COVID-19: Now Is The Time For Leadership
Today is St. Patrick's Day, 2020. Sadly, there won't be much revelry this year. No parades, no leprechauns, and no green beer. This morning as I write this post, I am at my desk with just 3 others of my…
Pros and Cons of Using Form 1023-EZ for Starting a Nonprofit
Nonprofits seeking federal tax-exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code have for decades applied by filing Form 1023 with the IRS. In 2011, the National Taxpayer Advocate recommended that the IRS develop a simplified method, particularly for small nonprofits. The…
The Dangers of Nonprofit Inurement and Private Benefit
As a company, the Foundation Group team works with over 1,000 new, startup nonprofits each year. One of the biggest and most frequent challenges we face when working with clients is conflict-of-interest concerns. New 501(c)(3) organizations are particularly vulnerable to…
Nonprofit Structure: Public Charity, Private Foundation, or Private Operating Foundation?
Once you know the purpose of your nonprofit organization and have an understanding of your desired ownership and controls mechanism, it is time for you to choose the type of 501(c)(3) that best represents your organization’s planned operational structure. There…
Nonprofit Ownership & Control
For a visionary individual who wants to start a nonprofit, the concept of ownership can be a tricky one. You’re a founder on a mission, with big ideas to help solve problems in your communities, and you want to retain…
What Is A Dollar Worth?
Five months ago, three-year-old Raelee Parris passed away. I never had the pleasure of meeting Raelee, but I know people who did. It's very clear from the stories I've heard, I'm the one who missed out! He was a Super…
Proposed State Laws Hurt Nonprofits and Violate Constitution
In a fantastic piece today in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Tim Delaney, chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofits, exposes multiple examples of currently proposed state legislation aimed at the nonprofit community. Mr. Delaney explains how, in each example,…
Fewer Nonprofits Got 501(c)(3) Status in 2015
The Internal Revenue Service issued its annual compilation of agency data yesterday. In what was a surprise to many, the number of approved applications for 501(c)(3) status actually dropped in 2015 from 2014's numbers. The 2015 fiscal year, which ended September…
Charitable Giving and the Fabric of America
By Karl Zinmeister, The Philanthropy Roundtable This article is adapted from a talk delivered on January 29, 2016, at Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. It is a long piece, but…
IRS Pulls Plug On Donor Social Security Number Proposal
Well, that was fast. At least the IRS made the right decision on this. Just to update you, the IRS recently proposed allowing charities to (optionally) collect the Social Security numbers of donors and report the detailed donor/donation information to…
