When it comes to establishing an appropriate philanthropic vehicle, the two most often chosen are Private Foundations (PF) and Donor Advised Funds (DAF). Both have their distinct advantages, as well as some drawbacks. DAFs have become increasingly popular over the…
If you have experience in the for-profit world, you have likely heard the common advice that you should incorporate a new business in the state of Delaware. As of 2016, roughly 44% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware.…
Good news from the IRS usually sounds like the beginning of a funny joke...but not this time. In an unexpected move, the IRS announced in late January a revised filing fee schedule for applicants for 501(c) status. Most applicants will…
We get a lot of questions from our clients about their organizations’ meeting minutes. Our exemption specialists often give advice on questions like “When should we record meeting minutes?” and “Why are meeting minutes so important?” There is great importance…
Bring up the subject of a nonprofit's bylaws and you are sure to get an interesting response. For many nonprofit's, their bylaws are just some forgotten document, full of legalese, gathering dust in a file cabinet somewhere. No one on…
No decision you make regarding your nonprofit organization carries more importance than who is chosen to lead it. The members of your board of directors make up the governing body of your nonprofit and are legally accountable for its actions. …
The king of the nonprofit world is the 501(c)(3) public charity. This is what most people mean when talking about a nonprofit. It has federal income tax exemption, contributions to it are tax deductible to the donor and it is…
Once you’ve decided your mission, developed an operations strategy and started building a team, it’s time to prepare and file your incorporation documents and 501(c)(3) status applications. If you’ve done your homework properly in documenting your mission, strategy and plans,…
After incorporating in your state and setting up your nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, the biggest regulatory concern that you’ll have is maintaining ongoing compliance with the law. The regulatory filings required for both state and federal entities are used to determine whether your…
Perfecting the habit of properly documenting the activities of your nonprofit is one of the most important disciplines any new social entrepreneur can master. There's a well-worn cliché that says, "If it's not in writing, it didn't happen". When it…