5 Legal Issues Nonprofit Boards Must Be Aware Of

Corporate Law Report:  “According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are more than 1.5 million nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations operating in the United States, from charities to industry associations to religious institutions. But whatever their structure or purpose, such organizations need to understand – and respond to – key legal and regulatory issues that are unique to not-for-profits.

For your reference, here are five areas that require ongoing attention (and legal understanding) by nonprofits:

1. Lobbying and Political Campaigning:

“Non-profit organizations are prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributing to political campaigns or public statements – verbal or written – made on behalf of the non-profit organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, violates the prohibition against political campaign activity. Simply put, non-profit organizations are forbidden from engaging in any political campaigning activity; violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.” (Political Activities By Non-Profit Educational Institutions by Fisher & Phillips LLP)”