The Law Of Charitable And Not For Profit Organizations

The nonprofit sector is a vital component of our society and is allowed the greatest freedom to operate. The public understandably assumes that since nonprofit organizations are established to do good, the people who run nonprofits are altruistic, and the laws governing nonprofits have reflected this assumption. But as Marion Fremont-Smith argues, the rules that govern how nonprofits operate are inadequate, and the regulatory mechanisms designed to enforce the rules need improvement. Despite repeated instances of negligent management, self-interest at the expense of the charity, and outright fraud, nonprofits continue to receive minimal government regulation. In this time of increased demand for corporate accountability, the need to strengthen regulation of nonprofits is obvious. Fremont-Smith addresses this need from a historical, legal, and organizational perspective. She combines summaries and analysis of the substantive legal rules governing the behavior of charitable officers, directors, and trustees with descriptions of the federal and state regulatory schemes designed to enforce these rules. Her unique and exhaustive historical survey of the law of nonprofit organizations provides a foundation for her analysis of the effectiveness of current law and proposals for its improvement.

Raising funds to fulfill a nonprofit organization's goals is critical to its success, but fundraising regulations are an increasingly complex maze. The Law of Fundraising, Fifth Edition is the definitive guide to demystifying federal and state fundraising regulations. With new discussion on Internet fundraising, political fundraising laws, and international fundraising, this book details federal and state laws, with an emphasis on administrative, tax, and constitutional laws. This guide is supplemented annually to keep nonprofit professionals on top of the latest fundraising legal developments.

In a concise and readable format, Nonprofit Law, 2nd Edition provides up-to-date information about the legal issues that can arise at every turn--from inception to termination--of a Section 501(c)(3) organization. This second edition continues and builds upon the comprehensive features of the first edition, including: A reader-friendly presentation that does not assume earlier background with tax, trusts, or corporations A balanced treatment between theory and practical reality Cradle-to-grave organization of topics Notes, questions, and problems in each chapter that add context to the text All relevant statutes and regulations within the text Optional exercises for creating a virtual nonprofit, which become the basis for further hypothetical questions. Designed to satisfy the highest academic requirements for students of law, business, and public policy (and to provide an accessible, comprehensive desk reference for practicing nonprofit professionals), Nonprofit Law, 2nd Edition explains the corporate, tax, and other regulatory issues that all nonprofit managers, board members, and their lawyers ultimately face. Highlights of the second edition include: Examples of familiar organizations, from Catholic Dioceses to the American Red Cross, grappling with critical issues Consideration of for-profit social enterprises as alternatives to nonprofits Thorough exploration of the policy implications of nonprofit regulation An explanation of the controversies surrounding nonprofits' entrance into politics and the IRS' response.