Practice Insights
Insights on nonprofit governance, compliance, and philanthropy law, drawn from the questions our clients ask most.
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A gift acceptance policy helps a nonprofit set out which charitable gifts it will accept, which require additional review, and which may create unacceptable legal, financial, administrative, or reputational considerations. While accepting donations is central to nonprofit fundraising, not every gift is necessarily a good fit for an organization. A gift of real estate, closely held stock, cryptocurrency, or other unusual property may carry significant obligations. Similarly, a restricted gift may limit a nonprofit’s ability to use charitable funds effectively in the future. A well-drafted nonprofit gift acceptance policy provides a framework for evaluating these issues before the organization accepts a gift.
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Supporting causes outside of the United States can be an important part of advancing a nonprofit’s charitable mission, but international grantmaking can also bring added legal and compliance considerations. Taking a thoughtful approach at the outset can help nonprofits make effective grants outside of the United States while protecting charitable assets and avoiding unnecessary complications.
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A nonprofit’s bylaws are not just another document sitting in the organization’s record book; instead, they serve as the organization’s legal guidepost. Bylaws establish how directors are elected, how meetings are conducted, what authority officers possess, and how major organizational decisions are made.
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Nonprofit employment law carries the same baseline obligations as any employer, plus a layer specific to tax-exempt organizations: reasonable compensation rules, intermediate sanctions, and the scrutiny that comes with operating on charitable and grant funding. This post covers what nonprofit employers should have in place.
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Gifts to charity, whether an outright donation, a restricted endowment fund, or a planned gift through a trust, come with legal obligations that don’t disappear once the funds are received. This post covers what organizations and donors should understand about accepting, managing, and structuring charitable gifts.
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Nonprofits enter into contracts constantly, with vendors, grantors, partner organizations, and independent contractors, often without the dedicated legal review a for-profit company of similar size would apply. This post covers the contract areas that most often create problems for mission-driven organizations.
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Effective philanthropy requires more than generosity. Foundations and major donors operate under specific legal rules, private foundation excise taxes, self-dealing restrictions, and grantmaking compliance requirements, that shape how giving actually gets structured. This post covers what funders and grant-seekers alike should understand.
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Tax-exempt status isn’t a one-time achievement, it’s an ongoing set of obligations at both the federal and state level. This post covers what it actually takes to stay compliant, and where we see organizations benefit from legal support.
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Nonprofits change shape over time, through mergers, affiliations, restructurings, and eventually, for some, dissolution. These transitions carry legal requirements beyond what a for-profit business would face, largely because charitable assets can’t simply be redirected at will. This post covers the major transition points and what they require.
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Every nonprofit rests on a governance foundation, entity structure, bylaws, and a board that understands its fiduciary role. Get this right early, and it supports the organization through growth, funding scrutiny, and eventual transitions. Get it wrong, and it’s the first thing that surfaces when a funder, regulator, or dispute puts the organization under a closer look.
The information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or viewing this content does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Jova Law, LLC or any of its attorneys . Because every legal matter is different, you should consult with a qualified attorney regarding your specific circumstances. The information contained herein may not reflect the most current legal developments and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice.