Articles & Webinars

Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio provides publications and answers to frequently asked questions on many topics.

Please note: These publications and FAQs are provided for informational purposes only, without any representation that they are accurate or complete. These materials do not constitute legal advice and should not be construed as such. These materials do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and any other person, nor are they an offer to create such a relationship. These materials are current as of the date written, but laws change over time and vary from state to state. As a result, the information presented here may not be timely and/or appropriate for any state not specifically addressed. Consult an attorney if you have questions regarding the content of any of our publications or FAQs.

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  • Compliance and Filing Requirements for Nonprofits
  • Corporate Structures and Governance
  • COVID-19
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  • Lobbying and Political Activity
  • Other Legal Topics
  • Pro Bono Brief
  • Type: Article
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Legal Alert: Scam Targets Trademark Owners with False Law Firm Solicitations

LEGAL ALERT  Nonprofits with trademarks have likely experienced being the target of scams related to their trademark registrations. The scams have been growing in sophistication ...
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Considering a Change? – Mergers, Combinations (and Dissolutions)

Nonprofits constantly face both internal and external challenges as they strive to fulfill their missions. Regardless of whether things are going well or if your ...
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Nonprofits and the New Corporate Transparency Act: Does Your Nonprofit Need to Report Beneficial Ownership Information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)?

Bryan Pautsch, CPA, J.D. and James Alex Bramer, CPA, Dean Dorton This article presents general guidelines for Ohio nonprofit organizations as of the date written ...
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Legal Alert: New Independent Contractor Rule Takes Effect March 11

LEGAL ALERT  Does your nonprofit utilize independent contractors?  On January 10, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its long-anticipated final rule formally revising its ...
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Year-End Giving: Receiving and Acknowledging Donations

The ability to accept tax-deductible donations is an important advantage of being a 501(c)(3) organization. Whether acknowledgements of those donations are required and what the ...
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New Form I-9 Becomes Mandatory on November 1, 2023

Attention nonprofit employers—Starting November 1, when hiring new staff you must use the new Form I-9 released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Given the ...
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M&A For Nonprofits: Legal Structures, Due Diligence, & Dynamics of Culture

WEBINAR VIDEO LINK (1.5 hours) Whether you’re considering a merger or simply wish to be prepared for future possibilities, most organizations share the same concerns. ...
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FAQs: Election-Related Activities and 501(c)(3) Public Charities

501(c)(3) public charities can and should be advocates for change. Public charities can express opposition to laws, they can work towards change, and they can ...
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Lobbying Restrictions and Reporting Requirements for 501(c)(3) Organizations

501(c)(3) public charities can and should be advocates for change. Public charities can express support or opposition to laws and ballot issues, they can contact ...
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Guidelines for Responding to Negative Social Media Posts

Social media is a boon for nonprofits. By posting on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, a nonprofit with limited means can reach ...
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Legal Alert: EEOC Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance

On May 11, 2023, the Biden-Harris administration ended the COVID-19 public health emergency and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its technical assistance ...
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Ohio Nonprofits No Longer Need Permits to Gift Alcohol

Before raffling off a bourbon basket at their next gala, Ohio nonprofits should become familiar with the new rules for alcohol at charity events. Recently, ...
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Ask the Expert! Insurance for Nonprofits Webinar

WEBINAR VIDEO LINK (1 hour) Navigating the insurance-buying process can be a complex and difficult task for any nonprofit. With generally rising costs due to ...
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Rolling the Dice with Independent Contractors

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Legal Alert: Important New FLSA and FMLA Guidance Issued

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Complying With New Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act

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Honoring Donor’s Intent: A Legal and Ethical Obligation

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Employment Law Posting Requirements

Numerous federal and state laws require nonprofit employers to post notices at the job site describing employee rights. These posting requirements seek to educate employees about ...
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Tax Compliance for Fundraising Events

‘Tis the season for lively charitable fundraising events such as galas, dinners, and other creative gatherings. However, fundraising events, whether in-person or virtual, can also ...
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Insurance 101 for Nonprofits

Navigating the insurance-buying process can be a complex and challenging task for any nonprofit leader. However, in the current state of the insurance industry, which ...
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Think before you sign: Considerations for nonprofits entering into contracts

Nonprofits commonly enter into agreements with vendors, consultants, and even fellow nonprofits. Most of the time everything goes off without a hitch. However, do you ...
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Sustaining the Mission: Nonprofit Combinations and Other Strategic Partnerships Webinar

Given current challenges facing community-based nonprofits, it is increasingly important for leadership to assess how more formal partnerships, including strategic combinations with other organizations, might ...
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Considerations for Nonprofit Partnership and Consolidation

When nonprofits consider a new partnership or even combining forces in a more integrated way, understanding the options for structuring a nonprofit combination can help ...
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Issues Ohio Nonprofit Employers May Face in Dealing with Out-of-State Remote Workers

In part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and advances in technologies such as Zoom, remote work is growing rapidly in the United States. As a ...
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Caregiver Discrimination? EEOC Provides Updated Guidance

This spring, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provided updated guidance regarding caregiver discrimination under federal employment laws in light of COVID-19 and its aftermath. ...
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Internal Controls for Board Members Webinar

Board members may be surprised to hear that they have a role and responsibility regarding internal controls. These controls are critical for any nonprofit and ...
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Nonprofits: How to Enhance Your Internal Controls

As with every type of organization, nonprofits are at risk of falling victim to costly acts of fraud and tend to have some common characteristics ...
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Nonprofit Brand Protection Options: Common Law Trademarks, State Registration & Federal Registration

Many nonprofit organizations seek to protect their key brands with trademarks. This article will provide guidance in choosing how to best protect them through trademark. ...
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Nonprofits and Charities Might Attract More Donors with Improved Website Content and Attention to Privacy

You may have already heard that it is important for your nonprofit’s website to post a privacy policy. Did you also know that copying and ...
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Can I Pay My Board Members?

