2000 Nonprofit Alert Archive
December 2000
Ergonomic Tidal Wave Rises From OSHA ■ You've Got Mail - Now at a Discount ■ IRS Doles Out Political Campaign Punishment ■ Indians Sue Canadian Churches for Alleged Abuse ■ Charity Investigation Continues After CEO Departs ■ Missionary Lawsuit Thwarted by First Amendment ■ Churches Resists Expulsion by Federal Marshals ■ IRS Web Cops On Patrol: New Regulatory Territory? ■ "Pro-Majority" Organization Denied Tax Exemption ■ Move Over Dot Com . . . Dot Biz Is Here! ■ Treasury Says Self-Dealing Rules Apply to DAFs ■ Massachusetts Approves Charitable Tax Deduction ■ Florida Revenue Department Resists Wiccan Spell
November 2000
Court Orders Church to Vacate Property for Failure to Pay Over $5 Million in Taxes ■ Give Virtually Anywhere: IRS Approves On-Line Donor Advised Fund ■ Prohibited Play: Children's Wish Foundation ■ Bishop Estate Insurer Settles for $25 Million ■ FBI Investigates Charity After Executive Resigns ■ Due Diligence Averts Liability in Sexual Abuse Case ■ Don't Look Now, But I'm E-avesdropping On You ■ IRS Need Not Disclose Confidential Donor Records ■ Charity Watchdog Union: To Merge or Purge? ■ Democratic, Republican Platforms Address Nonprofit Concerns ■ Property Tax Relief for Gift-Sale Donors ■ Sun Shies on School Vouchers in Florida ■ Supreme Court Leaves Utah Fundraising Law Intact
October 2000
Church Revocation Upheld, Despite IRS Delay ■ Church Property at Foreclosure Risk if Withholding Taxes Not Paid ■ Just Sign on the Dotted Line . . . or E-Sign ■ Cancer Official Pleads Guilty to $7.8 Million Scam ■ Injured in the Spirit: Ushers Not Liable for Fall ■ Assessing Board Performance: What to Do & Why ■ Dress Down Days Blamed for Tardiness, Poor Habits ■ Disability Benefits Don't Prevent ADA Claim ■ IRS Paves the Way for Tax Exempt Highway Project ■ Online Fundraising: States Propose Guidelines ■ Zoning Ordinance Upheld; Construction Continues ■ Three Is Better Than One: Transferring Control ■ California Limits Employment Arbitration Clauses
September 2000
Disability Settlement with AOL: Does ADA Cover Web Sites? ■ Saving Face: Charity Exec Resigns Over Consmetic Costs ■ Political Platforms Address Faith-Based Groups ■ Church Copyright Dispute: A Legacy of Litigation ■ Employer Not Liable for "Road Rage" Accident ■ Outraged & Overrated: Employee Cries Retaliation ■ Defamation Arises From Negative Recommendations ■ Paid Leave Now Possible for New Parents ■ Be Our Guest: IRS Okays Foundation Lodge ■ Proposed Legislation Addresses Donor Advised Funds ■ Local Solicitation Law Bound for More Litigation ■ Worthy Investment Avoids Self-Dealing Penalties ■ Frequent Fundraisers: Massachusetts Revises Taxes ■ Tax Credit Standards Change for EO's in Michigan
August 2000
Disabled Workers Classify as "Employees"■ Solicitation Law Comes Under Fire■ Jury Clears Nonprofit of Negligence in Shooting■ Who’s in Charge Here? Lawsuit Forces an Answer■ Sosa Foundation Hits Home Run to Beat Fraud■ Duty to Train Leaders Could Prevent Abuse■ Got a Receipt? May Not Need It for Reimbursement■ Effective Immediately: Political Loophole Closes■ Historic AOL/Guidestar Venture Puts Charities in the Sunlight■ Reminders Work Great, But Won’t Substantiate■ Bingo! Nonprofits Win Big on Kansas Tax Changes■ To Be Young Again: Reverse Age Discrimination
July 2000
Tax Court Ruling: Ministerial Housing Not Limited to FMV ■ E-Signatures: No Longer Sign on the Dotted Line ■ FBI Investigates Charity Officer for Missing $6.9 M ■ Cozy Condo Causes Concern; But IRS Says Okay ■ Chairman's Dual Role Threatens Charitable Gift ■ Supreme Court Flushes 5th Circuit's ADEA Ruling ■ Sharing Assets: The Lawful Union of Two Charities ■ Tea for Two: Good for Marketing; Bad for Taxes ■ Charities Tune Into Radio Possibilities■ IRS Okays Split-Dollar Deal for Exec Compensation ■ California Bingo Fee Deemed Unconstitutional ■ Idaho Taxes School Greenhouses, Despite Teaching
