Friday Five: February 24, 2017

It’s Carnival season in parts of the world, a time for celebration, color, dancing and revelry.  Did you know that the organizations that run the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans are called “Krewes” and are known for their charitable work when they aren’t donning masks and dancing in the streets?  Before letting the good times roll, we invite you to check out five stories from this week in nonprofit news.

1.  IT AIN’T EZ

The IRS recently released public data on all organizations that have been approved for tax-exempt status using the new 1023-EZ form.  The Nonprofit Blogger at the Law Professor Blog Network combed through the data and discovered that some 600-plus churches received tax-exempt status with the 1023-EZ.  Churches are specifically forbidden from filing with the 1023-EZ, as clearly delineated in the 1023-EZ pre-questionnaire.  Read more about this and other concerns with independent verification of the 1023-EZ at the link.

2. FAREWELL TO JOHNSON

The Johnson Amendment, that is. The President recently promised at the National Prayer Breakfast that he would "destroy" the Johnson Amendment. Named after then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, the Johnson Amendment prevents charities from endorsing or opposing a political candidate.  While the President went on to clarify that he intended this specifically to allow faith-based organizations speak on political matters, the Johnson Amendment covers all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.  In their blog post, Law Professor Phillip Hackney and Accounting Professor Brian Mittendorf examine the ways the Trump Administration could tweak or outright repeal the Amendment and the potential consequences.  Read more at the link.

3. NEW YEAR, NEW GOVERNANCE

We don't know if you've stopped writing the old years on your checks yet, but it's already 2017.  May Harris and Linda Rosenthal at the For Purpose Law Group think that it's the perfect time to take a look at your governance policies.  Some of them may no longer be necessary, while you may find that adding a few might be a good idea. In the end, there's nothing like a new year to engage in a little self-reflection.  Learn more, including some suggestions on how you might structure your review, at the link.

4. GREY AREAS IN CHINESE GIVING GET A LITTLE LIGHT

In 2015, the Charities Aid Foundation ranked China just above Yemen in their "World Giving Index", a distressing showing for the world's second largest economy. Writing at Alliance Magazine, Karla Simon and Holly Snape tell a different story.  A recently enacted Charity Law brings up to three million "gray area" NGOs into the official light, allowing for greater transparency and accounting of charities that had been operating in the dark the whole time. Learn more about the other ways charitable giving in China is changing at the link.

5. FROM THE SHAREHOLDERS TO THE PUBLIC

If a for-profit corporation wants to make the switch to a nonprofit entity, they have a lot of considerations to make. They might have even more considerations than they realize, and that can lead to trouble further down the line. If you’re a for profit corporation thinking about making the switch, it behooves you to make sure you know what you’re getting into. Michele Berger lays out some of the necessary changes at the Nonprofit Law Blog.

That's the Friday Five this week. Laissez les bon temps rouler, and we'll see you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 17, 2017

Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for change. The weather has gotten warmer (or colder, if you’re in the Northeast), plants are growing again, and we’ve decided to shake up our formatting for the Friday Five. Henceforth, you can click on the headlines to link to the articles we’ve found for you. So wherever you are, stay warm or cool with these five headlines from the past week in nonprofit news

1) LEAN ON ME, WHEN YOU’RE NOT STRONG
We all need a friend when times are tough, but we need friends when times are good, too. Mentorship isn’t just good for mentees, it’s a great opportunity for mentors as well - it develops leadership skills and builds networks and communities. Mission Box, a new social media network for nonprofits, helps to connect people in the nonprofit world to their peers.  Need help finding someone with a particular set of skills? No idea what to do? Just generally panicking? Reach out to a friend, old or new. Maybe they’ve been down in this hole before.

2) HAIL, CAESAR
Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesars, owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers, and noted Detroit philanthropist, passed away this past week at 87. While his contributions to the city were wide and varied, perhaps the sweetest story that has emerged in the past week was the report that he had personally paid the rent of Civil Rights legend Rosa Parks  from 1994 until her death in 2005. Learn more about his other projects, including Little Caesars Love Kitchen, at the article.

3) THE GIVING LIST
The Chronicle of Philanthropy released its list of the top 50 charitable donors for 2016. At the top of the Philanthropy 50? Phil and Penny Knight of Nike, giving $900 million to Stanford and the University of Oregon. Frequent Philanthropy 50 member Michael Bloomberg followed in the second spot with $600 million. Still not on the list? Warren Buffet. The Chronicle’s methodology means that his annual donations of Berkshire Hathaway stock only count the year he made the pledge. Given that his donations this year alone were valued at nearly $3 billion, it seems only fair to leave a little room for everyone else. More highlights, including the rise of Silicon Valley, at the article

 4) THINKING BIG IN SMALL SPACES
Paul Clolery of The Nonprofit Times argues that it’s time for nonprofits to start acting on the local level. If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that while working on the national scene might be flashy and glamorous, it’s working on politicians on the ground and in their districts that affects real change. No matter who is in the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate listen to people in their individual districts, and ultimately, it is they who make the laws. Visit the article to learn more strategies on building change from the ground up.

5) WHERE’S THE SHERIFF?
Writing on the Surly Subgroup, Notre Dame law professor Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer worries about the numerous instances this past year of tax-exempt organizations violating tax laws and seemingly getting away from it. In theory, the IRS is the sheriff that enforces these laws, but recent events have people wondering if maybe the sheriff has high-tailed it out of town. Check the article to learn more about why this could be a growing problem, as well as Mayer’s proposed solutions.

That’s the Friday Five for this week. We’re heading out to take a walk in the bright, warm sun. See you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 10, 2017

It’s Friday, February 10th . Valentine’s Day is approaching! And many, including the above frog, are looking for their valentine. You know what people rank as the number one quality they look for in a potential mate? “Being well-informed about the nonprofit world.” Seriously. So whether you already have a valentine or are looking for one, here are five headlines from nonprofit news this week:

1) IS THE JOHNSON AMENDMENT IN TROUBLE?
The current administration is contemplating repealing the Johnson Amendment, which has forbidden nonprofits from directly or indirectly participating in any political campaign for the past sixty years. While opponents of the amendment argue that there are free-speech issues, supporters include many nonprofits, including the National Council on Nonprofits. The NCN just released a statement in defense of the amendment and further argues that nonprofits could be put in a difficult position of being too closely identified with one political party or the other. Make sure you’re up to date on the situation:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/06/losing-johnson-amendment-destroy-unique-political-role-nonprofits/

