Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
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 …
When terminating an employee, nonprofits must carefully navigate the process to protect the organization from wrongful termination claims. This process, outlined in this flowchart to guide decision-makers during each step of the termination process, includes tips to ensure due diligence, consistency and documentation. The following flowchart outlines the key steps and legal considerations to take …
Last year, the Supreme Court in a landmark decision ruled that most American colleges and universities are prohibited from considering race in student admissions. This summer, an appellate court provided another important decision related to race-conscious offerings in the Fearless Fund case, and this one directly impacts Georgia nonprofits. How might race-based grant-making change going …
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 …
While it’s not common, some organizations find it necessary to change their name. And in order to make a change, an organization must navigate a myriad of issues, stakeholder considerations and legal steps. Before you embark on this journey, take a listen to this episode of the PBPA Podcast to learn about what you can …
Since PBPA’s last podcast episode regarding DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion) initiatives, there have been numerous lawsuits against nonprofits not only related to DEI employment initiatives, but also nonprofit grant-making and programming. From the Supreme Court to the circuit court right here in Atlanta, nonprofits are at the heart of many of these lawsuits. Join …
The old saying goes “All publicity is good publicity”. But we beg to differ. Nonprofit organizations rely on their goodwill to raise funds and continue to do the good work that they do in the community. Bad publicity from a crisis has the potential to destroy such goodwill. Understanding how to anticipate, respond, and …
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 …
How can a nonprofit employer minimize the effects an employee’s leave of absence has on your nonprofit’s work, while still providing the time away from work your employee needs? At a minimum, nonprofits should have leave policies to inform and guide both managers and employees. But even with clear policies, handling extended leave requests under …
Virtually every nonprofit has a website, yet many do not consider the legal ramifications of having one. This webinar focuses on just a few: Speakers: Katie Bennett & Sarah Parker, Holland & Knight Open Slides in New Tab
When an employee requests an accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), employers are required to engage in an “interactive process” with the employee to determine if there is a reasonable accommodation that would allow the employee to perform the essential functions of the job. This article from Hopkins & Carley discusses …
What happens when a member of your organization receives an honorarium? Should the payment go to the individual or to the nonprofit? Well, it depends. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Kathryn Hecker and Felix Swierski with Arnall Golden Gregory will explore these questions and provide guidance on receiving or paying honoraria. While an …
Can you have a “No Pets at Work” policy? What if an employee has a service dog? What if it is an emotional support dog? What if the person asking is a member of the public and not an employee at all? Nonprofits may receive requests from employees, clients, or others, to bring service or …
ChatGPT has become all the rage, inside and outside of the technology world. In fact, I even used ChatGPT to write this intro – but only after taking into consideration the guidance that Creighton Frommer, Counsel at RelX, shares in this episode of the PBPA Podcast. Join us as we talk about ChatGPT and other …
Zoning laws help determine locations for specific development and facilitate community growth. Join Lisa Morchower, Of Counsel with Berman Fink VanHorn, as she provides an overview of zoning considerations for nonprofit organizations. In this webcast, she will cover such topics as: How to determine what your property is zoned for; What is a special use …
Every day, nonprofits face risk in virtually every aspect of their operations. Since risk cannot be eliminated because life itself involves risk, the goal must be to manage risk. As the word “manage” implies, when a nonprofit attempts to reduce or control, i.e., manage its risk, it takes time, effort and money, all of which …
To perform their services, many nonprofits rely on volunteers to drive. The circumstances in which a volunteer will drive vary widely, from transporting supplies to taking senior citizens to doctors’ appointments. Regardless of the reason volunteers get behind the wheel, nonprofits should develop a plan to mitigate the risk of having a volunteer on the …
Have you made resolutions for your nonprofit in this new year? While you probably have resolutions unique to these extraordinary times, there are still “ordinary” risks that should not be overlooked. This article highlights the top legal risks facing nonprofits: managing information, managing relationships, and raising funds. Take stock of your nonprofit’s current practices and …
Join us in a conversation with PBPA’s Executive Director, Rachel Spears, as she talks to us about the key legal trends for Georgia nonprofits in the coming year. From the Paycheck Protection Program to Employee Retention Credits to Georgia state legislation, this episode of the PBPA Podcast provides an overview of the 2021 legal outlook …
Data breaches are becoming more and more common. Whether the incident is “newsworthy” or not, the impact to your nonprofit’s reputation or the ability to operate can be severely impacted through a data breach. So what does it mean if you, or one of your vendors, is the victim of a security breach? In this …