Law Latte Blog

Let’s Talk Law…

Archive for the 'Nonprofit' Category

2012 Resolutions for Nonprofit Boards

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Gail Perry is a nonprofit consultant and motivational speaker for nonprofit organizations. Her website contains great articles and tips for improving nonprofits and nonprofit boards. Check out her “2012 New Years Resolutions for Board Member” at the link below
2012 New Years Resolutions for Board Members

From the (email) bag – Nonprofit Financial Conduits

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Folks are welcome to send email questions about nonprofits. I am happy to answer (with appropriate disclaimers – like check with your local legal professional to be sure that you get advice that is tailored to your nonprofit). This was a good question, so I thought I would share:
Question:
I have a nonprofit 501(c)(3) [...]

Kudos for Canal Trail System

Monday, September 19th, 2011

I live in a small community – our county population is less than 20K.  Despite our slight numbers, the community is an enjoyable place to live, with some lovely jewels that are not so “hidden.”  One recent visitor posted a nice review of the Wabash and Erie Canal trails.
Link to the post:  One Trail-Blazing Small [...]

500 Years of Women in Western Art

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Amazing video morphing 500 years of paintings of women:

If you want to know more about the video and the paintings represented check out this link:  500 Years of Women in Art – Info

Social Media – Connecting People NOW

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Check out this YouTube video called Social Media Revolution 2. If you thought social media (Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) is just for the kids or is a passing fad – this video is for you.
Nonprofits – pay attention – If you don’t connect with social media, you will see a decline in [...]

Tax the Rich More? or Less?

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

If you serve on a nonprofit board, or are paid staff of a nonprofit, you must read Blue Avocado. It is the most helpful, conversational, timely, and thoughtful newsletter on nonprofit issues from folks that work “in the trenches” of nonprofits. The articles are, simply, excellent.
The article linked below discusses the pros and [...]

New 990 Filing Threshholds

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

The IRS has announced that starting with tax year 2010, nonprofits with gross receipts of $50,000 or less may choose to use the 990N reporting to the IRS.  This is a change from the previous threshhold of $25,000.
Saying again, this affects THIS tax year (2010).
The 990N is the on-line reporting that only requires name, tax [...]

Time is Running Out! Nonprofits have until 10/15 to file with IRS

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Small nonprofits have until Friday, October 15, to submit their online 990N. This end of the six-month extension from the (normal) May 15 deadline.
This same one-time extension is available to 990 EZ nonprofit taxpayers earning more than $25,000, but still qualifying for a “small nonprofit” classification.
Nonprofits who have not kept up with filing requirements [...]

Law for Change – Nonprofit Legal

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Law for Change is a new website of legal resources that bills itself as “The Legal Forum for Social Innovation.”
(From the site)  “This site combines in one place a broad menu of legal information prepared by leading law firms and lawyers specifically tailored to the needs of social entrepreneurs and innovators, social enterprises, [...]

IRS Tax Exempt Revocation Letter

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Follow up to an earlier post — One of my clients just received one of the first “File or be Revoked” letters from the IRS.  I’ve attached a copy, you can see what it looks like.
05-24-10 IRS 990 Notice
Note that for this particular nonprofit, the year end in question was September, 2008, so they are [...]

HELP! I’m a nonprofit and I didn’t file my IRS 990!

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

The IRS blitzed the media in the past week about getting the 990 (particularly the on-line 990N) filed by the May 17 deadline.  Dire consequences of losing your §501(c)(3) status have been promised.
The IRS 990N website was clogged for the few days before, and the day of, the deadline.  If you couldn’t get online during [...]

Charitable Deductions 101

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Every year, my clients ask what charitable deductions can be claimed on their tax return.  Sadly, I have some clients who meticulously track their charitable contributions, only to be told that they cannot itemize, so they have no benefit from their deductions.
What are the rules for charitable deductions?  The IRS has a nice “Ten Tips” [...]

Upcoming Workshops

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

If you would like to learn more about agriculture law or nonprofit governance, you can find me at workshops throughout the state of Indiana.  Check out the new page “upcoming workshops” at right for more information.  When available, links will be added with details and registration information.

Online Fund Raising in 2010 (for Nonprofits)

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

The Network for Good has a great article about trends affecting online fund raising in 2010.  With the economic continuing its sluggish movement toward recovery, nonprofits will need to aggressively pursue all available options to maintain their budgets – or, at the very least, minimize negative trends.
Check it out:
5 Trends That Will Affect Online Fund [...]

Copyright protection on the Internet

Monday, January 11th, 2010

It is so easy find and use text and images from the Internet.  People forget that someone created that content (whether prose or picture), and the person who creates it, owns it.
Lately, I’ve had inquiries about how folks can protect their creative works from being used (or abused) through the Internet.  While I’m not sure [...]