2) FREE FUNDRAISING TOOLS FROM FACEBOOK
Facebook has added tools that can be used by nonprofits: it has now created a “Donate” button that an organization can place directly in its header. And Facebook’s new video streaming function, Facebook Live, is a great way to increase the number of people who see a mini-telethon or Q&A. There’s also Workplace by Facebook (free for nonprofits), which can be used for inter-office communication. Check out these savvy strategies on how your nonprofit can best take advantage of its Facebook page:
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/new-options-evolving-fundraising-via-facebook/

3) CHANGE THE WORLD FROM WITHIN
Want your corporation to do more to help nonprofits? Aspen Institute’s First Movers program can help. The program teaches  social “intrapraneurs” (corporate employees trying to enact change for the better) how to make their corporations more socially responsible. How is the Aspen Institute helping do-gooders make the world a better place? Read on:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/fellowship_for_change

4) PARTNERING FOR CHANGE
In Boston, arts organizations are teaming up with unexpected partners to lobby and fundraise. They’re modeling their efforts on successful Minnesota and Philadelphia efforts. In the Gopher State, arts groups teamed up with hunting and fishing enthusiasts to pass a Constitutional amendment that directs funding towards arts and the environment. And in Philadelphia, the Andrew Mellon foundation made an unusual multi-year grant to ten music education organizations, all allied to increase diversity in professional classical music. Find out how Boston’s groups are faring:
 https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/07/arts-organizations-make-unexpected-partnerships-secure-municipal-dollars/                                                                             

5) RESPONSIBLE = INCLUSIVE
A new initiative at this year’s World Economic Forum is calling for more responsible business leadership, and businesses are increasingly partnering with nonprofits to work for a more inclusive world. Among other achievements, the Philips company worked with civil society organizations to develop 1,000 Community Life Centers in Kenya, which provide fresh water and health care services for deprived residents. The Stanford Social Innovation Review suggests that the initiative can be revised to be even more sweeping and inclusive. See what changes they’re calling for:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/responsible_leadership_is_inclusive_leadership

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’re off to play matchmaker for any lonely amphibians out there. We’ll see you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 3, 2017

It’s Friday, February 3rd. Yesterday was Groundhog Day. Pennsylvania’s Punxatawney Phil saw his shadow, suggesting six more weeks of winter (or “winter,” as we call it in Los Angeles). However, Phil has competition! Staten Island Chuck, a groundhog whose city claims he has an 80% success rate, says no more winter. You can learn about Staten Island Chuck here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjimLdYQkM8

Once you’ve chosen sides in the Phil vs. Chuck battle, check out these five nuggets of news from the nonprofit world:

1) THE 15% MYTH AND WHY IT NEEDS TO END
Should nonprofits restrict their spending on overhead to 15% of all expenses? Absolutely not, writes Gail Picco, author of Cap in Hand: How Charities Are Failing the People of Canada and the World.  Overhead—the costs of which include administration and effective management—may require more resources to be effective, and if nonprofits tie themselves to an arbitrary number, they could be hobbling their ability to do good. How can your nonprofit can avoid this mistake?
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/31/10-reasons-15-charity-overhead-myth-prevents-social-change/                                              

2) INCREASE YOUR IMPACT
Donating funds for good? Increase your impact by seeking out niche, local organizations and contributing to them: your $100 will got a lot farther than it will at a large national charity. Columnist Tivoni Devor has tracked down a site, Melissa Data (https://www.melissadata.com/lookups/np.asp) that lets you look up all nonprofit organizations in your zip code. Find out more ways to have an even bigger impact:
http://generocity.org/philly/2017/01/31/getting-good-done-tivoni-devor-nimble-networked-niche/

3) FEWER PEOPLE SERVED = BETTER?
The Chippewa Valley Free Clinic (CVFC) in Wisconsin, a nonprofit free health clinic, used to have more patients than it could handle, but the number of people using its services has gone down. Normally that’d be a bad thing, but the decrease in visitors has enabled the clinic to provide more comprehensive care to the people who do walk in. Find out what changed:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/01/nonprofit-free-clinic-serving-fewer-people-good-thing/

4) FOLLOW THE MONEY…IF YOU CAN
Tracking donations to charitable organizations may have just gotten more difficult. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, co-founded by philanthropist Jessica Chan and her husband, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, has structured itself as an LLC. Unlike private foundations, LLCs are not required to report their donations on tax returns, which will make it significantly harder to find out who’s donating to and funding nonprofit LLCs. Scholar Sarah Reckhow lays out the potential difficulties:
https://histphil.org/2017/01/26/philanthropic-data-and-the-rise-of-llcs-or-what-happens-when-scholars-can-no-longer-follow-the-money/

5) FROM CLIENTS TO EMPLOYEES
Philadelphia-based nonprofit Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) trains local educators to visit homes and help parents read to their kids over a two year period. But it’s got a savvy recruiting program: 25% of its home visitors are parents who had benefitted from the program. Using parents already familiar with the program gives them an immediate authenticity. Find out what else PCHP is doing right:
http://generocity.org/philly/2017/02/02/parent-child-home-program-clients-employees/

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’re off to spend far more time than we should comparing groundhog statistics. We’ll see you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 27, 2017

It’s Friday, January 27th. The last Friday of January 2017! Time is moving quickly, and national events continue to churn in rather…dramatic…fashion. In times like these, it’s good to have consistency. Like the Friday Five.

Here are five items of interest from the nonprofit world this week:

1) NONPROFITS & THE WOMEN’S MARCH
This past Saturday, an estimated 2.5 million Americans marched in Washington D.C., L.A., New York, Seattle, Denver, and in cities across the nation (Los Angeles is estimated to have the largest number of marchers, with a whopping 750,000). Planned Parenthood, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, and the NAACP, among other nonprofits, were closely involved in the planning phases of the march. What’s next for the organizations and marchers?
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/23/whither-resistance-worldwide-womens-march/

2) STUDENT DEBT: THE NEXT BIG CHALLENGE
Over 180,000 nonprofit employees in California carry some form of student debt, and the debt burden may be stopping many valuable potential employees from applying for nonprofit jobs (traditionally lower-paying) in the first place. There are some solutions, writes the Stanford Social Innovation Review, but many nonprofits aren’t even aware of them. In fact, the US Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is exclusively available to those who work in the nonprofit sector. Find out how to make your nonprofit a more appealing employer for those with student loan debt:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/student_debt_an_opportunity_and_a_challenge_for_the_nonprofit_workforce

3) WHO LET THE DOGS OUT (TO SURF)?
Surf Dog Ricochet is the only service dog on the planet who provides adaptive therapy to the disabled and PTSD sufferers while surfing. She also recently broke the $500,000 milestone this past New Year’s Eve when her organization raised $7,000 for groups that help the disabled, special need children, animals with special needs, and veterans. Find out the four strategies your organization can learn from Ricochet’s success:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/06/fundraising-strategies-surfing-dog-raises-half-million-charitable-funds/

