Category Archives: Nonprofit Law
Safeguarding Your Sanctuary – Asset Protection for Churches and Nonprofits
By H. Robert Showers, Esq. Introduction A church or nonprofit’s corporate structure is vital for both its long-term maintenance and day-to-day operations—but a single corporate structure no longer suffices to protect and provide all available advantages. The 21st century has seen an uptick in secular lawsuits that purposefully target churches and religious nonprofits. This,… Read More »
Charitable Solicitation Registration-Why Register?
From the nonprofit fundraising scandals of the late 1970’s to the televangelist debacles of the 2000’s, charity scandals over the last few decades have led many state governments to increase their regulation of charitable fundraising. The most significant legislative response to the shifting nonprofit landscape is the charitable solicitation registration (“CSR”) statutes now enacted… Read More »
Fair Use Defense of Image and Excerpt Citation for Nonprofit Public Use
By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. February 25, 2022 Many businesses, organizations, and nonprofits have questions about what images they can use on their website. Especially when you are a nonprofit, when is reproducing an image fair use and thus not in violation of U.S. copyright law? The uncomfortable reality… Read More »
Virtual Currency Gifts: Should Churches and Nonprofits Accept Bitcoin?
Virtual Currency Gifts: Should Churches and Nonprofits Accept Bitcoin? By William R. Thetford, Esq. and H. Robert Showers, Esq. Updated July 14, 2021 Preface Excitement rides high on the cryptocurrency wave these days. Even on the wave, though, one must be wary of the height. For churches and nonprofits, that height might be too… Read More »
Responsibilities of Non-Profit Board Members
Responsibilities of Non-Profit Board Members By Robert Showers, Esq. Last Updated June 18, 2021 Some time ago, we highlighted some legal potholes that could harm your non-profit organization and informed you on how you could alert your board of directors to these risks. This article attempts to turn the lens inward and address the… Read More »
What You Need to Know About H.R. 5 (“The Equality Act”)
What You Need to Know About H.R. 5 (“The Equality Act”) By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. April 27, 2021 In the wake of the new administration, Congress has taken up H.R. 5, entitled the Equality Act by its supporters. Evangelical Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Jewish groups, as well as… Read More »
PPP Recipient Information Released by the SBA: What you Need to Know about What People Know About Your PPP Loan
PPP Recipient Information Released by the SBA: What you Need to Know About What People Know About Your PPP Loan By H. Robert Showers, Esq. and William R. Thetford, Esq. Last Updated: December 14, 2020 Back in July, the United States Small Business Administration (the SBA) released some information on the recipients of its… Read More »
Legal Alert: Governors Amended Executive Orders Affect Churches, Businesses, and Individuals
Legal Alert: Governors Amended Executive Orders Affect Churches, Businesses, and Individuals By William R. Thetford, Esq. and H. Robert Showers, Esq. Last Updated: November 20, 2020 The unprecedented series of health concerns, outbreaks, closures, restrictions, and lockdowns this year has been a recurring frustration for individuals, businesses, and churches. With the cooler weather, many… Read More »
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE CALLING AN ATTORNEY ABOUT STARTING A NONPROFIT
By Justin R. Coleman, Esq. and H. Robert Showers Esq. So, you have a passion to save the world (or at least some portion of it)? For some, this may mean spending time working at a local soup kitchen, animal shelter, or youth program. Others may feel that their cause is not being adequately… Read More »
Immigration Changes for Nonprofits and Churches
1. Form I-9 Changes in January 2017 Recently the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of its Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification form and required U.S. employers to begin using the new Form I-9 by January 22, 2017. Currently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conduct thousands of I-9… Read More »
