A Desktop Guide for Nonprofit Directors, Officers, and Advisors

How to keep any nonprofit out of trouble, running smoothly, and accomplishing its mission "e;Jack Siegel--lawyer, accountant, management consultant, and computer whiz--takes the putative director or officer of a nonprofit organization on a useful and often entertaining voyage throughout the realm of the tax-exempt organizations universe, pointing out its quirks, foibles, and legal liabilities along the way. His handbook will make mandatory--and arresting--reading for those who are already serving as trustees, directors, officers, and key employees of exempt organizations, particularly charitable ones. Siegel's goal, in which he succeeds, is to help directors and officers of nonprofit organizations 'make better decisions.' The book is full of large policy analyses and paragraphs on the details, such as board size, board committees, board meeting formats, the contents of minutes, and the duties of officers. Salted with some excellent real-life examples, what also sets this book apart from most in its genre is the tone: the writing style, the brusqueness, the bluntness. He complains that too many directors 'check their good judgment at the boardroom door.' He advises individuals who 'desire agreement and demand adulation' to stay off boards; he insists on 'commitment' and 'institutional tension' with the executive director. He warns prospective directors that some organizations want, in addition to time and judgment, 'either your money or your ability to raise money.' To my delight, he extols the virtues of 'some level of expenditures' for qualified lawyers and accountants. Please join me in adding this most helpful handbook to your nonprofit library."e; --Bruce R. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, author of The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations, Eighth Edition and Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, Fourth Edition

How to keep any nonprofit out of trouble, running smoothly, andaccomplishing its mission"Jack Siegel--lawyer, accountant, management consultant, andcomputer whiz--takes the putative director or officer of anonprofit organization on a useful and often entertaining voyagethroughout the realm of the tax-exempt organizations universepointing out its quirks, foibles, and legal liabilities along theway. His handbook will make mandatory--and arresting--reading forthose who are already serving as trustees, directors, officers, andkey employees of exempt organizations, particularly charitableones. Siegel's goal, in which he succeeds, is to help directors andofficers of nonprofit organizations 'make better decisions.' Thebook is full of large policy analyses and paragraphs on thedetails, such as board size, board committees, board meetingformats, the contents of minutes, and the duties of officers.Salted with some excellent real-life examples, what also sets thisbook apart from most in its genre is the tone: the writing stylethe brusqueness, the bluntness. He complains that too manydirectors 'check their good judgment at the boardroom door.' Headvises individuals who 'desire agreement and demand adulation' tostay off boards; he insists on 'commitment' and 'institutionaltension' with the executive director. He warns prospectivedirectors that some organizations want, in addition to time andjudgment, 'either your money or your ability to raise money.' To mydelight, he extols the virtues of 'some level of expenditures' forqualified lawyers and accountants.Please join me in adding this most helpful handbook to yournonprofit library."Bruce R. Hopkins, Attorney at Law, author of The Law ofTax-Exempt Organizations, Eighth Edition and Starting and Managinga Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, Fourth Edition