4) GREAT IDEAS IN ART & PHILANTHROPY
Henry Bloch, one of the co-founders of H&R Bloch, was happy to donate 29 rare paintings to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. He didn’t expect to get full-sized digital replicas of every painting back from the Museum, and he was so delighted with their craftsmanship that he hung them on his walls. Bloch’s happy. The museum’s happy. Everyone in this news story is happy:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/26/gifts-museum-donors-strange-effective/

5) BRIGHT SPOTS: ITALIAN NONPROFIT, AMERICAN ARTISTAmerican Artist Mark Bradford has plans—big ones. Bradford is teaming up with Rio Tera Dei Pensieri, a nonprofit based in Venice, Italy, to reintegrate former prisoners back into society by providing them with job opportunities. And he’s going to spend six years doing it. Rio Tera Dei Pernsieri and Bradford are calling the initiative “Process Collettivo.” Find out the specifics here:
https://www.artforum.com/news/id=66184                   

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to find some consistency in an increasingly unsettled world. We hope you can find some, too!  

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 20, 2017

It’s Friday, January 20. We’re more than halfway through January already. A new President is being sworn in today, and people are marching about that the following day. We’re fairly certain inauguration tickets are sold out (http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/17/politics/donald-trump-inauguration-how-to-watch/), but if you’re interested in the Saturday marches, there’s more information here: https://www.womensmarch.com/

In the meantime, we’ve got five items of interest from the nonprofit world this week:

1) FOR-PROFIT PAPER TO NONPROFIT NECESSITY  
Up in Millinocket, New Hampshire, a very small town (population 5,000) is trying to rebuild its economy. Step one: find something productive to do with the shuttered Great Northern Paper Mill. Enter nonprofit organization Our Katahdin, named for the highest peak in Maine, which is dedicated to supporting “small win” community projects. Our Katahdin thinks it can use the paper mill to revitalize the town. Find out how:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/18/mix-one-nonprofit-abandoned-paper-mill/?utm_content=44691948

2) HOW NOT TO FUNDRAISE, GREEN BAY EDITION
Rules for cities and organizations #47: If you ask donors for money for a pool, they’re going to want a pool. And if you veto a proposal for the pool, they’re going to want their money back. The whole story can be found here:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/12/bad-fundraising-strategies-mayor-works-phones-donors-want-money-back/   

3) ADVOCACY ALLOWED?
Organizations are wondering if advocating for or against Presidential cabinet nominees is acceptable. The answer, according to Don Kramer of Nonprofit Issues: it depends on the type of organization. While 501(c)(3)s are forbidden from endorsing or opposing candidates for office, there’s an IRS notice (88-76) stating that advocating for or against a Presidential nominee during Senate confirmation does not constitute participating in a political campaign. Read the whole Q&A to make sure your organization doesn’t run afoul of the IRS:
http://www.nonprofitissues.com/to-the-point/may-nonprofit-advocacy-group-supportoppose-trump%E2%80%99s-picks#.WHZEaAwAqdM.twitter

4) ADVOCATING FOR A FREE PRESS
When Meryl Streep won her Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe last week, she urged Americans to donate to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In this 2012 interview Joel Simon, the executive director for the CPJ, talks about the origins of the CPJ, its current focus, and the organization’s biggest challenges. Find out more:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2012/05/09/embedded-in-chaos-journalism-in-2012

5) WHAT ARE THE FIVE TRENDS OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?
Want to know what’s on the horizon for social enterprise this year? The Council on Foundations is hosting a discussion about trends for nonprofits in 2017. Carla Javits, President and CEO of the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund, has identified five flashpoints to keep your eye on. If you’re looking for a sense of the future, check this out:
|http://www.cof.org/blogs/re-philanthropy/2016-12-07/five-trends-social-enterprise

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to go watch the inauguration and/or march.  

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 13, 2017

January has begun its march through time! As everyone recovers from the holidays and thinks about how to keep their New Year’s resolutions, we’re gathered five articles about the nonprofit world that come with their own New Year’s resolutions and helpful tips as the year gets going:        

1) TEN NONPROFIT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
It’s time for all nonprofits to roll up their sleeves and get to work on these resolutions. Chances are, you’ve probably done all or most of these, but it can’t hurt to review the list. Have you had your organization’s bylaws reviewed by counsel? Can your board members commit to attending a majority of the meetings this year? Can you check off all ten of these resolutions contained in the following link? (the link says five resolutions, but you get double that): http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/5-new-year-resolutions-for-your-board/

2) NO MORE NONPROFIT STATUS FOR BIG SPORTS LEAGUES?
Many professional sports leagues are classified as 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations, which means that the NFL, NHL, and PGA do not have to pay federal or most state taxes. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is attempting to close this loophole. While the NFL no longer attempts to claim tax-exempt status, the NHL does, and it collects hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue per year. See the details of Chaffetz’s fix:
https://sports.vice.com/en_us/highlight/new-congressional-bill-would-strip-sports-leagues-of-nonprofit-tax-status/

3) BURNOUT: WHAT ARE THE 5 MYTHS TO AVOID?
Burnout can be a morale killer for employees and officers of nonprofit organizations. Ann-Sophie Morrissette, who’s worked in the nonprofit world for fifteen years, identifies five myths that can increase burnout. One lesson: colleagues aren’t family, so it’s vital to draw clear lines between professional and personal life. Learn about the other four myths and how to battle them: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/five_myths_that_perpetuate_burnout_across_nonprofits

4) THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
What does this year hold for nonprofits? No one has a magic eight ball, but The Nonprofit Times predicts uncertainty, funding instability, and structural changes, but also more nonprofits banding together. Find out what to watch for and how to best navigate 2017:
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/nonprofit-workplace-challenges-predicted-2017/

5) IS YOUR MISSION STATEMENT A MESS?
While we don’t agree with all of the recommended fixes, we do agree that making an organization’s mission statement shorter and focused can make it more effective. These tips come via consultant Erica Mills, who created a free online tool for nonprofits called The Wordifier. Test out an organization’s mission statement against her recommendations:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/great_mission._bad_statement

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to go work on keeping our New Year’s resolutions.  

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 6, 2017

It’s 2017! A fresh new year, a fresh new start. Everything feels new and invigorating. We hope your 2017 is off to a safe and happy beginning.

