Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization

Nuts-and-bolts guidance on the laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector from leading nonprofit law expert, Bruce R. Hopkins Nonprofits must comply with stringent federal and state laws due to their special tax-exempt status; the government's ultimate threat is revocation of a nonprofit's tax-exempt status, which usually means the nonprofit's demise. Written in plain English, not "e;legalese,"e; Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, Sixth Edition, provides essential guidance for those interested in starting nonprofits, as well as valuable advice for leaders of established organizations. Revised and expanded to include updated information on changes in laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector Covers federal tax law, nonprofit, governance, the annual information return (Form 990), charitable giving rules, and current IRS ruling policy Presents essential, practical legal information in easy-to-understand English Explains the applications and implications of corporate, tax, and fundraising laws for nonprofits This easy-to-read resource contains essential information on virtually every legal aspect of starting and operating a nonprofit organization from receiving and maintaining tax-exempt status to tips for successful management practices.

Nuts-and-bolts guidance on the laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector--from leading nonprofit law expert, Bruce R. HopkinsNonprofits must comply with stringent federal and state laws due to their special tax-exempt status; the government's ultimate threat is revocation of a nonprofit's tax-exempt status, which usually means the nonprofit's demise. Written in plain English, not "legalese," Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, Sixth Edition, provides essential guidance for those interested in starting nonprofits, as well as valuable advice for leaders of established organizations.* Revised and expanded to include updated information on changes in laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector* Covers federal tax law, nonprofit, governance, the annual information return (Form 990), charitable giving rules, and current IRS ruling policy* Presents essential, practical legal information in easy-to-understand English* Explains the applications and implications of corporate, tax, and fundraising laws for nonprofitsThis easy-to-read resource contains essential information on virtually every legal aspect of starting and operating a nonprofit organization from receiving and maintaining tax-exempt status to tips for successful management practices.

Preface ixAcknowledgments xiiiPART ONE STARTING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION 1Chapter One: What Is a Nonprofit Organization? 3Chapter Two: Starting a Nonprofit Organization 13Chapter Three: Debunking Some Myths and Misperceptions 23PART TWO BEING NONPROFIT, LEGALLY 31Chapter Four: Nonprofit Organizations: Much More than Charity33Chapter Five: Nonprofits and Private Benefit 49Chapter Six: From Nonprofit to Tax-Exempt 65Chapter Seven: Charities: Public or Private? 79Chapter Eight: Governance: Board Duties and Liabilities 93Chapter Nine: Braving Annual Reporting 109Chapter Ten: Tax Exemption: Not a Paperwork Exemption 119Chapter Eleven: Charitable Giving Rules 129Chapter Twelve: Government Regulation of Fundraising 147PART THREE TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE TAXABLE, AND SOCAN THEIR MANAGERS 167Chapter Thirteen: Related or Unrelated? 169Chapter Fourteen: Lobbying Constraints--And Taxes 185Chapter Fifteen: Political Campaign Activities--And MoreTaxes 197Chapter Sixteen: Donor-Advised Funds, Tax Shelters, InsuranceSchemes--And Still More Taxes 205PART FOUR HELPFUL HINTS AND SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUES 211Chapter Seventeen: Subsidiaries: For-Profit and Nonprofit213Chapter Eighteen: Joint Venturing and Other Partnering 223Chapter Nineteen: Wonderful World of Planned Giving 233Chapter Twenty: Putting Ideas into Action 241PART FIVE SIDESTEPPING TRAPS 251Chapter Twenty-One: Watchdogs on the Prowl 253Chapter Twenty-Two: Potpourri of Policies and Procedures 267Chapter Twenty-Three: Commerciality, CompetitionCommensurateness 283Chapter Twenty-Four: IRS Audits of Nonprofit Organizations293Chapter Twenty-Five: Avoiding Personal Liability 313PART SIX CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PERSPECTIVE 319Chapter Twenty-Six: Nonprofit Organizations and the Constitution321Glossary 341Index 353