June 2000
Court of Appeals Ruling: Church Loses Exemption After Politicking; IRS Revocation Upheld ■ Gift Annuity Values On the Rise ■ Board Immune From Whistleblower's Claim ■ Domain Name Protected From Garnishment ■ Stop the Bus: Work Pay Includes Transport Time ■ Choir Director Fits Ministerial Exception to ADA ■ Sweepstakes Okay (Not to Be Confused With Raffle) ■ Old Computers May Not Be Heaven Sent ■ Hospital Retains Property Exemption Despite Profit ■ Cap on Charitable Immunity Damages May End ■ Arkansas Just Says "No" to Blanket Exemption ■ Virginia Tax Filing Deadline Fast Approaching
May 2000
After Nine-Year Battle With IRS, Charity Settles Inurement Charges■ Minister’s Social Security Update■ Get Out of the Club: Exec’s Fraud Binds Bank■ Now An Employee—Now He’s Not, for Liability■ Does Harassment Investigation Hurt the Accused?■ Outsourcing Doesn’t Relieve Discrimination Liability■ Scholarships to Schools Must Play By the Rules■ Heavy Weights: Charity Program Muscles Out UBI■ Housing Bill Offers Charitable Choice■Party On ...But Don’t Expect Deduction, Court Says■ Bill Requires Sufficient Link to Tax Internet Sales■ Improving the Odds for Charitable Gambling
April 2000
Corporate Sponsorships Face Tax Trouble Under Proposed IRS Regulations■ House Expedites Zoning Disputes■ Board Compensation: Must Make It Reasonable■ Nonprofit Fundraising Isn’t Simple Child’s Play■ Profitable Perks Portend Personal Penalties■ Nonprofit’s Spending Spree Buys Fed Attention■ Government Funds Do Not Negate FLSA Exemption■ Over and Over: Repetitive Motion Injuries Must Stop■ Receipt Deadline Passes for Calendar Deduction■ Employer Liable for Supervisor’s Retaliatory Harassment■ Christian Coalition Battles IRS Over Exemption■ Mississippi Rejects Release, Holds Instructor Liable■ Virginia Enacts Collection of Internet Laws
March 2000
Disability Act Could Stymie Web Site Designs ■ Faulty Drug Tests: Who's Liable for Employee Loss? ■ Foundation Resolves Grant Dispute for $4-Million ■ Joint Pay Doesn't Jive: Charity's Policy in Question ■ Donations of Stock Options Get Favorable Treatment ■ Social Security Charge Approved for Ministers ■ IRS Confirms Reorganization of Related Nonprofits ■ FMLA Reaches Small "Integrated" Employers ■ No Exemption; No Deduction; No-Brainer ■ Nonprofit Mail Rates On the Rise Again ■ Maryland, Nebraska Rule on Property Taxes
February 2000
Clergy Harassment Case Upheld■ Donor’s Racist Will Leaves $28 Million in Limbo■ Greenpeace Board Reaction: Not So Peaceful■ Brochure Promise Could Create Premises Liability■ Have Car, Will Travel for FLSA Overtime Comp■ Womens Health Act Requires New Notice of Surgery■ Beyond Books: Library Fees Don’t Threaten Status■ Disclosure Requirements Encompass Foundations■ One to Another: Gift Makes Lease Income Possible■ Rebate Helps Charity and Yields Deduction■ Arizona: Land of Plentiful Charitable Giving■ California Changes Overtime Laws for Employers■ Ohio Unveils Trust Fund Law With More Options■ Tennessee Looks Past Exempt History to Impose Tax
January 2000
IRS Fines Health Care Nonprofits $83 Million■ Trust Pays IRS $9 Million; Retains Exempt Status■ Mormon Copyright Decision Weakens Internet Links■ Church Liable for Volunteer Offenses Off-Premises■ Eviction Ensues in Greater Ministries Pyramid Saga■ Sick Leave Smolders in the Ashes of Employment■ First Amendment Trumps Anti-Discrimination Law■ IRS Seeking Greater Web Site Consciousness■ Legislation Bans Charitable Split Dollar Plans■ Parking Garage Sends UBIT Underground■ Missouri: Summer Camps Swim in Sales Taxes■ Texas: Making A Legal List and Checking It Twice