For the first Friday Five of 2017, we’ve taken a tour ‘round the cosmos (“cosmos” meaning internet, in this case) and pulled together a sampler of five great reads from and about the nonprofit world. Here they are:                                     

1) NONPROFITS AND THE TECH WORLD: A ROCKY NEW MATCH:Silicon Valley has created a new young class of charitable donors, but they may be demanding results faster than the nonprofits they donate to can provide them. As Jane Sullivan, spokeswoman for the nonprofit Build says, “They want results. They’re not necessarily thinking ‘We’re going to eliminate poverty over the next several decades.’ They’re like, ‘We want to change high school right now.’” How are nonprofits handling this culture clash? The San Francisco Chronicle has the details:      
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Nonprofits-struggle-to-adjust-as-tech-donors-take-10823591.php

2) COMPUTERS FOR A CAUSE:
In New Jersey, Ryan McFadden is making a difference, one computer at a time. His nonprofit organization, the Electronic Access Foundation, takes donated computers, wipes their hard drives, updates the software, and donates the computers to other nonprofits and charitable organizations. How does the Electronic Access Foundation find organizations and people in need?http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/outreach/caring-communities/2016/12/11/electronic-access-foundation--bridge-digital-divide/94760792/

3) HOW TO MOVE FORWARD:
What strategies can nonprofits use to defend their interests in the new political climate? They may have to be completely rethink everything and upend their past strategies, says The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Among the ideas floated is working to simplify federal contracts. Why is that so important?https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Opinion-Nonprofits-Need-to/238802

4) IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
Does your nonprofit organization have a plan if something should happen to your CEO? Illness, resignation, alien abduction? A classic article from Nonprofit Quarterly reminds everyone that organizations should have a solid succession plan and not be dependent on a single person. Find out how to ensure your any organization’s stability here:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2014/02/11/planning-for-leadership-emergencies-in-community-nonprofits/

5) LET AMERICA BE AMERICA:
Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, has a reflection on the beginning of 2017 that takes as its jumping off point the famous Langston Hughes poem. As Walker points out, there’s a continual tension between the optimism of America and the other -isms that can generate pessimism. But Walker seems to have figured out how to navigate that tension:
https://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/posts/let-america-be-america-again-a-new-year-s-reflection/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to enjoy the days left in the year (359. But who’s counting? We are. We’re counting).

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back in next week!

Friday Five: December 30, 2016

It is December 30th. Only two days until 2016 comes to a close! It’s been a busy and news-filled year. So here, to close out 2016, are five fascinating articles from the nonprofit world.                                     

1) ROUNDUP: THE TEN MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF 2016 FOR NONPROFITS. This overview covers everything from the Presidential election to the Dakota access pipeline protest to Black Lives Matter, and more besides. Relive and analyze some of the major events of a very dramatic year:
http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/10-significant-news-events-of-2016/

2) WHAT ARE THE FIVE BIGGEST TRENDS PHILANTHROPY TRENDS? There may be fewer resources for nonprofits, several of them have eased their restrictions to make grant-giving more flexible. In addition, foundations are emerging as substantial knowledge hubs, a shift in how they’ve viewed themselves in the past. Get the full story:
http://www.cof.org/blogs/re-philanthropy/2016-12-16/five-trends-philanthropy

3) MAJOR NEW CROWDFUNDING PLAYER:  GoFundMe just recently surpassed three billion dollars donated via its platform (through 25 million individual donors). CEO Rob Solomon wants to see GoFundMe generate forty billion in donations in the next decade, and thinks that GoFundMe can pull it off. Find out how:
https://www.fastcoexist.com/3066778/future-of-philanthropy/gofundmes-biggest-cause-yet-is-becoming-the-most-powerful-force-in-ph

4) WHAT’S COMING IN 2017: Here’s a conversation between KQED’s Marisa Lagos and Politico California Playbook Senior Writer Carla Marinucci covers new laws which go into effect in 2017 and impact nonprofit organizations:
http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/12/29/54073/state-of-affairs-new-ca-laws-and-politics-stories/

5) TOP TEN NONPROFIT & PHILANTHROPY STORIES FROM 2016: OF THE YEAR: You’ll find everything here from philanthropy’s impact on the presidential campaign to the growing force of Big Philanthropy and questions about its clout. In addition, NPQ features several “where do we go from here?” questions about the shifting landscape. Make sure you’re up-to-date as the year ends:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/29/npqs-10-big-nonprofit-philanthropic-stories-2016/

That’s all for the Friday Five for 2016! We’ll be back in one week with our first 2017 Friday Five to ring in the new year. Here’s wishing you a safe and happy New Year’s Eve.

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll see you in 2017!

Friday Five: December 16, 2016

It is December 16th. Nine days left until Christmas (for those who celebrate it). Are you excited? We are. We have done most of our Christmas shopping. Now we just need to figure out our Christmas shipping to make sure our gifts reach friends and relatives in far-flung places. And we want to make sure these five stories from today’s Friday Five reach you!                                   

1) In the month since the election, donations have skyrocketed to nonprofit media outlets, Inside Philanthropy reports. ProPublica saw its donations jump by $750,000, substantially more than its total haul in 2015. The Center for Public Integrity and individual NPR affiliates are among the other beneficiaries. The article raises some questions about what’s next for nonprofit media organizations, including how they can construct sustainable models going forward:
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/12/13/a-surprise-beneficiary-of-the-trump-election-nonprofit-news-outlets

2) Nonprofit Quarterly makes the difficult and necessary case for overhead expenses, arguing that, far from being a necessary evil, they’re not evil at all and are consistently undervalued. NPQ suggests that before leaping to cut overhead costs, they should first be viewed through the lenses of economies of scale and cost comparisons to similar organizations. Get the full deep dive:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/12/nonprofit-overhead-baby-bathwater-need-know-boards/

3) Inside Philanthropy has a nice article about Rotary International, reminding nonprofits that Rotary Clubs can be a good source of help for nonprofits. Both Rotary International and local Rotary districts give out tens of millions of dollars in grants. The Rotary Club of Los Angeles gets a shout-out for its work to fight homelessness in L.A. And if you’re looking for possible sources for volunteers and funding, your local Rotary Club might make a great addition to your list:
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/12/6/rotary-clubs-worth-a-second-look-as-influential-local-funders

4) With 2017 right around the corner, it can’t hurt to evaluate your website and see if it’s ready for the new year. Lacey Kruger, an information architect who works with nonprofits, posted a good checklist at NPEngage.com. Things to consider: Is your website responsive? Do you have too much nested navigation? Test your website against her list here:
http://npengage.com/nonprofit-marketing/is-your-nonprofit-website-ready-for-2017/

5)  You may have idly asked yourself the question, “Hey, can I set up a 501(c)(3) to fund renovations of my house, if my house is a historic landmark? As an early Christmas present?” The IRS’ answer to this question is a decisive “No. No, you may not,” which should not surprise anyone who knows about private inurement. Peter O’Reilly, the tax columnist at Forbes, brings us the story:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2016/12/12/irs-says-fixing-up-your-own-house-is-not-charity/#7cc1838f30e9

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’ll be taking Dec. 23 off, but we shall return on Dec. 30, just in time for the end of 2016. And now we’re off to figure out if the post office will accept hastily wrapped, insecurely packaged items with barely legible scrawls for addresses. Wish us luck!

