Sunday, December 30, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #26: Beyond the Podcast

Beyond the Podcast

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #26 (mp3, 5:05)

Shownotes

Intro

Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com
Email the show

News & Notes
We're going on holiday schedule into the new year... we'll have new editions every other week. Happy new year!
Sign up for the free NLP newsletter... every week get the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up.

Beyond the Podcast
- Nonprofits are generally underserved in how they approach the regulations and laws because there's a dearth of services out there that are reasonable for nonprofit budgets
- I've been very happy with the response to the show... but it's always a bit frustrating to see the gap between what people can get between a 10 minute show and hiring a lawyer
- So, let's fill that gap and go "Beyond the Podcast"
- The Nonprofit Law Podcast will always remain a free resource for nonprofit staff, officers and professionals. Beyond the Podcast will feature options for those who want to go "beyond the podcast" to dig into some of the topics in greater detail. It will stay low-cost - we want to make these easy for even the smallest community nonprofit to afford.
- We'll be launching this on January 7, 2008... but if you are a newsletter subscriber you get an early shot at our first production - Nonprofits and New Media: Legal Rules for using the Internet, Podcasts and Social Networks

Nonprofits and New Media DVD
- Remember all the way back in #6 when this was announced?
- Evolved from an audioguide to a screencast... to a DVD
- 90 minutes of training
- Join Tim Mooney, a nonprofit attorney with over a decade of experience, for an overview of the laws impacting the use of new media by nonprofits. What does tax law have to say about your organization's podcast and MySpace page? Are there federal election law implications to your get-out-the-vote efforts to your membership listserve? What kind of copyright issues does your nonprofit face when it uses other people's photos on its blog? All of these questions, and more, on the first in NLP's Beyond the Podcast series.
- Sign up for the NLP newsletter now and get this early plus get a $10 discount - nplawcast.com/newsletter
- Otherwise, keep your eyes peeled to nplawcast.com

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
Need more than the podcast? Tim-Mooney.com
nplawcast.com

This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #25: End of the year guide to recordkeeping

End of the year guide to recordkeeping

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #25 (mp3, 6:39)

Shownotes

Intro

Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com
Email the show

News & Notes
We're going on holiday schedule through the end of the year... we'll have new editions every other week through the end of the year. Happy holidays!
Sign up for the free NLP newsletter... every week get the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up.

What should we be doing at the end of a fiscal year?
Listener question...
It's big enough of a task to be mentioned alone: recordkeeping.
It's the law
It's a good management tool
It can protect you against false accusations by others that would like to make your organization's existence more difficult

Corporate record book

Make one if you don't have it... a binder with all of your important docs
IRS determination letter, articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and minutes of board meetings
This should be permanently kept and updated when necessary
Remember some of these documents must be made publicly available, so this is an important one

Lobbying and other reporting information

Keep track of hours of lobbying as a 501(c)(3)
Keep track of amount of partisan activity as a 501(c)(4)
You'll need this for your 990 in the spring

Financial records

Bank statements, old Form 990s, internal reports by treasurers, etc.
Keep these for at least seven years (law requires 3 for some, like the 990s)

Make sure you are keeping up with donor receipts for end of the year appeals!

Resources
NYS Office of Children & Family Services: Importance of Record Keeping
Pfau Englund retention page

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
Screencast on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit - go to nplawcast.com for details
Need more than a podcast? Tim-Mooney.com
nplawcast.com

This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Nonprofit Law Podcast #24: Charitable solicitation registration

Charitable solicitation registration

Download: Nonprofit Law Podcast #24 (mp3, 6:39)

Shownotes

Intro

Tim Mooney… Welcome to the Nonprofit Law Podcast
Your guide to the laws impacting nonprofits.
Shownotes…. nplawcast.com
Email the show

News & Notes
We're going on holiday schedule through the end of the year... we'll have new editions every other week through the end of the year. Happy holidays!
Sign up for the free NLP newsletter... every week get the shownotes and resources sent to you by email, plus get additional free content on the laws impacting nonprofits. Go to nplawcast.com/newsletter for more info and to sign up.

Charitable solicitation registration
Listener question...
The piece a lot of nonprofits forget
A function of state law (sometimes even municipal!)
43 states plus DC require it
Make sure you are registered in your "domiciled" state if it's required
The big question... if we ask for donations on our website, do we have to file in every state?
Answer... technically, it depends on EACH state's laws on contacts and solicitation, so you may technically have to depending on your activities
Huge expense and a huge hassle
Practical answer... few states are going after non-filers if their only "contact" is a potential one
Practical solution... file in states that you are targeting or have some kind of a real presence
Consider using the Multistate Filing form

Resources
Idealware.org
Multistate Filing form

Closing

Email me with questions and suggested topics
Screencast on using the Internet, podcasting and social networking for your nonprofit - go to nplawcast.com for details
Need more than a podcast? Tim-Mooney.com
nplawcast.com

This podcast provides general information about legal topics but it is not a complete discussion of all legal issues that arise in relation to nonprofits nor is it a substitute for legal advice. This podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is general legal information and the contributors make no warranties regarding the general legal information provided in this podcast , and disclaim liability for damages resulting from its use to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law.