2001 Nonprofit Alert Archive
December 2001
IRS Stretches to Expedite 9-11 Giving ■ Anti-Terrorism Law Imposes New Nonprofit Telemarketing Disclosures ■ Technology Abuse: Guilty as Charged! ■ Door-to-Door Solicitations: Supreme Court Will Decide Legality of Town’s Local Restrictions ■ Gift Annuity Foundation Folds; Donors Left Empty ■ Court Invalidates Camp’s Parental Release Form ■ ADA Doesn’t Require Creation of “Light Duty” Job ■ Earning What You’re Worth? Survey Compares Data ■ Per Diem & Mileage Rates Increase Only Slightly ■ Downsizing & Layoffs: Hidden Risks for Managers■Handwritten Card Won’t Substantiate Donations■‘Tis the Shopping Season: Deductions for Rebates
November 2001
Gift Fund Loses Legal Battle: Appeal Likley ■ New Withholding Rule Applies to Foundations Making Int'l Grants ■ Lender's Knowledge Voids Claim for Pastor's Debts ■ What's In a Name? Just Ask These Two Nonprofits ■ Fraudulent Solicitors May Face Longer Jail Time ■ Missing Evidence Suggests Bad Intent, Court Says ■ Business League, Charity Get IRS Okay on PAC ■ Nonprofit Mailers Slapeped With USPS Subpoenas ■ Local Regulators Want "Voluntary" Payments From Charities ■ State Won't Appeal "Pervasively Sectarian" Standard
October 2001
Charities Respond Immediately to Terror; But Fraud Opportunists Mar Efforts ■ Military Leave for Employees: An Employer's Responsibilities ■ In Name Only: Sponsor of Charity Event Not Liable ■ Company's Founder Lacks Knowledge, Avoids Taxes ■ Fee Splitting Clause Ruins Arbitration Agreement ■ Minister's Housing Isn't Counted in Retirement ■ Forecasting Employment Litigation Trends: Lawsuits Abound ■ Three Times the Charm: USPS Rates Rise Again ■ IRS Open for Business on the Web; Pay Taxes Here! ■ When Employees Take Military Leave, Employers Face Legal Duties
September 2001
YMCA Cleared of Liability in Shooting Incident■ Volunteer Abortion Doctor Reinstated to Adjunct Position■ IRS Releases Interesting Stats ■ Association Members Lack Standing to Sue Manager ■ Pastor Pays Over $100,000 in Taxes; Ends IRS Battle ■ Baptist Home Didn’t Discriminate in Firing Lesbian ■ Carpal Tunnel Not Always An Automatic Disability ■ Get It in Writing: Court Upholds Unsigned Contract ■ IRS Okays Fragmentation Rule for UBIT Activities ■ Nonprofit Partners with LLC to Build Public Library ■ A New Wave of Drug Testing: Reduce Costs, Lock In Results ■ Alaska Exempts Gift Annuities from Insurance Regs ■ Vermont Won’t Appeal Lobby Tax; Refunds Pending
August 2001
Faith-Based Legislation Passes House ■ Donor Advised Funds Flourish ■ Director Can’t Be Removed Prematurely From Board ■ Former United Way President Forfeits $2.4 Million ■ E-avesdrop Carefully: Inform Employees in Advance ■ Title VII & Sexual Orientation: Discrimination? ■ Prove It or Lose It: Donors Must Keep Records ■ Fourth Circuit Upholds State Aid to Religious College, Discards “Pervasively Sectarian” Standard ■ Nonprofit’s Surplus Land Sales Result in UBIT ■ Florida Imposes Property Tax On the Holy Land ■ Vermont Lobbying Tax Chills Free Speech
July 2001
Charities Lose Key Issues in New Tax Law ■ Florida Solicitation Law Faces Another Legal Challenge■ Picture Worth 1,000 Words...and Privacy Rights ■ Executive's $1000,000 Loan Raises Legal Questions ■ Bad case of Flu Makes Case Law for Employers ■ To Company's Film Donation,IRS Yells "Cut"! ■ Discrimination Over Contraceptives? Check Your Health Plan ■ International Grant Making Goes Streamlined ■ States Treat Religious Broadcasters Differently
June 2001
