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…
Nonprofit executive compensation tops the current list of IRS hot button issues. In recent years, the IRS has been ramping up its oversight and enforcement of nonprofit executive compensation. With all the rancor surrounding executive perks and bonuses on Wall…
One of the things that you learn quickly when starting and operating a 501(c)(3) organization is that you have to handle money wisely. A nonprofit is no different than any other business in that you must make ends meet. Otherwise,…
The concept of who owns a nonprofit organization can be hard for some to grasp, especially given that the answer is, “No one!” We encounter this confusion with new clients on a fairly regular basis. And, given people’s understanding of how basic…
If you’re passionate about a cause, you’re likely eager to take action and make a difference. While there are seemingly endless ways you could go about this, starting a private foundation might be the solution. Although launching your own organization…
Foundation Group works with thousands of nonprofits each year, so we get the opportunity to deal with many complex issues. Few are as complicated and confusing as copyright and royalty questions. The goal of this post is to give you…
The system for registering to solicit contributions isn’t the easiest to understand. Even if it’s only one state you are endeavoring to comply with, the expectations aren’t that easy to follow. When it’s a multi-state registration your nonprofit is facing,…
When starting a 501(c)(3) organization, there are generally two choices for classifying the organization: private foundation or public charity. Public charities represent the largest share (72%) of active, 501(c)(3) organizations. Their purpose is to perform charitable work, while private foundations…
Healthy things grow. That goes for both people and organizations. All but the smallest of businesses grow and evolve over time. Often it is a necessity to keep up with changes in the business environment, regulatory change, or simply changes…
When it comes to staying compliant with state regulations governing fundraising, it’s pretty safe to say you want to do things the right way. And, if you are fundraising in multiple states, you will want to comply with the registration…