Use this template board service agreement to set clear expectations for your board members. This document includes a summary of board duties and other provisions that can protect your organization and help it grow strong.

Keeping good meeting minutes is an art and not a science, but this template and its tips provide a framework for consistently keeping good records for your nonprofit organization.

An organization that has 501(c)(3) status and needs to communicate with donors about its tax status can use this letter to recognize donor contributions. This letter also includes language organizations can post on their websites about their exempt status. (If your organization’s exemption ruling is pending, see also our Donor Acknowledgement Letter – Pre-501(c)(3) Status.)

An organization that doesn’t have 501(c)(3) status yet but needs to communicate with donors about its tax status can use this letter to recognize donor contributions. This letter also includes language organizations can post on their websites while they are waiting for the IRS to recognize their tax-exempt status. (See also our Donor Acknowledgement Letter – Post-501(c)(3) Status.)

Although applying for an employer identification number (EIN) for a nonprofit organization can be a simple process, founders who are not in the know can waste time and money when applying for EINs. This guide sheet walks through the process step by step, warning of possible pitfalls.

This template consent helps memorialize the startup steps taken by the organization’s initial board of directors, creating a clear formal record for the organization’s minute book. The initial board of directors of a nonprofit organization uses this document to formally accept their board positions in writing, adopt bylaws and policies, appoint officers, and ratify the actions taken in the organization’s startup phase by the incorporator (and any members of the organization). Any other lawful actions they believe are in the best interests of the organization can be included in this consent as part of the startup process.

Use this simple, time-saving template to authorize an organization’s Executive Director (or CEO) to make payments and approve transactions. Set thresholds for when additional approvals or signatures are needed.

The IRS asks tax-exempt organizations on the IRS Form 990 if they have a process for determining executive compensation that requires an independent review (and approval) of the proposed compensation, the use of comparability data, and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision. This template policy meets those criteria and provides a roadmap for properly approving executive compensation.

The IRS asks tax-exempt organizations on the IRS Form 990 if they have a written conflict of interest policy – and it’s never a good sign when organizations can’t answer ‘yes’ to this question. Pennsylvania’s charity regulators care, too. Even if an organization is not a charitable organization, Pennsylvania law only allows for related-party transactions in certain circumstances. This template policy is designed to help nonprofit leaders fulfill their fiduciary duties and keep their organizations in compliance. This version is a good starting point for boards that take conflicts of interest seriously and that want something more robust for identifying and screening conflicts of interest. It includes an annual disclosure form and provides a roadmap for screening and vetting conflicts.

The IRS asks tax-exempt organizations on the IRS Form 990 if they have a written document retention and destruction policy, and it’s not a good sign when organizations can’t answer ‘yes’ to this question. This time-saving template educates organizations and encourages their compliance with the legal requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) by providing guidance for keeping, storing, and disposing of records and documents. It includes a chart listing specific documents and retention timeframes.