Officers and directors of nonprofit corporations who ignore the articles of incorporation and bylaws are setting themselves up to to be on the losing side of a lawsuit.
An executive committee can be an effective governance tool, but not every board needs one. Executive committees should never ever replace the full board.
A common misconception among nonprofits is that they can’t lobby. In reality, this restriction applies only to private foundations, not public charities. Public charities are explicitly permitted to lobby so long as they adhere to limits.
The Internal Revenue Service is at it again. The IRS recently released a Governance Check Sheet that its examination agents will use when examining charitable organizations (other than private foundations), along with a Guide Sheet providing instructions on how to use the Check Sheet. According to the IRS’s webpage for exempt organization governance issues, the Check Sheet “will be used by IRS’ Exempt Organizations Examination agents to capture data about governance practices and the related internal controls of organizations being examined. The data will be included in a long-term study to gain a better understanding of the intersection between governance practices and tax compliance.” These materials are in addition to the governance training materials previously released by the IRS.
In the last decade or so, directors and officers have faced an increased exposure to personal liability. While the bulk of legal actions have been against directors and officers of for profit corporations, judgments against and settlements by directors and officers of nonprofit corporations are increasing.
Asks Forgiveness, Not Permission. I receive calls from nonprofit CEOs who are struggling with their boards. I am also asked by boards to intervene when there is a an issue with the CEO. What I have learned is that great CEOs do not overly confer with the Board. Instead, great CEOs understand that it is their job to implement the Board’s strategy within the scope of the strategy, policies, and budget the Board has set. Too much checking-in can have the unintended consequence of inviting the board to micro-manage. Conversely, scribbling too far outside the lines of the board approved strategy, policies, and budget can get a CEO fired.
Boards are entitled to delegate tasks to committees, officers, staff, or in certain cases, professionals, but only if they perform sufficient oversight. Oversight is commonly exercised through policies and procedures so long as the board ensures that the policies and procedures are actually followed. Common oversight mechanisms include review of financial statements and the annual Form 990 as well as the implementation of various governance policies.
Failing to Understand Fiduciary Duties. When you volunteer to serve as a director or officer of a nonprofit, you accept the responsibility to act with the duties of good faith, due care and loyalty. You also accept the potential liability for failing to fulfill those duties. Increased scrutiny from the I.R.S., Congress, state attorneys general, the Department of Justice, donors and the media require vigilance at every step. It is no longer sufficient to rubber stamp committee or staff recommendations or to simply abstain from dicey decisions. Today, board service comes with real responsibilities and real consequences for those that fail to live up to them.
Most states require you to register your organization if you solicit donations from their residents. Many states also require registration if your organization collects substantial or ongoing donations from their residents, even if you aren’t specifically targeting donors in that state. Download our comprehensive list of each state’s requirements.
Download our free guide to learn about the many elements needed to run a successful nonprofit organization, as well as how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes.