The Charity Oversight Role of the California Attorney General: An Introduction
California charities and trustees know that there are multiple government agencies poking around in their affairs. We explained in “Say What? We’re Monitored by How
The Fourth Way to Sink Your Tax Exemption: Too Much Unrelated Business Income
In “5 Ways to Sink Your Tax Exemption,” we listed the sure-fire ways to jeopardize your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. We’ve already introduced four of them:
What Happens When a Charitable Gift Begins to Smell?
The money doesn’t actually acquire a bad odor. But a charitable gift that starts out smelling like a rose may sometime later wilt from a
Volunteers: A Primer on Possible Perils
Volunteers. For many nonprofits, they are key to success of the organizational mission. They provide valuable assistance and are vital links to the community at
A Reminder to Nonprofit Employers
Nonprofit charities get lots of perks: tax savings, deductible contributions, and preferred postal rates, to name just some. This preferential status lulls many boards and
Who Could Have Predicted . . .?
The website has disappeared. After almost 15 years of philanthropic leadership in the City of Chicago, including grants and pledges worth more than $100 million
Whose Opinion is it, Anyway?
In “One of Those Days,” we introduced a hypothetical board chairman who – loudly and proudly – told his social media circles about his key
A New Accounting Rule: But Don’t Sleep Through This One
It comes from one of the least exciting agencies in the nation’s capital. Buzzwords are “overhead” and “reasonable indirect costs” and “cost allocation rules.” It’s
Say What? We’re Monitored by How Many Government Agencies?
Bewildered. Besieged. That’s how folks at many tax-exempt charities feel about the sheer number of mandatory returns, reports, and records they must compile or file
Naming Rights: It’s a Philanthropic Jungle Out There
Even having a basement bathroom named after you at a major cultural institution can cost a big chunk of change. In 2007, wealthy New York
Has the New Form 1023-EZ Made it Easier?
Easier? To receive a speedy “determination letter” back from the IRS? Probably, yes. To be sure that your small organization’s approval for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
"We’re Very Sorry For Your Loss."
The eldest son of the late philanthropist turned his attention to the large stack of mail just pushed through the door slot. It had become