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. See you on the 30th!

Friday Five: December 9, 2016

Exactly two weeks and two days until Christmas. Not that we're counting or freaking out about all the things we still need to do. Just in case you, too, are also not freaking out about everything you still need to do, we have five articles from the nonprofit world to help calm you down and keep you informed.  

1) Gene Takagi wrote a rap about nonprofits and crowdfunding in the style of the musical Hamilton’s opening number. Think of this as an early holiday gift from the Friday Five to you:

             How does a program, project,
             dream of a board and a concept, 
             popped in the middle of a popular site on the Internet
             by management, unsupported, no hollers,
             Grow a big force of supporters and dollars…

Find the total Hamilton riff here: 
http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/crowdfunding-rap/ 

2) Americans gave a record $373 billion in charitable donations last year.  Before you cheer at how much more generous individual Americans have become, however, you should know that the driving force behind that figure is the rise of mega-donors. Here's National Public Radio's interview with the Institute of Policy Studies’ Chuck Collins to find out more about philanthropic trends for 2016:
http://www.npr.org/2016/12/04/504322032/2016-philanthropy-trends-americans-donate-record-373-billion

3) Nonprofit Quarterly’s editor-in-chief Ruth McCambridge brings us the story of donors to a donor-advised fund who were not allowed to designate where disbursements from their named fund will go, a highly unusual situation. Lisa Greer found out that the Jewish Community of Foundation of L.A. would not be making a donation from the fund to the younger Jewish group IfNotNow. The story expands from there:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/09/donor-advised-funds-exert-political-judgment-grants/

4) Is your organization keeping its electronic protected health information (ePHI) safe? In this age of hackers and data corruption, you can’t be too careful—especially if you’re a nonprofit organization that provides health or health-related services to your clients. Nonprofit Quarterly runs through the necessary compliance steps, the dangers and costs of not complying (including the potential loss of federal funding), and potential problems nonprofits need to look out for. Given our constantly shifting technological landscape, this is a must-read for organizations that deal in ePHI:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/06/nonprofits-must-especially-careful-ephi-data-security/

5) As we approach the new year, many people will naturally find themselves thinking about changes they want to make in themselves and what kind of people they want to be in 2017. Nonprofit With Balls, the outfit of writer and speaker Vu Le, brings us a timely look at the nine qualities of leaders we need in this time and place, including having “strength in uncertainty” and believing that we’re all tied to each other. Do you have the traits it takes to be a leader?
http://nonprofitwithballs.com/2016/09/9-traits-of-the-kind-of-leaders-we-need-in-this-time-and-place/

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’re off to do some holiday shopping while drinking a candy cane latte and continuing not to freak out about how few days there are until Christmas. We’ll return in a week (when there will be only one week and two days until Christmas).                             

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: December 2, 2016

It is December 2nd. Here is the Friday Five to take your mind off the fact that there are only 29 days until 2016 is over: 

1) From ABC News: The 92nd Street Y is reporting that #GivingTuesday donations this year set a new record, with participating organizations raking in $168 million for the day, up from $117 million last years. The recipients include the Humane Society of the U.S., which raised $350,000 (almost double its $200,000 goal) and the University of Michigan, which raised $5.5 million in 24 hours. The full success stories are here:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/record-charitable-donations-reported-giving-tuesday-43884388

2) The blog NonprofitWithBalls has some recommendations on ten ways nonprofits should adjust to the post-election landscape. Its first recommendation: end the Nonprofit Hunger Games—that is, have nonprofits stop competing with each other. (If there were such a thing as a nonviolent Hunger Games with competing nonprofits, that might be amazing to watch.) The blog also strongly encourages promoting civil discourse. See the whole list:
http://nonprofitwithballs.com/2016/11/10-ways-the-nonprofit-sector-must-adapt-to-the-new-reality/ 

3) Nonprofit Quarterly notes that nonprofits in New York state are pushing to raise the minimum wage for social services contractors—specifically, employees who do work for city and state governments but are contracted to do that work by private nonprofits. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a citywide wage increase for these city workers through 2020 (by which point New York’s $15/hour minimum wage will take effect), and New York-based nonprofits are attempting to mirror that success across the entire state:
 https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/01/ny-nonprofits-push-state-cover-costs-living-wage-workers/

4): In the wake of the election, The Stanford Social Innovation Review looks to history to help guide nonprofit organizations through the Trump era. One lesson: make sure to protect the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations. SSIR reminds us that in the 1960s, civil rights organizations received financial help from foundations (including the Ford foundation) to organize protests and register new voters. Find out what other lessons nonprofits can learn from the past:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/advocating_and_giving_during_the_trump_administration_five_history_lessons

5) To commemorate the start of the holidays, the blog Make Use Of has recommendations for the top seven charities that offer Christmas help to low-income families. While the article was posted a few years ago, all seven charities are still going strong. Find out how to help everyone enjoy the holidays:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-top-charities-that-offer-online-christmas-help-for-low-income-families/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to construct a holiday display and get an early start on our seasonal cards while trying to avoid listening to “Winter Wonderland” for the 54th time. We wish you success in attempting the same.

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: November 25, 2016

It is the day after Thanksgiving. We have had turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and stuffing. We are stuffed. But we’re not so stuffed that we can’t bring you five mentally nutritious and stimulating articles to lift you from your possible food coma. Here they are:                                                                

1) To follow Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Tuesday, November 29 is #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday was created five years ago by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact and the 92nd Street Y(a cultural center in New York City) to encourage volunteering and charitable donations as a kickoff to the holiday season. The Giving Tuesday site has a directory to help you find charities near to you so you can donate to them or volunteer with them. Get involved:
https://www.givingtuesday.org/about

2) The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette raises some excellent points in “Lax board members hurt nonprofits.” Flagging a study from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, the Post-Gazette notes that 27 percent of nonprofit directors do not have a clear understanding of their organization’s mission and, even more alarming, that 42 percent do not have an audit committee. Find out what else might be going wrong:
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2016/11/22/Lax-board-members-hurt-nonprofits/stories/201611220005

3) What’s wrong with large anonymous donations? A lot, says Inside Philanthropy. Several factors—the increasing entwining of philanthropy with politics, the ease with which disclosure rules can be skirted, the rise of donor-advised funds—are intersecting to create the potential for a lack of accountability and transparency. Find out more: 
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/11/17/the-price-of-privacy-four-problems-with-anonymous-givingand-the-case-for-reform

