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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. -
On the IRS Form 990, the IRS asks tax-exempt organizations if they have a written whistleblower policy, and it’s a red flag when organizations can’t answer this question in the affirmative. This time-saving template helps organizations meet the legal requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and provides a roadmap for handling any whistleblower complaints if they arise.
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Use this template to document the initial actions of the incorporator of your new nonprofit. It’s a document used to formally appoint the initial board members of the organization. (See also our Unanimous Written Consent by the Board – Startup Matters, used by an initial board of directors for taking other official corporate action as part of the startup process.)
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This template is designed to help Pennsylvania nonprofit startups that want to obtain 501(c)(3) status avoid one of the most common mistakes during the formation process. This document contains IRS-required language along with other provisions to help protect your organization. To help you save time and money, this version is annotated with explanations and finer points for your consideration and for your discussion with your organization’s legal counsel.
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If you are not careful when selecting a name, you can stumble into some serious startup trouble and cost your organization some woes early on. Organizations changing names and going through a rebranding process can suffer the same fate. Download our legal checklist for choosing a name for a list of steps to take and things to think through when choosing a name for your nonprofit. This guide sheet is also a helpful resource when it comes to naming and branding your nonprofit organization’s programs.
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In 2022, the Pennsylvania legislature made major changes to the nonprofit corporation law (found in Title 15 of Pennsylvania’s Consolidated Statutes). This 10-page executive summary of those changes succinctly captures what’s new, focusing on how the amendments impact nonprofit corporations. Clear and easy to read, this time-saving resource distills the complexity of the 165-page PDF of redlined changes made to Act 122 (drawn from House Bill 2057) and includes citations to specific statutory provisions.
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This resource is a classic, and a “must read” for founders and lawyers representing nonprofit startups. It’s no surprise that it is the most popular Ready Reference Page published by Don Kramer’s Nonprofit Issues.
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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.
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Nonprofits come in many different shapes and sizes, and they are more effective if their governing instruments reflect the constituencies that must be represented to make them work. Nonprofit consultants and “best practices” commentators often seem to assume that there is an ideal structure for nonprofit organizations that is embodied in a standardized set of bylaws taken off the shelf. But nonprofits are not all alike.
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Use this template language to meet the legal notice requirements for advertising the existence of your new nonprofit corporation in Pennsylvania.
