NON-PROFIT LAW

In grantseeking, personal contacts usually do help. Although knowing someone may make it easier to have your proposal considered, putting pressure on those reviewing your proposal can backfire. Demonstrating that your organization has strong leadership often will go further toward securing a grant than personal contacts. If a foundation’s guidelines or descriptive directory entries state […]

Each state permits people to form nonprofit corporations, also known as not-for-profit corporations. The main reason people form these corporations is to get tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code (Section 501(c)(3)). To get tax-exempt status, the corporation must have been formed for religious, charitable, literary, scientific or educational purposes. If a corporation is tax-exempt […]

The answer depends on the foundation, its guidelines, and its grantmaking patterns. Like individuals, some are cautious, others are risk-takers; some conservative, others progressive. See also… Nonprofit Law and Fundraising

A private foundation is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization with a principal fund or endowment of its own. A private foundation derives its money from a family, an individual, or a corporation. An example of a private foundation is the Ford Foundation. By contrast, a grantmaking public charity derives its support from various members of the […]

Grantmakers typically fund nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These are organizations whose purposes are charitable, educational, scientific, religious, literary, or cultural. Their income cannot benefit private individuals, and their influence on legislation or political campaigns is restricted. Public schools, libraries, and other government organizations […]

You can do much of the work yourself to get incorporated and/or tax-exemption and/or tax-deductibility, but you should have some basic guidance and advice from a lawyer who understands nonprofit matters. For example, it’s very important how you characterize your plans when filing for incorporation with your state and/or for tax-exemption and/or tax-deductibility with the […]