4) Nonprofit Quarterly explores an event in which the cast of Hamilton delivered a short speech to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence after he attended the Broadway musical. Following a series of tweets from Donald Trump, one of which read: “The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” NPQ asks: should theatre be a safe space? And, if so, for whom? The essay expands from there:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/21/role-art-social-movement-theater-safe-space/

5) Many people on both sides of the political aisle found this past election discouraging and dispiriting. NonprofitWithBalls has an important reminder: “Our eyes ‘reach but little ways.’ We cannot see into the future. So we forget, especially during times like these, the amazing things people are doing each day to make the world better. People like you. You are making the world better every day through your work. That arc of the moral universe does not bend itself; everything we do helps to bend it.” Also, apparently, we’re sexy Jedi unicorns, but you’ve got to read the entry to find out why:
http://nonprofitwithballs.com/2016/11/hey-you-amazing-unicorns-were-going-to-be-ok

And that seems like an excellent place to end this Friday Five. Here’s another reminder to visit http://GivingTuesday.org and donate or volunteer, if you’re able.                            

As always, if you want more nonprofit information, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Questions about the nonprofit world? You can reach us at info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: November 18, 2016

We’re just six days away from Thanksgiving, so we’re pondering all the reasons we have to be thankful (one of which is turkey).   Have you picked out your turkey or tofurkey yet? We have! Here are five reads from the world of nonprofits that will have you counting your blessings:                                                                    

1) We can be thankful for allies and the work we do together. The New York Times brings us some thoughts on how charities can decide whether or not to merge. Among the questions asked: is a merger the best way for a smaller family foundation to preserve its future? How can an organization avoid acquiring the liabilities of the organization it’s merging with? What’s a good way to encourage board members to be flexible? Get the big picture:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/your-money/when-should-charities-throw-in-together.html

2) Something else to be grateful for? Robert Grimm, Jr. and Nathan Dietz report that volunteering among the oldest Americans (age 65 and up) and youngest Americans (ages 16-19) has increased dramatically. As researchers at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Grimm and Dietz have been tracking volunteering data for more than a decade.  Nonprofit Quarterly has the details:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/17/good-young-old-forty-years-american-volunteering/ 

3) While one can predict the future, the Chronicle of Philanthropy has a non-paywalled article about nonprofits’ financial world post-election. Turns out there are still things to be thankful for: while proposed budget cuts in health and education could lead to significantly greater pressure on nonprofits, some nonprofits have seen a spike in donations since the election. Find out more here:
https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofits-Worry-About/238355

4) We can also be thankful for throwdowns: Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, posed a challenge about privilege. Transformation, the blog of Open Democracy, reports on Walker’s inspiring untangling of privilege and its complexities in “The Privilege of Being Privileged.” Interested in what the Ford Foundation’s leader has to say?
https://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/michael-edwards/privilege-of-being-privileged?platform=hootsuite

5) Although uncertainty can be challenging, dramatic changes can be a good opportunity for nonprofits to take stock and reassess their activities and outreach. Ruth McCambridge, editor-in-chief of NPQ, generated a list of ten important questions for boards to ponder. One that jumped out: “Do you have strategic connections with local and state networks so your organization is first in line to receive critical information and get an audience for advocacy?” Learn what all ten are:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/16/turbulence-ahead-10-questions-nonprofit-boards-urgently-ask-answer/

That’s it for the Friday Five. Aside from turkey, we’re grateful for the wonderful clients we have the opportunity to represent every day. Here’s hoping this Thanksgiving finds you with many reasons to be thankful!

As always, if you want more nonprofit information, follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page. Send us your nonprofit questions at info@b-alaw.com, and see you next week!

Friday Five: November 11, 2016

Today is November 11, Veterans Day, a time to remember and be grateful for our veterans’ service. In case you missed it, there was a presidential election on Tuesday. We have compiled five nonprofit-related articles that explore the how the nonprofit sector is important in these times.                                                         

1) Wondering how nonprofits fit into this democracy of ours? The Nonprofit Blogger has a thoughtful recollection about the election and the role the nonprofit sector can play in our democracy. As he writes, quoting Barbara Bucholtz, “the nonprofit sector teaches the skills of self-government…it inculcates the habits of tolerance and civility, [and] it mediates the space between the individual…the public/government sector, and the private sector.” Find out how the nonprofit sector helps act against excess power in either sphere:
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/nonprofit/2016/11/the-day-after.html

2) In Slate, Eric Holthaus writes that for those concerned about climate change, there were some positive developments down-ballot: Florida rejected a measure that would have hurt the solar industry. Holthaus also points to actions individuals can take to help slow climate change: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2016/11/all_is_not_lost_on_climate_change.html

3) Nonprofit Quarterly has compiled four general ideas for what nonprofits can do in the wake of the election results. On the list: Make sure your board understands the importance of advocacy even outside the particular emphasis of a nonprofit’s mission; look for ways to create active collaborations across identity groups and causes; and engage more with your constituents. Check out the full list:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/09/donald-trump-four-things-nonprofits-must-consider-on-the-day-after-election/

4) The American Civil Liberties Union has concerns about the constitutionality of several of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign proposals, among them the mass deportation force and the proposed ban on Muslims entering the country. The ACLU has a detailed look at the specific Constitutional issues Trump’s proposals may pose and throws down the gauntlet: https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/if-donald-trump-implements-his-proposed-policies-well-see-him-court

The ACLU’s more detailed look: https://www.aclu.org/feature/donald-trump-one-man-constitutional-crisis

5) If the post-election period has you feeling energized or wondering what you can do to make a difference, Bustle magazine has a collection of 27 small steps you can take that will have a positive impact. #2: Go outside. #8: Set up a recurring donation to an organization that’s fighting to make a difference. See all 27 ideas:
https://www.bustle.com/articles/194304-27-little-things-you-can-do-to-make-a-positive-difference-after-the-2016-election-results

That’s it for the Friday Five. For the readers out there who are feeling discouraged or depressed, former Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater’s advice after he lost the 1964 election in a landslide, “Mourn, then organize,” springs to mind.

The Friday Five will still be here next week, so check back then. And, as always, if you want more nonprofit information, you can follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page. We’re available for any questions you may have about nonprofits at info@b-alaw.com. See you next week.

