Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
2025 was a challenging year for many nonprofit organizations, marked by uncertainty and funding changes driven by shifts in the federal landscape. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, we’re revisiting some of our most popular episodes from the past year—because the unique trends and concerns that emerged in 2025 will continue to impact the …
Building a strong board is essential for any nonprofit—and integrating an ex officio director offers both promise and complexity. This article by Alex Godwin with Novelis North America explores what it means to appoint an ex officio director under Georgia law and provides a practical roadmap to ensure ex officio appointments enhance, rather than hinder, …
A 3-part PBPA Podcast Series Nonprofit board members and the executive director may sometimes have a tricky relationship, but they are always looking to further their nonprofit’s mission. In this PBPA Podcast series, we explore best practices for nonprofit board management of their executive director (“ED”), at every stage of the relationship. Whether you are …
With the constant stream of news coming out of Washington, it can feel overwhelming to keep up with all the changes. From major universities to small community-based organizations, nonprofits are being impacted by these new federal government initiatives. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Rachel Spears and Eadaoin Walsh bring board members up to speed …
Part III – Conflict and Termination One of the greatest challenges a nonprofit board of directors can face is managing conflict with and potentially terminating an executive director. While no board wants to find itself in this situation, it’s crucial to be prepared. In this episode of the PBPA podcast, Alex Drummond with Seyfarth Shaw …
One of the most important tasks a nonprofit board might encounter is managing the transition to a new executive director. With great succession planning, plenty of lead time and lots of luck, an executive director transition might be completely smooth and uneventful. But more often than not, boards don’t have adequate time to plan or …
Effective Oversight to Foster Collaboration & Prevent Overreach As the linchpin of a nonprofit, the executive director is tasked with translating the organization’s mission into action and managing day-to-day operations. But what role does the board of directors play in ensuring accountability while maintaining a collaborative partnership? And how can board members navigate the fine …
Nonprofit directors generally join the board because they are passionate about the mission of the organization. That’s a great place to start, but enthusiasm and passion must be paired with strong governance to enhance the growth of the mission. In this talk we will discuss governance generally and the policies boards should have in place …
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 …
On July 1st, the Amended Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code went into effect. This law guides how Georgia nonprofit corporations are expected to operate. Since most of PBPA’s clients are incorporated in Georgia, these changes apply to you! A few examples of the changes include: Speaker: Robyn Miller, Senior Corporate/Tax Counsel, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta …
Nonprofit boards have a lot of responsibility and a lot of work to do. Board committees can help nonprofit boards work more efficiently and govern more effectively. In this article, Phil Thompson, partner at Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele, outlines how special committees can be a means by which directors can efficiently and effectively fulfill their duties …
Directors have legal duties to their nonprofit, and the board chair is in a unique position to oversee these duties. A chair can lead the board not just to govern, but to set the organization up for long-term success. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Marianna Faircloth with The Home Depot will outline best …
While nonprofit board members are motivated to serve by passion for an organization’s mission, could a nonprofit also pay them? Paying nonprofit board members for their service raises many legal issues that are very difficult to overcome. Read this article to learn about the types of payments a nonprofit might make to a board member, which ones …
An organization’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are the keystone corporate governance documents of a nonprofit. In this webcast, our speaker will help viewers understand how these two documents function separately and together, as we discuss: Speaker: Talmadge Infinger, M&A Counsel at UPS Open Slides in New Tab
Nonprofit organizations often collaborate with other nonprofits in order to maximize their impact. If your 501(c)(3) nonprofit works in partnership with other nonprofits, you may end up working alongside a 501(c)(4) organization. Whether your nonprofit works with a (c)(4) as part of an established coalition or on an ad hoc basis, it is important to …
Many nonprofit board members join the board because they care about the issues the organization addresses. One of the essential ways to assist the nonprofit, and its mission, is by having an understanding of the board’s role, legal duties and responsibilities. During this webinar, our speaker helps nonprofits and their board members understand: – The Role …
If you have a fiscal sponsor, at some point and for any number of reasons, you may consider going out on your own. This checklist briefly outlines some of the important considerations for various fiscal sponsorship projects that are contemplating separating from their fiscal sponsor. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, …
Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta · Board Members and Personal Liability: Options for Nonprofits to Minimize their Risk In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Erin McGinnis answers our questions about shielding board members from personal liability for volunteer services, while also minimizing risk to the organization. Our guest will walk us through the many …
Nonprofit staff and board are all on the same team, but problems can arise if the roles of team members are unclear. In this webcast, PBPA’s Justine Cowan, who has served as both an executive director and a board member herself, will discuss how to navigate the complex board-staff relationship, including: • Key policies that …
Your organization’s revenue is down, workforce is changing, and facilities are underutilized. What can a nonprofit do? What MUST it do? As your organization considers its options as an entity and a steward, there are several possibilities out there. In this 3-part webcast series, our speakers will: identify the questions your nonprofit should ask during …
As the effects of COVID-19 present financial challenges to nearly every nonprofit organization, some that have endowments may be wondering whether and how much your endowment funds can be used to keep your organization afloat. While a lot depends on the specifics of the endowment, this article is intended to provide an overview of some …
Have you ever thought about combining with an organization that does similar work or serves the same clients? There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to merge two nonprofit 501(c)(3)s. During this webcast we will explore best practices and lessons learned. Nonprofit mergers are complex and if not done properly can result in …
PBPA Executive Director, Rachel Epps Spears discusses the good habits that make a successful board member. Learn to be an effective partner to the organization you care so much about and help avoid the pitfalls of financial mismanagement. This knowledge is more important than ever, especially considering recent closures of several well-established nonprofits in Atlanta. …
Updated July 1, 2024 If your organization’s plans for the new year include a name change, check out our article that presents steps for changing the legal name of a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization in Georgia. Name Change Article