Many nonprofit employers conduct background checks on potential employees and volunteers. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), employers must obtain a signed Disclosure and Authorization form from an applicant before conducting a background check. The FCRA requires that the form be a completely standalone document, without any additional information. A court recently ruled that employers may not include in the form language asking the applicant to release the company from liability in connection with the background …

When you applied for 501(c)(3) status for your organization, you had to tell the IRS what charitable services you were going to provide, whom you would serve and whether you planned to charge fees (which had to be reasonable). The IRS granted 501(c)(3) status to your organization based on that information. Now in the age of buzz words like “self-sustaining” and “diversification of income”, there are voices encouraging charities to act more like businesses and expand their …

Small employers were presented with a holiday gift – the opportunity to reimburse their employees for premiums paid for insurance purchased in the individual market. This practice had been prohibited under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). The new law, passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, allows small employers to adopt qualifying reimbursement programs effective as early as January 1, 2017. Please read this article to determine whether this new opportunity is right for your …

Risk exists in everyday business operations for all of us, but it is not by itself a negative condition. When properly managed, risk is appropriately balanced against our business opportunities and the financial and other rewards that allow our nonprofits to be successful. During this webinar, the speaker will help you understand: – the four methods of contract risk management (avoidance, transfer, minimization, and acceptance); and – which method(s) may work best for you in a given …

Because nonprofits enjoy a significant discount on application fees for outdoor festival and alcohol permits in Atlanta, some for-profit entities have asked nonprofits to apply for such permits on their behalf. This article lays out some of the risks nonprofits should consider before agreeing to file for a permit on a for-profit’s behalf. Use Caution Before Seeking Alcohol Permits

PBPA staff volunteer day at the Foundation for Hospital Art Foundation for Hospital Art began with Paris and a childhood memory. While in Paris showcasing his art, John Feight recalled how his grandfather—a doctor in rural Ohio—was motivated by a desire to care for people regardless of their ability to pay for services. When John returned to Georgia, he began volunteering at Northside Hospital. He was discouraged by the blank walls of the hospital and the effect …