Friday Five: November 4, 2016

November is here. This seems almost as improbable as the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years after being down 3 games to 1… which also happened. In addition, there’s a Presidential election in four days—make sure to vote!                                                      

1) Reframing has been talked about a lot lately, both on a personal and professional scale. The blog SelfishGiving (which also hosts the nonprofit-focused podcast CauseTalk Radio) brings us the story of SickKids and its attention-getting, inspiring branding and ad campaign. SickKids wants to reframe the concept of disease and empower both the children fighting their illnesses and donors. To that end, their campaign features kids suiting up as if they were warriors in Mortal Kombat and other video games…and it’s spectacular. Watch the jaw-dropping commercial and be inspired by SickKids’ efforts:
https://www.selfishgiving.com/blog/sickkids-vs-x

2) Last week we brought you news of Goodwill Omaha and reports of its CEO Frank McGree’s outsized salary and troubling sub-minimum-wage payments to Goodwill Omaha employees. In a dramatic move—and a victory for the investigative work of Henry J. Cordes and the Omaha Herald—McGree has now resigned. The board of Goodwill Omaha has announced that it will be taking further steps to assure transparency and reform the organization. Find out about the continued actions taken for accountability:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/02/resignation-ceo-marks-end-beginning-embattled-goodwill/

3) The New Yorker has a fascinating look at the rise of donor-advised funds on the Philanthropy 400 (the list of charities that have raised the most money from private sources), which opens up into an exploration of how dramatic changes in fundraising methods in the past few years are shaking up the fundraising landscape. We’re in the middle of a period of momentous change in philanthropy, and this piece is essential reading for getting the lay of the land:
http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-wealth-gap-in-philanthropy

4) Are there good ways to give students hands-on experience in nonprofit law? Joseph Mead, who blogs at the Nonprofit Law Blog Network, says the answer is a definitive “yes.” Mead teaches a policy advocate course at Cleveland State University that plunges students into the real world of nonprofits, partnering with a different Ohio-based nonprofit every semester. Students learn about challenges faced outside the classroom that textbooks and case law may not prepare them for—and learn how to provide more effective help to organizations and clients. Learn more about the hands-on learning taking place at CSU:
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/nonprofit/2016/10/experiential-learning-in-nonprofit-law.html

5) Trying to figure out the difference between a nonprofit with members and one without? Charity Lawyer Blog has a brief and elegant guide, and since nonprofits are required to specify whether or not they have members in their org docs, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter these two different types of nonprofits, as a donor, a board member, or just a curious citizen. Blogger Ellis Carter has all the necessary information:
http://charitylawyerblog.com/2011/04/26/nonprofit-law-jargon-buster-voting-members-vs-self-perpetuating-boards/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re stuffed with news and we’re only four weeks away from Thanksgiving. We’re going to have to hold some space in reserve or we may literally explode from information overload. (Well, not literally, but you get the idea.)  But if you want more nonprofit information, you can follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page.

As always, you may reach out to us with any questions about nonprofits at info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week.

Friday Five: October 28, 2016

Three days ‘til Halloween! Are you excited? We are—we’ve cared our pumpkins, we’re finishing our costumes and are stocking up on candy. We have also stocked up on articles about nonprofit organizations. Here are five reads from the world of nonprofits that will keep you on the edge of your seats:

1) Nonprofit Quarterly highlights some crackerjack reporting from The Omaha World-Herald on Goodwill Omaha and its CEO Frank McGill’s annual salary. Hold on to your notebooks: it was $933,444—far above with what CEOs of similar nonprofits in the area make. Add to Mr. McGill’s inflated salary the fact that Goodwill Omaha reportedly pays its disabled workers a sub-minimum wage, and you’ll understand why Douglas County Board of County Commissioners are looking into whether to revoke the nonprofit’s property tax break. Get the hair-raising details here:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/10/26/goodwill-omahas-bad-business-model-may-affect-property-tax-exemptions-local-nonprofits/

2) Bridgespan, a consulting firm for nonprofits and philanthropists, has been conducting an investigation into how to increase the number of donors making “big bets” (defined as a gift of more than $10 million to change a social issue), and how to increase the effectiveness of big bets themselves. Fast Company has a rundown on Bridgespan’s findings; one of the issues holding philanthropists back is an “aspiration gap”; several philanthropists say they want to donate large sums, but rarely end up following through. Find out what else is scaring away donors from making big bets:

3) Both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump Foundation have been in the news recently, and there have been controversies surrounding both, but as National Public Radio reports, that is where the comparison ends—one of them is a legitimate charity which receives very high marks from CharityWatch and Charity Navigator, while the other charity… does not.  NPR lays down the chilling compare-and-contrast here:
http://www.npr.org/2016/10/17/498154413/theres-really-no-comparison-between-the-trump-and-clinton-foundations

4)Thinking of forming a 501(c)(4)? Be aware that new legislation has taken effect which requires 501(c)(4) organizations to notify the IRS of their intent to operate as a 501(c)(4). The IRS has created Form 8976 for these purposes. Also worth noting: 501(c)(4) organizations must file Form 8976 within sixty days of their formation. Here’s the link so those forming 501(c)(4)s can avoid any frightening encounters with the IRS:
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/electronically-submit-your-form-8976-notice-of-intent-to-operate-under-section-501c4

5) Did you know that the dining hall workers at Harvard University were on strike? They were, but have just come to an agreement with Harvard, thus bringing the strike to an end. The strike has raised questions about university endowments. As The Atlantic notes, Harvard has the largest endowment of any university in the nation, but workers were making less than $35,000 a year and paying as much as $4,000 annually for out-of-pocket health care expenses. Public pressure and support from Harvard students helped bring about a resolution to the strike. Find out how:
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/harvard-and-dining-workers-reach-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike/505349/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We have found and carved the perfect pumpkin, drunk our pumpkin spice latte and eaten way too many pumpkin-flavored foods. Now it’s time to The Great Pumpkin would be pleased. Happy Halloween!

Don’t be afraid to follow us on Twitter or like our Facebook page. Feel free to reach out to us with any fear-inducing questions about nonprofits at info@b-alaw.com. We’ll see you next week!