Religious Hiring: School May Terminate Non-Baptist Employees ■ When the Truth Finally Told: No D&O Insurance! ■ Homeless Shelter Not Liable for Criminal Attack ■ What Me Supervise? Board Tagged with Negligence ■ Elder's Self-Packed Golden Parachute Fails to Open ■ Campaign Finance Reform Could Affect Charities ■ Boat Gift/Sale Capsizes Under Tax Court Ruling ■ Ohio Law Regulates "unsupervised" Volunteers ■ Pennsylvania Proposes Tax Exemption on All Books
May 2001
Ninth Circut on Joint Ventures: If Nonprofit Yields Control, Exemption Is Lost ■ Supreme Court OK's Mandatory Employer Arbitration Contracts ■ Library Not at Fault for Child's Use of Internet Porn ■ Charity Officers Pay Hefty Fine for False Reports ■ CEO Personally Liable for Overtime Oversight ■ Supreme Court Will Decide Repetitive Motion Cases ■ Opera Discord Strikes Sour Note for Radio Manager ■ ADA Coverage for Temps and Contingents Explained ■ After Many Changes, Gift Fund Achieves Exemption ■ Niece's Access to Collection Is Private Benefit ■ IRS Enforcement Against Nonprofits Slow Down ■ Wisconsin Court Compensates Drunk Employee
April 2001
Faith-Based Initiatives: President's Plan Moves Steadily Forward ■ Congress Blocks Ergonomics Rule ■ May the Best EO Win: Competition Good for Vets ■ Say "Thanks" to Volunteers This Month ■ Donor Withdraws $4.5M Gift, Citing Embarrassment ■ Lutheran Groups Scrutinized Over Insurance Sales ■ Harassment Claim Creates Costly Defamation Suit ■ Taking Leave of FMLA: Must Sick Days Go First? ■ Association's Outsourced Magazine Produces UBIT ■ Hospital Case Teaches EO/For-Profit Partnership Lessons ■ Executive Compensation on the Rise, Studies Show ■ Maryland Church Property Qualifies for Exemption ■ Give Blood, Get Time Off, Kansas Gov. Decides
March 2001
Intermediate Sanctions: IRS Issues New Guidance on Enforcement ■ Protecting Donor Privacy ■ Tax Deductions Increase ■ Baseball Team Can't Control Volunteer's Foul Play ■ Bishop Estate Trustees Settle for IRS Sanctions ■ Securities Firm Pays $800,000 for its New Era Role ■ Permanent Educational Assistance Plan Introduced ■ Contract Slip Leads to Reinstatement of Drug User ■ Rental Income From Broadcast Tower Makes UBIT ■ Contractor v. Employee: Incorrect Classification Could Cost Big Bucks ■ Cash Gifts Are Great, But Donor Must Substantiate ■ New Jersey Awards Worker Comp to Camp Trainee
February 2001
Volunteer Files Retaliation Lawsuit ■ IRS Releases CPE Text for 2001 ■ Contract Cancels Nonprofit's Liability Protection ■ Company Policy in Incriminating Photos Upheld ■ Local Affiliate Beats National in Property Dispute ■ Circuit Courts Balk at DOL's FMLA Regulations ■ Football Tickets Cause Fumble on Employee Taxes ■ Foundation Partners With Charity on Scholarships ■ Failed Office Supply Scam Targeted Nonprofits ■ Investment Help: An Exception to Self-Dealing Rules ■ Telemarketers Beware: Calls Could Cost Big Money
January 2001
Court Removes Board Members for Abuses ■ Scouts Sue School District for Access ■ The Check's In the Mail . . . But Where'd It Go? ■ Fraternity Liable for $250,000 in Party Accident ■ Deacon's Police Hat Tops Cleric Collar ■ Small Nonprofit Employers Shift to Quarterly Taxes ■ $300,000 Price Tag for Criticizing Jury Service ■ New 2001 Mileage Rates: Deductions Increase ■ Nonprofit's Scale of Real Estate Produces UBI ■ States Look to Internet for New Sales Taxes ■ Emailed Gift Receipt? IRS Says "Maybe" ■ Legal Announcements Required for NY Foundations ■ Executive Residences Now Exempt in Michigan
