Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide (Wiley Nonprofit Authority)

Whether you are a nonprofit novice or the director of an established organization, this must-have guide to nonprofit law contains all the information you need to succeed, thrive, and protect your nonprofit's tax-exempt status. This practical reference offers you information on virtually every legal aspect of starting and operating a nonprofit organization—from receiving and maintaining tax-exempt status to tips for successful management practices. Completely revised and expanded, the third edition features updated information on changes in law, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector, and provides you with clear information on corporate, tax, and fundraising laws. Order your copy today! Everything you need to start and manage a non-profit Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization is written to help anyone who's just getting their toes wet in the sector get up to speed on the critical information needed to protect their nonprofit's tax-exempt status—and avoid the many legal traps out there that you probably didn't know exist. Packed with checklists and step-by-step guidance, Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization demystifies intricate legal issues with plain-English language explanations for non-legal professionals of the statutes, regulations, court opinions, and other rules comprising nonprofit law. Nonprofits must comply with stringent federal and state laws due to their special exempt status; the government's ultimate threat is revocation of a nonprofit's tax-exempt status, which usually means the nonprofit's demise. Written in plain English, not'legalese,'this all-important guide provides essential guidance for those interested in starting nonprofits, as well as valuable advice for leaders of established organizations. Covers all aspects of federal and state nonprofit law Discusses significant contemporary issues, including commerciality, private benefit, governance, and unrelated business Provides summaries of current IRS ruling policies Includes procedures and a glossary of legal terms for fail-safe compliance Written by the country's legal leading authority on tax-exempt organizations, Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization is the reference you'll want to keep close by as you navigate your way through the world of nonprofit and the law. 0471680001 Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization 4 Contents 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 20 PART I STARTING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION 22 CHAPTER 1 Why Start a Nonprofit Organization? 24 CHAPTER 2 Getting Started 32 CHAPTER 3 Debunking Some Myths and Misperceptions 50 PART II BEING NONPROFIT . . . LEGALLY 60 CHAPTER 4 Nonprofit Organizations: Much More than Charity 62 CHAPTER 5 Nonprofits and Private Benefit 80 CHAPTER 6 Tax Exemption: The Art of Application 98 CHAPTER 7 Tax Exemption: Not a Paperwork Exemption 116 CHAPTER 8 The Basic Charitable Giving Rules 132 CHAPTER 9 Charity under Siege: The Regulation of Fundraising 154 CHAPTER 10 Compensating the Nonprofit Employee 172 PART III TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE TAXABLE . . . AND SO CAN THEIR MANAGERS 184 CHAPTER 11 Be Public, Not Private 186 CHAPTER 12 When Possible, Make It Related 202 CHAPTER 13 Lobbying Constraints—and Taxes 220 CHAPTER 14 Political Activities—and More Taxes 234 PART IV HELPFUL HINTS AND SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUES 244 CHAPTER 15 For-Profit Subsidiaries 246 CHAPTER 16 Tax-Exempt Organizations and Ventures 256 CHAPTER 17 The World of Planned Giving 266 CHAPTER 18 Putting Ideas into Action 276 CHAPTER 19 Avoiding Personal Liability 288 PART V THE FUTURE OF NONPROFITS 300 CHAPTER 20 Nonprofits: A Short-Range Look 302 CHAPTER 21 Nonprofits: A Long-Range Look 316 Glossary 336 Index 352 "Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide is now in its sixth edition (2013). & nbsp; John Wiley & Sons has published all of the editions of this book & ndash; a new edition every four years. One of the major contributors to law changes in this area is enactment of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, which was signed into law at the close of 2015. & nbsp; The PATH Act brought many new laws and law changes to the realm of nonprofit law. & nbsp; Nonprofits must comply with stringent federal and state laws due to their special tax-exempt status; the government's ultimate threat is revocation of a nonprofit's tax-exempt status, which usually means the nonprofit's demise. Written in plain English, not "legalese," Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, provides essential guidance for those interested in starting nonprofits, as well as valuable advice for leaders of established organizations" "Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide is now in its sixth edition (2013). John Wiley & Sons has published all of the editions of this book -- a new edition every four years. One of the major contributors to law changes in this area is enactment of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, which was signed into law at the close of 2015. The PATH Act brought many new laws and law changes to the realm of nonprofit law. Nonprofits must comply with stringent federal and state laws due to their special tax-exempt status; the government's ultimate threat is revocation of a nonprofit's tax-exempt status, which usually means the nonprofit's demise. Written in plain English, not "legalese," Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, provides essential guidance for those interested in starting nonprofits, as well as valuable advice for leaders of established organizations"-- Provided by publisher Up-to-date information on changes in laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector Nonprofit organizations must comply with stringent federal and state regulations or risk losing their tax-exempt status. With a wealth of new material, the Fourth Edition of this easy-to-read resource contains essential information on virtually every legal aspect of starting and operating a nonprofit organization-from receiving and maintaining tax-exempt status to tips for successful management practices. Bruce R. Hopkins (Kansas City, MO) is the country's leading authority on tax-exempt organizations and a lawyer with the firm Polsinelli, Shalton & Welte, PC. He is the author of 15 books, including The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations (0-471-26820-8) and The Tax Law of Charitable Giving (0-471-35623-9), both published by Wiley "This Fourth Edition of Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide covers the breadth of legal aspects of starting and operating a nonprofit organization. This latest edition's revisions include updated material on changes in laws, rules, and regulations governing the nonprofit sector." "Written by a lawyer for non-lawyers, this book is an invaluable resource for nonprofit executives and managers, fundraising professionals, trustees, consultants, committed volunteers, and anyone involved in the complex, rewarding world of nonprofit organizations."--BOOK JACKET Whether you are a nonprofit novice or the director of an established organization, this guide to nonprofit law contains information you need to succeed, thrive, and protect your nonprofit's tax-exempt status. It offers you information on virtually various legal aspects of starting and operating a nonprofit organization. One of the most striking features of life as we enter the third millennium is the awesome sweep of reforms around the world.