Friday Five: October 21, 2016

There are only ten days left until Halloween. Do you know what you’re going as? We’re thinking of going as the terrifyingly rapid passage of time because there are only ten days left until Halloween. But we have not let our concerns about time stop us from scouring the web. Here are five intriguing reads from the world of nonprofits:               

1) In a carefully written and thorough piece, the blog Selfish Giving challenges conventional wisdom about breast cancer awareness month (aka “Pinktober”) and makes a case that the campaign has run its course. Selfish Giving points out that there are several other diseases worthy of our attention and dollars, and that the Komen Foundation—the primary organizer behind Pinktober—has spent over a million dollars needlessly pursuing other organizations that use its tagline “for the cure.” For the full argument, click here:
http://www.selfishgiving.com/blog/5-reasons-pink-needs-to-fade-to-black

2) One of the important questions to ask before forming a nonprofit is if the would-be organization is able to generate enough funds to pay its employees. Nonprofit Quarterly has a story about Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando, Florida and several claims from actors, stage managers, and designers that it hasn’t been paying them regularly—or at all (and allegedly owes the city of Orlando over $300,000). Take this as an object lesson in what not to do:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/10/20/mad-cow-theatre-suffers-public-shaming-loses-grant-stiffing-artists/

3) Tax experts Ellen P. Aprill and Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer conducted a deep dive into the Trump Foundation’s ongoing tax issues and their connections to Donald Trump’s as-yet-unreleased tax returns. Aprill and Mayer illustrate many of the troubling underlying issues, including “assignment of income.” Ensure that an assignment of income doesn’t cause you issues with the IRS by reading their post here:
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2016/10/aprill-mayerthe-relationship-between-the-trump-foundation-and-trumps-tax-returns.html

4) Mergers! When two nonprofit organizations merge with each other, it can get complicated—how do you handle management succession? What’s the best way to design a brand for the new organization? How can you ensure that the two different cultures align? Mission + Strategy Consulting and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management just released a study on 25 successful nonprofit mergers. Find out what made them so successful:

5) Finally, Marc Gunther, who blots at Nonprofitchronicles.com, brings us the inspiring story of Mauricio Lim Miller. Miller started the Oakland, California-based Family Independence Initiative in 2001 to enable poor people to share ideas and resources with each other, and the Initiative has expanded to Boston, New Orleans and Albuquerque. Miller deservedly won a MacArthur genius grant, but hasn’t let that slow him down; he’s determined to figure out how to scale the Initiative so it can serve more families. Hear about how he plans to do this:
https://nonprofitchronicles.com/2016/10/19/lunch-with-a-genius/

Friday Five: October 14, 2016

The middle of October cometh. It is October 14th, and as of this week it’s actually starting to feel like fall, or at least fall-esque. Wherever you are, we hope that you are enjoying a pumpkin latte as you peruse these five articles about the nonprofit world:                  

1) Nonprofit Quarterly flags an investigation conducted by the Washington Post about the impact of donations from “Big Soda” (aka the soda industry) on health and medical groups. The American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are among 96 nonprofits that accepted sponsorship money from PepsiCo and Coca-Cola and then lobbied against more than two dozen health bills aimed at reducing soda consumption. The appearance of conflict of interest is certainly eyebrow-raising. Read on to find out what the American Beverage Association, which represents both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, has to say: 
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/10/11/eat-big-sodas-impact-nonprofit-health-advocacy-groups/                              

2) The fundraising activities of nonprofits—specifically, foundations—have been in the news a lot recently, so the Council of Nonprofits’ overview of charitable fundraising practices for nonprofits is timely and useful. For example, every fundraising solicitation must contain language confirming you're registered to fundraise in that state. If you’re involved with a nonprofit, you can use this entry to make sure your organization is in full compliance. Check your best practices here:
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/charitable-solicitation-registration

3) Network For Good is conducting a weekly countdown of fundraising tips and tricks until the end of 2016. In this entry, author Connie Paulos speaks to how an organization can effectively use storytelling in its year-end fundraising appeals. Want to know what the 5 “C”s of storytelling are? Satisfy your curiosity:
http://www.networkforgood.com/nonprofitblog/year-end-countdown-week-12-tell-story-craft-winning-appeal/

4) School funding. Patent wars. Recycling. The Supreme Court (still at eight members instead of ninedue to a lack of hearings for nominee Merrick Garland) just began its 2016-17 session, and on its docket are five cases that could impact the nonprofit community in various ways. If you want to know what arguments and decisions to keep an eye on, NPQ (via The Hill) has you covered:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/10/03/one-man-scotus-faces-docket-consequences-communities/

5) The Boston-based Bridgespan Group is designing a series of “billion-dollar bets”—studies on how one billion dollars could best be spent to address various causes. Bridgespan has now turned to incarceration, especially as it pertains to racial inequality and over-criminalization. Now that all of Bridgespan’s “deep dives” are completed, it plans to connect with philanthropists to see if they can be implemented. To learn about the specifics of Bridgespan’s incarceration deep dive, see what Nonprofit Times has to say:
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/authors-propose-1-billion-philanthropic-bet-incarceration/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We're off to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte. We’ll be back next week with more highlights from the nonprofit world… and more pumpkins. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter; you can also ask us anything about the nonprofit world at info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: October 7, 2016

It’s October! It’s also the six-month anniversary of the Friday Five. Time flies when you’re preparing for Halloween… I mean, finding the best nonprofit news to share. We have five nonprofit-related articles to illuminate what’s happening in the world of nonprofits.

1) Nonprofit Quarterly asks whether the IRS’ Form 990, the financial form that nonprofit organizations have to regularly file, may be hurting those organizations. Specifically, NPQ points out that nonprofits may be under-reporting the funds they spend in administration and overhead, leading donors to think the organizations don’t need as much to function as they actually do, which leads to lower donations and a vicious cycle. How can the cycle be broken? NPQ has some ideas:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/09/30/part-ix-outer-space-dysfunctional-expense-frame-form-990-encourages/

2) Conventional wisdom says that nonprofits need to learn from for-profits. But in the tech magazine Fast Company, Michelle Kedem argues that for-profit companies can learn a lot from the nonprofit world—everything from how a commitment to social responsibility can help a company’s brand to how recognizing the importance of community can help a company thrive. What else do nonprofits have to teach for-profits? Find out: https://www.fastcoexist.com/3063652/its-time-that-for-profits-start-learning-from-nonprofits-heres-how

3) You may or may not be using comedy in your fundraising and outreach. Sheena Greer, a writer and nonprofit consultant, has a guest post on John Haydon’s blog about comedy and how to apply it to nonprofit communications. You may not have thought that memorizing those Monty Python skits would ever come in handy, but Ms. Greer begs to differ:
http://www.johnhaydon.com/better-fundraising-starts-comedy/

4) Many charities now have a digital trustee, a designated board member who is tasked with staying knowledgeable about online strategy, social media, cybersecurity and other tech areas. On the Just Giving blog, nonprofit consultant Zoe Amar shares what she’s learned by being a digital trustee:
http://blog.justgiving.com/5-things-ive-learned-from-being-a-digital-trustee/                 

5) The future of philanthropy lies with the next generation. Family foundations are taking steps to educate younger family members, but the transition can still be bumpy. The National Center on Family Philanthropy has a post on Guidestar about the best ways to manage a generational handoff and ensure that a family foundation continues to do good work. See their in-depth analysis here:
https://trust.guidestar.org/teaching-the-next-generation-about-philanthrop

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to find the perfect pumpkin. We’ll be back next week with more highlights from the nonprofit world. In the meantime, check out our Facebook page and twitter feed; you can also get in touch with us at info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!