Melissa Scholz, Author at Scholz Nonprofit Law

By Melissa Scholz|2020-04-16T23:31:19+00:00April 8th, 2020|COVID-19, Employment, Nonprofit|

Hello friends and colleagues, Thanks to the support of the Madison Community Foundation, over the past two days, Scholz Nonprofit Law has hosted several seminars on the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Support Act (“CARES”), and related options for financial support and sustainability during these challenging times. If you want to listen to a recording of the seminar, see here. We focused our seminar on two topics (i) SBA loan programs available to nonprofits, and (ii) employment challenges nonprofits are facing. Jeff Femrite discussed (i) the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans (which may be totally forgiven if used [...]

Comments Off

CARES Act Impact on Nonprofits

COVID-19, Employment, Nonprofit

CARES Act Impact on Nonprofits

By Melissa Scholz|2020-04-16T23:31:31+00:00March 29th, 2020|COVID-19, Employment, Nonprofit|

Dear clients, better known as friends and colleagues: We know this is a difficult time for so many, personally, as well as for your organizations. Know that we’re concerned and thinking of you! We are keeping track of opportunities for assistance for nonprofits and will keep providing information as it becomes available (and we have the chance to digest it). For today, below is a brief summary of provisions of the federal Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that apply to nonprofits. As we learn more details, we will keep updating the Scholz Nonprofit Law blog. The [...]

Comments Off

COVID-19 Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order — March 24, 2020

COVID-19

COVID-19 Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order — March 24, 2020

By Melissa Scholz|2020-04-19T00:26:39+00:00March 24th, 2020|COVID-19|

Summary of Emergency Order #12 – Safer at Home Order In an attempt to slow the infection rate of COVID-19, on March 24, 2020, the State of Wisconsin issued Emergency Order #12 – Safer at Home Order (the “Order”). The purpose of this Update is to help our clients and friends better understand issues created by the Order. It is a general summary, and is not intended to be comprehensive. If you have questions, or need assistance navigating the specific requirements of the Order, please call Jeff Femrite at 608 692-0310 or send Jeff an email at [email protected]. Capitalized [...]

Comments Off

Deadline for Form 990: May 15, 2019

Nonprofit, Taxes

Deadline for Form 990: May 15, 2019

By Melissa Scholz|2019-04-29T14:53:28+00:00April 6th, 2019|Nonprofit, Taxes|

This is your reminder with helpful tips All tax-exempt organizations, including 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and 501(c)(6)s, must file a version of the Form 990 with the IRS. Many of you on this list will qualify to file the "Form 990-N," which is a simple 5-10 minute process. You should be aware that if you do not file a Form 990 in 2019 and also did not file one in 2017 and 2018, your organization will lose its tax-exempt status and you will have to reapply with another application and filing fee. When is my Form Due? The Forms 990 are due 4 months and 15 days after the [...]

Comments Off

Repeal of the Johnson Amendment

501(c)(3), Nonprofit

Repeal of the Johnson Amendment

By Melissa Scholz|2019-04-25T00:08:53+00:00April 3rd, 2017|501(c)(3), Nonprofit|

I frequently like to remind our 501(c)(3) clients about the importance of advocating on their issues through lobbying and the legitimacy of their role in doing so. But when we encourage lobbying, we point out the distinction between lobbying on issues and the prohibition on political activity. The rule against political activity has been known as the Johnson Amendment because it was added to the tax code under his administration. As you likely know, President Trump has proposed to eliminate that distinction and allow all 501(c)(3)s to engage in electoral politics - - i.e., support or oppose a candidate [...]

Comments Off

Keep It Moving Forward

Events

Keep It Moving Forward

By Melissa Scholz|2019-04-25T00:07:57+00:00November 29th, 2016|Events|

Dear colleagues: I’ll be honest. November has been a tough month. I was thrilled when the short Thanksgiving workweek arrived and I could retreat to my home and family - - cooking and cleaning never looked so good. I’ve indeed enjoyed a few days at home, with my two older daughters home from college. As we celebrated Thanksgiving with friends, we stayed focused on all we have to be grateful for and, mostly, avoided the discouraging topic of politics, which has become so divisive. With a little breathing space, I took time to read the recent New Yorker interview [...]

Comments Off

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) New Rules Suspended

Employment

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) New Rules Suspended

By Melissa Scholz|2019-04-25T00:06:49+00:00November 29th, 2016|Employment|

The new FLSA rules that were scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2016 were suspended by a federal judge last week. This means employers are not required to implement the new rules regarding treating employees who make less than $47,476 as “non-exempt” under the FLSA. Of course, if you've made promises for raises, those may be hard to reverse. However, the ruling does mean that employees earning $23,660 or more per year (the current salary level) may be spared from adding overtime recordkeeping obligations and may continue to take advantage of flex-time arrangements if they meet the other [...]

Comments Off

Advocacy: Standing up for your Issues

501(c)(3)

Advocacy: Standing up for your Issues

By Melissa Scholz|2019-04-25T00:04:56+00:00November 29th, 2016|501(c)(3)|

In the wake of the election, many organizations may be more motivated than ever to advocate for their beneficiaries. Advocacy is an important tool for 501(c)(3) organizations and should not be overlooked! Here are the basics on the federal and Wisconsin rules that apply to advocacy for 501(c)(3) organizations. Federal rules allow 501(c)(3) “public charities” to participate in many different kinds of advocacy, ranging from educating on the issues to actual lobbying. Advocacy, such as educating policymakers and the public about broad social issues, is unrestricted and unlimited for 501(c)(3) public charities. Advocacy becomes “lobbying” when it is connected [...]

Comments Off

Form 990 Deadline is Approaching!

501(c)(3), Compliance, Nonprofit, Private Foundation, Public Charity

Form 990 Deadline is Approaching!

By Melissa Scholz|2015-05-08T15:58:43+00:00May 8th, 2015|501(c)(3), Compliance, Nonprofit, Private Foundation, Public Charity|

It's that time of year again! Don’t forget to file your nonprofit organization’s “annual information return,” or Form 990. All tax-exempt organizations (including 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and 501(c)(6)s) must file a version of the Form 990 with the IRS. For many small organizations, it is a simple 5-10 minute process to file the "Form 990-N." You should be aware that if you do not file a 990 in 2015 and also did not file one in 2014 and 2013, your organization will lose its tax-exempt status and you will have to reapply with another application and filing fee. Filing FAQ's [...]

Comments Off

501(c)(3) or 509(a)? Your public charity is both.

501(c)(3), Definition, Events, Nonprofit, Private Foundation, Public Charity

501(c)(3) or 509(a)? Your public charity is both.

By Melissa Scholz|2015-03-03T15:38:52+00:00March 3rd, 2015|501(c)(3), Definition, Events, Nonprofit, Private Foundation, Public Charity|

Today is the Big Share! Don’t miss the opportunity to support 70 local nonprofits dedicated to building a fair, just community and protecting the environment through this Community Shares of Wisconsin online giving event: http://www.thebigshare.org. Thanks to Community Shares and their Big Share partner, Madison Community Foundation, for hosting this event to support the important work of these organizations. And there will be another big share (of information) this week at the annual Wisconsin Nonprofit Association Conference: http://wisconsinnonprofits.org/Conference2015 , which is taking place in Madison on Thursday. With today’s focus on charitable donations to 501(c)(3) organizations, I want to [...]

Comments Off

About Melissa Scholz