” According to the author, Garry W. …

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The NY Salary Cap Saga Continues

August 14, 2014 Posted by Jessica Shofler in Employment Matters, News, Nonprofits, Policy

In April we told you that that the Nassau County State Supreme Court in New York ruled that Governor Andrew Cuomo had overstepped his authority when he issued an executive order putting a cap on executive salaries at state-supported nonprofits to $199,000 unless the charity secures a waiver from the state to pay more. Last …

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