501(c)(3)

Election 2024: 501(c)(3)s Can Help!

By Melissa Scholz|2024-10-18T03:00:37+00:00October 17th, 2024|501(c)(3), Employment, Voting|

With Election Day approaching on November 5th, here are some ways 501c3 organizations can assist in ensuring a robust, fair election -- without engaging in political activity or lobbying. Through educational and charitable work, like helping people vote, 501c3s can play a vital role in making sure everyone has a voice in our democracy. 501c3s can educate and facilitate voter registration Ask your program participants if they’re registered to vote and provide information about how to register on Election Day (online voter registration ended October 17th) They can check here to see if they are registered at their current [...]

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Employment Law Updates

501(c)(3), Compliance, Employment, Nonprofit

Employment Law Updates

By Melissa Scholz|2024-06-13T22:08:33+00:00June 5th, 2024|501(c)(3), Compliance, Employment, Nonprofit|

EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATESNew Minimum Salaries for Exempt EmployeesUnder the Fair Labor Standards Act (SLFA), employees with sufficiently high salaries are categorizes as “exempt,” meaning they are not entitled to overtime pay. On April 23, the US Department of Labor (DOL) finalized a rule that will increase the minimum salary required to categorize an employee as exempt.Currently, employees who fall under the white-collar exemption (such as administrators, managers, and teachers) must earn a salary of at least $684 per week or $35,568 annually to be considered exempt under the FLSA. Under DOL’s new rule, this minimum salary will increase twice [...]

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Key Tax Filings and Deadlines for 2024

501(c)(3), Compliance, Nonprofit, Taxes

Key Tax Filings and Deadlines for 2024

By Melissa Scholz|2024-06-13T22:08:16+00:00January 24th, 2024|501(c)(3), Compliance, Nonprofit, Taxes|

Dear Scholz Nonprofit Law clients, current and past, and friends in the community: Thank you for the opportunity to work with you. We greatly appreciate the contributions you make in the community and the trust you place in us to assist you. We look forward to being able to serve you in 2024. This is a reminder that all nonprofits have an obligation to submit various reports to the IRS and to the state each year. Below is an explanation of these key tax filings and their deadlines: 1) Form 1099 – You may be required to issue Form [...]

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Meet our new associate attorney, West Foster

501(c)(3), Nonprofit

Meet our new associate attorney, West Foster

By Melissa Scholz|2023-07-11T21:39:41+00:00July 11th, 2023|501(c)(3), Nonprofit|

Dear clients, friends, and Wisconsin nonprofit community, We are excited to introduce our new associate attorney, West Foster. West joined us this May after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Prior to joining Scholz Nonprofit Law, he interned for Chief Judge Peterson at the Federal District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin and worked at UW’s Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, where he provided free legal support to cooperatives, nonprofits, and small businesses. He brings to Scholz Nonprofit Law his passion for cooperatives and will expand the kinds of social enterprise that we support. On that [...]

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$1 Million Funding Opportunity from McKenzie Scott

501(c)(3), Grants

$1 Million Funding Opportunity from McKenzie Scott

By Melissa Scholz|2023-03-24T00:31:10+00:00March 24th, 2023|501(c)(3), Grants|

March 22, 2023 Yield Giving, McKenzie Scott’s philanthropic organization, is now accepting applications for $1 million grants. This funding opportunity is for “community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles.” Any nonprofit in the United States that has had a $1 - $5 million operating budget for two of the last four fiscal years is eligible to apply. 250 nonprofits will be selected to receive one of the $1 million unrestricted awards, totaling to [...]

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Key tax filings and deadlines for 2023

501(c)(3), Nonprofit, Taxes

Key tax filings and deadlines for 2023

By Melissa Scholz|2023-01-16T23:17:45+00:00January 16th, 2023|501(c)(3), Nonprofit, Taxes|

Dear Scholz Nonprofit Law clients, current and past, and friends in the community: Thank you for the opportunity to work with you. We greatly appreciate the contributions you make in the community and the trust you place in us to assist you. We look forward to being able to serve you in 2023. May the year ahead be a productive, effective, and fulfilling year for all of you! With this email, we want to remind our readers that all nonprofits have an obligation to submit various reports to the IRS and to the state each year. Below is an [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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