Gain a better understanding of the importance of good governance in the quest for improved tax-exempt compliance.
With increasing focus on transparency and accountability in nonprofit governance, many organizations are unsure of what is expected and how to achieve the ever-increasing demands and standards set by the IRS and others who regulate or monitor the nonprofit sector. This topic explains what the IRS, state attorney generals, and industry clearinghouse organizations (Guidestar, the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator) are expecting and demanding from today’s charities, those organizations that are tax-exempt under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. You will learn what the current expectations are, how to bring your organization into compliance with current best practices in nonprofit governance, and position your organization for succes.
Learning Objectives
- You will be able to define what governance vs. management is.
- You will be able to describe the IRS’s view on good governance.
- You will be able to explain what policies a nonprofit should have in place to comply with best practices.
- You will be able to recognize where your organization is with respect to best practices and what it needs to accomplish to move forward.
Agenda
Governance and Best Practices
- Role of the Board
- Fiduciary Duties of Directors
- Conflicts of Interest
Intermediate Sanctions and the Rebuttable Presumption
- Overview
- Why Compliance Is Important
- Conflicts, Compensation and Expense Reimbursement
Basic Functions of a Board
- Governance vs. Management
- Common Guiding Principles for Effective Boards
- IRS Guidelines for Good Governance
Speakers
Anita Pelletier,
Nixon Peabody LLP- Counsel in the Rochester, NY office of Nixon Peabody LLP
- Represented organizations ranging from the very small to the very large on all matters relating to nonprofit governance and related issues; also worked with several organizations to guide them through IRS and regulatory audits; assisted numerous charities navigate the various rules regarding charitable solicitations in a market that necessitates the use of social media and electronic communications
- Conducts regular seminars and workshops on nonprofit governance, issues relating to tax-exempt status and charitable solicitations
- Member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and a member of the Legal Resources Committee and is also involved with the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys, previously serving as a board member as well as chair of their Media Committee and co-chair of the Program Committee; also a member of the American, New York State, and Monroe County bar associations
- Received numerous awards for her commitment to pro bono service; in 2003, she received the William E. McKnight Award from the Monroe County Bar Association; in 2005, she received the Legal Aid Society of New York City Pro Bono Award
- A recipient of Nixon Peabody’s Rodman Peabody Pro Bono Award, winning in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 to 2015
- Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 in the field of Nonprofit/Charities Law and has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2017
- J.D. degree, summa cum laude, Syracuse University School of Law; M.P.A. degree, Maxwell School of Public Administration; B.A. degree in economics, St. John Fisher College
- Can be contacted at 585-263-1164 or apelletier@nixonpeabody.com
Who Should Attend
This live webinar is designed for accountants, CPAs, attorneys, executive directors, officers, controllers, CFOs, tax managers, bookkeepers, and enrolled agents.
