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Volunteering is an excellent way for you to serve others in need. Recent research shows that approximately one out of four Americans volunteer. Volunteers love giving their time and energy to a worthy cause. Many times, it is an opportunity for them to make their community a better place to live but with volunteers may come liability...

A simple breakdown of why you may want to incorporate your nonprofit, the benefits of doing so, and how to do it! Forming a nonprofit corporation (a distinct legal entity) is different from federal or state tax exemption (a tax classification). For organizations seeking tax exemption, incorpor...

What is a trademark?  The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) explains: A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies your goods or services. The USPTO goes on to say that a trademark is how customers recognize your business...

Fiscal sponsorships could be the solution you didn't know you had as a nonprofit. Throughout this blog post, we talk about the benefits & risks of having a fiscal sponsor, along with other key questions you should be considering if you're wondering if having a fiscal sponsorship as a nonprofit is right for you.

While having a full-time in-house attorney may not be realistic for your organization, getting the occasional outside counsel from a nonprofit law firm is much more realistic than you might think. At Mission Counsel, we focus on the success of nonprofits and their missions. Our background in the nonprofit sector gives us a unique insight into the challenges you face, and we are committed to assisting nonprofits in a way that is sustainable and approachable for organizations of all sizes.

To apply for tax-exempt status there are two form options, the 1023 and the 1023-EZ. Now just because there is an “EZ” attached to the end of one of the choices, does not mean it is actually “easy” to fill out. Knowing which application to use is critical when trying to obtain tax-exempt status for your nonprofit.

Intellectual Property is the intangible rights protecting products of the human intellect, comprised generally of copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. Without exception, IP permeates throughout every nonprofit: websites; newsletters; logos; books/articles; music; computer code; unique systems, processes, and methods; campaigns; and more. Often, nonprofits create intellectual property without even realizing it. Knowing how to handle IP is vital for nonprofit Executive Directors and CEOs.

Whether you realize it or not, your organization is constantly engaging in numerous contracts, from your internet service provider, to that new donor management platform to which you just subscribed, to the web designer you just hired to rebuild your website. All of those are contractual relationships that are governed by the law of contracts (and the terms contained within those contracts). Having a clear idea of what contracts you are engaged in and what your obligations are as a nonprofit is essential to long term success.

Your organization simply cannot function without its people, yet your people (and the laws surrounding their employment) tend to be among the most common sources of litigation against nonprofits. However, with a little knowledge and foresight, it does not have to be that way. Here is a brief overview of what employment laws nonprofit executive directors should know about.

If dealing with the IRS makes you feel overwhelmed, you are not alone. Sometimes it seems like the Internal Revenue Service uses a foreign language that you never took in school. We know this and can help translate for your nonprofit. Compliance with the IRS is crucial to keeping your organization above board and in good standing. By making sure to take care of a few relatively straightforward matters, you can ensure your nonprofit maintains that precious 501(c)(3) status. Follow this guide to help keep the IRS happy with your organization.

Form 1023 is the application used by the IRS to determine if an organization qualifies for tax-exempt status. Tax-exempt status is also known as 501(c)(3) status. It is key for a nonprofit to obtain tax-exempt status within 27 months of being operational. There are a variety of complex questions on this length form, about 40 pages before supplemental materials and the potential addition of schedules. The IRS charges a filing fee of $600 upon submission of Form 1023.