2004 Nonprofit Alert Archive

December 2004/January 2005

• IRS Probe Insider Transactions in Expanded Form 1023
• First Amendment Does Not Protect Church from Lawsuit By Terminated Minister
• Church Bookkeeper Imprisoned for Fraud
• Congress Curtails Deductions for Gifts of Vehicles, Intellectual Property
• IRS Fences the Tax Exemption Table
• Charities Sue Federal Government Over CFC Anti-Terrorism Requirement
• Special Supplement – General Tips for Internal Accounting Controls

October/November 2004

• IRS Commences Crackdown on Excessive Compensation
• Senate Finance Committee Seeks Input on Proposed Nonprofit Reform Legislation
• New Overtime Pay Provisions Take Effect
• Election Dos and Don’ts for 501(c)(3) Organizations
• Democratic and Republican Party Platforms Address Nonprofit Concerns
• Anti-Terrorism Legislation and Government Policies Affecting Nonprofits

August/September 2004

• Senate Committee Proposes Sweeping Changes in Nonprofit Regulation
• AmeriCorps Program Struck Down as Establishment of Religion
• Princeton University Sued for Diverting Donor Restricted Funds
• IRS Approves Scholarship Program
• IRS Rules on Ancillary Joint Venture
• FCC to Auction Open FM Spectrum

June 2004

• IRS Sends Election Year Warning Shot for Charity Politicking
• DOL New Rules Limit Wage/Hour Exemptions
• Former United Way CEO Sentenced
• Summer Interns: Tips to Avoid Legal Traps
• JOBS Act Limits Deductions of In-Kind Donations
• Religious Broadcasters Suffer FCC Sting
• New & Improved NPA

May 2004

• Nature Conservancy Makes Changes to Improve Accountability
• Jury Says Nonprofit Hospital’s Tax Exemption is Secure
• President’s EO Urges Work with Religious Groups
• Charities Lagging in Volunteer Recruitment
• Editor Bids Farewell After NPA Decade

April 2004

• Supreme Court Upholds State Law Prohibiting Government Funding of Religious Study
• Salvation Army Faces Battle Over Religious Employees
• Liquor Foundation Chug Down Million Dollar Settlement
• FEC Clarifies Advocacy Decision for Nonprofits
• IRS Accepting 990s Online
• Coalition Puts Forth Model Code of Ethics

March 2004

• United Way Reaches Compromise in Costly PipeVine Collapse
• Volunteer’s Death During After-Hours Social Can’t be Charity’s Fault
• Camp Isn’t required to Provide Security for Vague Threats of Violence
• IRS Questions Group’s Staff Benefits & Donor Deals
• High-Tech Bankruptcies Spawn License Problems for Nonprofits
• How to Respond to an IRS Audit Request

February 2004

• Charity Legislation Stalls in Congress
• Supreme Court Will Hear Workplace Harassment Case
• Acting Against Lawyer’s Advice Constitutes Breach of Fiduciary Duty
• Negotiating Period opens for Webcasting Royalty Rates
• IRS Must Disclose Reasons for Revocations
• Record Number of Volunteers in 2003
• Georgia Settles Religious Hiring Involving Gay Rights Group

January 2004

• Nonprofit Lacks Control Over Joint Venture; Exempt Status Jeopardized
• Boards Behind the Curve on New Sarbanes-Oxley Law
• International Trademark: One-Stop Registration Means Less Hassle
• Congress Questions In-Kind Donations