Category Archives: Nonprofit Law
PPP Recipient Information Released by the SBA: What you Need to Know about What People Know About Your PPP Loan
PPP Recipient Information Released by the SBA: What you Need to Know About What People Know About Your PPP Loan By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. Last Updated: December 14, 2020 Back in July, the United States Small Business Administration (the SBA) released some information on the recipients of its… Read More »
Legal Alert: Governors Amended Executive Orders Affect Churches, Businesses, and Individuals
Legal Alert: Governors Amended Executive Orders Affect Churches, Businesses, and Individuals By William R. Thetford, Esq. and H. Robert Showers, Esq. Last Updated: November 20, 2020 The unprecedented series of health concerns, outbreaks, closures, restrictions, and lockdowns this year has been a recurring frustration for individuals, businesses, and churches. With the cooler weather, many… Read More »
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE CALLING AN ATTORNEY ABOUT STARTING A NONPROFIT
By Justin R. Coleman, Esq. and H. Robert Showers Esq. So, you have a passion to save the world (or at least some portion of it)? For some, this may mean spending time working at a local soup kitchen, animal shelter, or youth program. Others may feel that their cause is not being adequately… Read More »
Immigration Changes for Nonprofits and Churches
1. Form I-9 Changes in January 2017 Recently the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of its Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification form and required U.S. employers to begin using the new Form I-9 by January 22, 2017. Currently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conduct thousands of I-9… Read More »
Nonprofit and Church Alert: Court Stalls New FLSA Rule
On November 22, 2016, a federal court enjoined the new FLSA salary rule that was scheduled to take effect December 1, 2016. That start date is postponed indefinitely pending further action of the Courts, Executive branch or Congress or all three. Judge Mazzant of the Eastern District of Texas granted an Emergency Motion for… Read More »
New Fair Labor Standards Act Changes to Take Effect December 1, 2016
The Department of Labor recently issued significant and sweeping salary threshold changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) through its Final Rule, published on May 18, 2016. The Rule is set to go into effect on December 1, 2016. These changes are the result of a Presidential Memorandum issued by President Obama in… Read More »
BREAKING LEGAL NEWS: Hobby Lobby and What It Means for Churches and Nonprofits
The Supreme Court recently delivered a decisive, though limited, victory for religious liberty in its decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) contraceptive mandate violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a statute that was passed… Read More »
What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You: Myths and Misconceptions About Church/Nonprofit Employment Liability
Lawsuits alleging wrongful employment practices are the fastest-growing area of civil litigation today. In fact, according to church and non-profit insurers, well over half of the claims annually stem from employment problems such as wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, disability, or other employment related claims. Unfortunately, many churches and nonprofits are unaware or treat… Read More »
Granting Money from a U.S. Charity or Church to a Foreign Individual or NGO: Substantial Risks and Best Practices
Many times, conducting charitable work necessitates broadening an organization’s reach, which often in turn requires working outside of the United States. Unfortunately, while these endeavors are exciting, they are complicated and risky for the churches and nonprofit organizations who are involved. Of the many types of risks involved, one of the primary areas involves… Read More »
To Merge or Not to Merge: That is the Question
Increasingly, churches and nonprofits are thinking about mergers and “acquisitions” due to the challenging financial times, increased tax exempt regulations and aging membership/decreased donations. While there appear to be some resources which discuss whether a church or nonprofit should merge or not, there is little guidance about practical applications and/or how to legally effectuate… Read More »