Nonprofit CEO/ED Thinking about Retirement?

“I WILL Retire Someday – Preparing Yourself and Your Organization” – Available exclusively to nonprofit CEO/EDs within 10 years of retirement, this free session provides an opportunity to think with a group of your peers plus Bryan Orander and John Wheeler, CPA, CFP to explore how you prepare yourself and your organization for your next adventure. April 23, 2014 from 8:30-10:30am at UWCI conference center. FMI or contact Bryan Orander at Bryan@CharitableAdvisors.com or 317-752-7153

Use Caution when Pursuing "Business" Activities

By: Zachary S. Kester, JD, LLM, CFRM – Charitable Allies

The modern nonprofit sector is vibrant and adaptable, especially after coming off the heels of the largest and longest recession in modern history. Many charities are pursuing opportunities to ensure stability by providing services for a fee and by selling goods. Consultants even hold seminars on developing earned income streams. Most charities, however, do this at some risk, and should be cautious in how they expand and manage business-related activities.

As recently as this month the IRS has denied or revoked the tax exempt status of charities for their activities being too “commercial”.

The IRS relies on the “commerciality doctrine”, a little-known, entirely judge-made doctrine. The commerciality doctrine prohibits a charity from directly engaging in activities in a commercial manner, especially where the activity is conducted in substantially the same manner as by for-profit organizations.

Read the full article.

Charitable Allies (www.charitableallies.org) is your go-to cost-effective provider of legal services to nonprofit organizations from one question, to employment issues, to a complex merger. Contact Zac Kester, Executive Director, at 317-429-1649 or zkester@charitableallies.org with your questions.

"...Run More Like a Business?"

Here's a chance with Bryan Orander, Charitable Advisors

I don't usually respond well when I hear people make simplistic statements like "nonprofits should run more like businesses". When I ask for clarity, they discuss setting aggressive goals; executing effective marketing strategies; building a brand; recruiting the best people; and generally operating in an intentional, well-organized manner. So they are saying that a ten person nonprofit should operate like Eli Lilly & Co? From a practical standpoint, my perception would be that most nonprofits are run as well as or better than small businesses of comparable size.

That being said, here is an affordable opportunity for a member of your nonprofit leadership team to join me and a cohort of other nonprofit leaders and managers to reflect on where your organization is headed and what you need to do to improve your impact, financial and staff management, and operations. We are adapting the 10 week FastTrac Growth Ventures curriculum from the Kauffman Foundation for use with nonprofit leaders and organizations. The first class will be approximately 15 executive directors and senior staff of established area nonprofits. In addition to the FastTrac business curriculum we will also talk the key issues that make nonprofits unique with guest speakers fromn the foundation and nonprofit community.

The host organization for this class is Business Ownership Initiative, a local nonprofit partner of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. The cost is only $495 for 10 Friday mornings, beginning on April 18 and running through June. For more information and registration, go here.

Bryan Orander, President of Charitable Advisors and Publisher of the Not-for-Profit News will be the lead facilitator for this session. www.CharitableAdvisors.com. Feel free to contact Bryan at 752-7153 or Bryan@CharitableAdvisors.com or Jackie Troy at BOI jtroy@businessownership.org with questions.

Opportunities to Grow and Explore (March/April)

Considering Retirement? – I WILL Retire Someday – Available exclusively to nonprofit CEO/EDs within 10 years of retirement, this free session provides an opportunity to work with Bryan Orander of Charitable Advisors and a group of your peers to explore how you prepare yourself and your organization for your next adventure. April 23, 2014 from 8:30-10:30am at UWCI conference center. More

Taking your Nonprofit and/or Yourself to the Next Level? – FastTrack Growth Venture for Nonprofits – Be part of this pilot effort as Business Ownership Initiative partners with Bryan Orander of Charitable Advisors, as facilitator, for a 10 week training/peer group experience exclusively for the Executive Directors and Senior Managers of established nonprofits. Lots of guest speakers and experts. Friday mornings from April ... through June ... Only $495. More

Early/New Career/Internships? – The IUPUI Nonprofit Expo is the perfect time to learn about dozens of area nonprofits and explore possibilities as volunteers, interns, and staff. Students, alumni, and community members are invited to attend. No charge. More