Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Last week, a federal judge blocked the implementation of a Department of Labor rule designed to expand overtime eligibility. The Department of Labor had previously introduced a two-phase increase to the salary threshold for overtime. The first adjustment took effect on July 1, 2024 and the second was set for January 1, 2025. Proactive employers …
Handling client grievances effectively is critical for any nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality services and support. Client complaints, whether about services provided, program procedures, staff, or facilities , can impact your nonprofit’s reputation and effectiveness. Ideally, your organization has a grievance policy to ensure a clear, fair process for addressing concerns. In case your …
The Fearless Fund, an organization that supports black-women entrepreneurs, recently settled a discrimination lawsuit over one of their programs. While the settlement allows Fearless Fund to continue its mission, it underscores the importance of nonprofits carefully navigating the legal landscape of race-based grant making. This article by attorneys at Moore & Van Allen provides a …
Does your nonprofit host auctions with a live auctioneer? Nonprofits that engage in live auctions should be aware of the Georgia Auctioneers Law (the “GAL”). The GAL requires organizations that conduct live auctions to use a licensed auctioneer, with limited exceptions. Read this article, to understand whether your nonprofit’s auctions might be exempt or if they …
In the digital age, sharing and publishing images has become an integral part of nonprofit storytelling. However, this seemingly simple act carries with it intellectual property (IP) and privacy considerations that can significantly impact individuals and organizations. Whether using photographs taken by a volunteer, artwork from a paid artist, or pictures generated by AI, it’s …
A recent case from the federal court in Atlanta provides a good reminder that managers, even mid-level managers, can be held personally liable for violations of minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. The Fair Labor Standards Act holds “employers” responsible for minimum wage and overtime violations. Under this law, a mid-level manager, who acts in …
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employer discrimination against individuals based on their disability. Nonprofit employers often find themselves uncertain of how to navigate their obligations under the ADA. How should they determine what is reasonable, in terms of accommodation requests? What does discrimination look like under the ADA? A federal court recently provided some …
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has recently updated its Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace. The guidance covers a wide range of recent hot topics, from harassment in a virtual work environment to protections against pregnancy harassment. The guidance reflects how the EEOC’s interpretation of what constitutes harassment has evolved over time and provides …
Terminating an Employee While They Are On Leave Terminating an employee is a sensitive issue, and doing so while they are on leave requires additional considerations. It requires a careful review of employee protections and is only legally permissible in certain situations. This article by Marquetta Bryan with Nelson Mullins and Rayne Towns of Nokia …
Nonprofits provide valuable and often essential programs to support youth in their communities. While providing such services, nonprofits must maintain practices and procedures to prevent abuse and mistreatment of children. This article from Venable outlines ten important compliance strategies for nonprofits to consider for their youth programming.
Nonprofit entities frequently depend on the support of interns or volunteers to fulfill their mission. In acknowledgment of their valuable contributions, certain nonprofits may contemplate offering stipends to these volunteers or interns. While the intention behind this gesture is commendable, it introduces potential risks for your organization. This article aims to shed light on the …
The Corporate Transparency Act places certain new filing requirements and carries penalties for corporate entities. Many, but not all, nonprofits are exempt from the filing requirements of the new law. Is your nonprofit exempt? Learn more about the Corporate Transparency Act and which tax-exempt entities are exempt from its filing requirements in this article from …
Does your nonprofit organization contact individuals by phone using prerecorded messages? Perhaps a prerecorded voice message is used to invite people to an event or to remind them to vote in an upcoming election. If so – and if the people you are calling have not previously consented to receiving prerecorded messages from your nonprofit …
The IRS’ Tax Exempt Organization Search (“TEOS”) is an excellent resource to find certain IRS-related nonprofit records, such as 990s since 2017 or exemption letters filed since 2014. The IRS website has a new electronic form to request additional information related to tax-exempt organizations. Submit the electronic Form 4506-B to obtain copies of a nonprofit’s …
Your volunteers work hard to fulfill your organization’s mission and serve the community. But with many activities, there can be risks involved. Nonprofits should consider requiring volunteers to sign valid waivers of liability to protect the organization and to continue providing a structured opportunity for volunteers to serve the community. Prepare your organization and volunteers …
With election day next week, is your nonprofit organization aware of recent changes to voting leave requirements? Whether your employees are advance voting or voting on election day, read this article from Jackson Lewis to learn more about how much voting leave employers must provide. The article also addresses the recent extension of the existing …
Succession planning is vital for a nonprofit to ensure the continuity of their mission-driven work and long-term sustainability. Are you ready for when your founding executive director retires? Or if your chief executive officer moves to another nonprofit with just a months’ notice? This article by Brandon Hill with Nelson Mullins highlights legal considerations and …
Recent federal law expands the rights of nursing employees to take breaks and have a private place to express breast milk during the workday. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a new Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) poster to reflect the recent changes made under the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing …
In a recent unanimous ruling, the justices of the US Supreme Court made it easier for workers to seek religious accommodations on the job. Employers will now have to “show that the burden of granting an accommodation would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business” before they can deny …
Many tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that provide health insurance coverage to their employees can qualify for a special IRS tax credit. The maximum credit is 35% of premiums paid by eligible tax-exempt employers. To be eligible, tax-exempt employers must have fewer than 25 full-time employees, whose average annual wages are less than $61,400 (as of 2023)*, …
A “charitable sales promotion” is a popular form of cause marketing that allows businesses to support charitable organizations while promoting their own products or services. “Friday Donut Sales to Support Local Shelter” or “Restaurant Proceeds go to Food Bank” entice consumers to make purchases with the promise of supporting a charitable initiative. Whatever the arrangement may be, …
Keep your corporate registration in good standing by renewing it annually. Georgia nonprofits must renew their registration with the Office of Secretary of State every year, between January 1 – April 1. You must renew during this window regardless of when you filed your initial registration (for example, if you registered with the Secretary of …
Transporting children in cars may be a necessary component of some nonprofit programming, but it also carries significant risks. While accidents can never be completely eliminated, there are steps nonprofit organizations can take to mitigate the risks to the organization, the driver, and the transported children. This article from Wagenmaker & Oberly explores some effective …
What is the difference between an offer letter and an employment agreement? This is a common question that employers have when deciding how to document the employment of a new hire. Read this article by Nell Schiller with King & Spalding to learn the differences between these two types of agreements and why offer letters …