Anatomy of a Fundraiser
Fundraising is a crucial part of sustaining a nonprofit organization, but the process of raising money raises myriad legal issues which, if unaddressed, can subject a nonprofit to legal liability and impact an organization’s tax exemption as well as donors’ ability to get the benefit of a tax deduction. Anatomy of a Fundraiser addresses various legal […]
California Attorney General’s Guide for Charities
The Attorney General’s Guide for Charities is intended to help volunteers and others who serve as directors, officers or fundraisers for nonprofit charitable organizations. It provides practical information and answers to questions frequently asked about charities. In addition, the Guide summarizes some of the more important California laws affecting the creation and operation of nonprofit charitable corporations. […]
New California Regulation Poses Threat to Nonprofits Not Properly Registered
Effective as of January 1, 2016, new regulations related to administrative enforcement of violations of the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act go into effect. Now that regulations have become law, all nonprofits operating and/or raising charitable funds in California must be prepared to comply and stay in compliance with the registration […]
Nonprofit Compliance Checklist
Have you ever wished for a better way to keep track of your nonprofit’s compliance responsibilities every year? You’re not alone. That’s why CalNonprofits has compiled this handy comprehensive checklist to help nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations — charities — keep up-to-date with annual filing requirements. All in one place, with links to the resources you need if […]
Who Regulates Charitable Nonprofits?
Many people assume that the IRS has primary jurisdiction over tax-exempt charitable nonprofits. Yet state governments play a much more active role in regulating nonprofits on almost everything, from their creation to dissolution and multiple life-cycle events in between. State laws govern a wide variety of activities, such as how a nonprofit changes its name, amends its […]
Reinstatement of Good Standing with Corporate and Tax Regulatory Agencies for California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporations
Staying in good standing with the state of California and the IRS is an ongoing process. This free publication from Public Counsel, Guide for Reinstatement of Good Standing with Corporate and Tax Regulatory Agencies for California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporations both outlines what you need to do to be compliant, and offers guidance if your organization has […]
Changing an Organization’s Name, Mission, Programs and Services, or Governing Rules
Is your organization thinking about changing its name, mission, programs and services, or governing rules? Some of these changes are routine, while others, if done improperly, could have unintended legal consequences, including revocation of tax-exempt status and inability to use previously donated funds for new programs. This free guide from Public Counsel, Notification Requirements for California Nonprofit Public […]
Raffles
A summary of key California regulations about raffles: In California, only nonprofit organizations can legally conduct raffles. Before holding a raffle, you must file a raffle registration form. You must also file an annual raffle report form that reports on the raffles your organization conducts in a given year. You cannot sell raffle tickets on the internet (though you can use the internet to tell people […]