While nonprofit board members are motivated to serve by passion for an organization’s mission, could a nonprofit also pay them?  Paying nonprofit board members for ...
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Ohio’s Proposed Privacy Law and Your Privacy Program

The Ohio Personal Privacy Act (OPPA) is a proposed law introduced in July 2021 and aimed at giving consumers more control over the way businesses ...
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Charitable Solicitation Registration

Generally, in forty-one states and the District of Columbia, a tax-exempt organization that intends to solicit charitable contributions from the public is required to register. ...
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2021 Charitable Giving Tax Deductions from CARES Act

As nonprofit organizations gear up for their end-of-year giving campaigns, consider reminding your donors that several of the benefits of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and ...
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Ohio minimum wage to increase, effective January 1, 2022

Attention nonprofit employers: Did you know that the Ohio minimum wage is set to increase on January 1, 2022? For more information and a link ...
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Employee Retention Tax Credit: Does Your Organization Qualify?

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC) has quickly become a hot topic in the past few months, thanks to the significant possible benefits that it ...
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Legal Alert: COVID-19: OSHA Updates Mask Guidance for Vaccinated Employees

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American Rescue Plan Act: Impact on Nonprofit Employers and Employees

The most recent COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), was signed into law on March 11, 2021. ARPA includes a PPP loan ...
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Staying Tax-Exempt: Avoiding Pass-Through Payments to Individuals

As a general rule, a donation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization may be tax-deductible, while a gift to an individual is not tax-deductible. Donors ...
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Nonprofit Employers: Understanding Ohio’s Amended Law Against Employment Discrimination

All Ohio employment discrimination claims filed on or after April 15, 2021 will be subject to the recently enacted Employment Law Uniformity Act. This Act ...
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Rules of the Road: Managing the Risks of Volunteer Drivers

To perform their services, many nonprofits rely on volunteers to drive. The circumstances in which a volunteer will drive vary widely, from transporting supplies to ...
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The COVID-19 Vaccine: What Nonprofit Employers Need to Know

We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  As vaccine rollouts begin across the country, nonprofit employers and employees alike may begin ...
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Charitable Challenges and Opportunities – Dissolutions, Transactions and Restricted Funds Webinar

The normal lifecycle of a charitable organization has peaks and valleys. But the pandemic has heightened some of those dynamics forcing charities to take a ...
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Legal Alert: FFCRA Obligations Are Now Voluntary

On December 31, 2020, the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor updated its Family First Coronavirus Response Act guidance, and updated it ...
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Trademark Scams and Misleading Communications Can Cost You

Private companies and trademark scammers can use publicly available information to mislead your nonprofit into paying fees you mistakenly think are required or are being ...
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More Clarification on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act

As COVID-19 case numbers remain steady, federal government guidance on employment related issues continues to evolve. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and US Department of ...
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Legal Landmines: Nonprofits Navigating Return to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nonprofits are not immune to ongoing and developing issues and concerns related to COVID-19, the impact on their workforce and consequently, the ability to meet ...
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The Importance of Lease Agreements for Tenants in the Operation of a Nonprofit

Nonprofits face unique challenges with respect to space. Some nonprofits serve a specific community and need to be located in a particular area to effectively ...
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Allowing Volunteers, Clients and Other Visitors Into Your Nonprofit Facilities

Are you bringing volunteers, clients or others back to your facility? Read below for some resources for your organization.
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Returning to Work Post-Quarantine: Employment Issues and Compliance Webinar

Nonprofit employers have specific concerns they will need to consider and be prepared to address, including applicable social distancing requirements as they relate to their ...
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PPP Loan Forgiveness and the New Flexibility Act Webinar

This one hour webinar provides insight into the PPP Loan, including the forgiveness process. as well as  updates and changes related to the Paycheck Protection ...
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Employment Issues to Consider as Nonprofits Get Ready to Re-Open after COVID-19

After weeks (if not months) of state “stay-at-home” and “shelter-in-place” orders, social distancing mandates and telework, there is a light at the end of the ...
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PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and More

On May 15th, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released the long anticipated Loan Forgiveness Application. The next several weeks will continue to bring more guidance, ...
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SBA Issues Additional Guidance on PPP “Necessity” Certification and Safe Harbor Deadline Extended to May 18, 2020

The safe harbor deadline for return of PPP loans HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MAY 18, 2020. Borrowers with PPP loan amounts of less than $2 ...
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Ongoing COVID-19 Issues for Nonprofit Employers to Consider

By now, most nonprofit employers have taken a variety of steps to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including, for example, furloughs, pay cuts, telework arrangements and ...
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Contract Considerations for Nonprofits During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nonprofit operations throughout Ohio and worldwide. Many of these interruptions include the inability of nonprofit organizations or their partners to ...
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DOL Issues Temporary Regulations Implementing the FFCRA

Things are changing quickly for nonprofit employers with the current COVID-19 landscape. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued new temporary regulations implementing the Families ...
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CARES Act and Nonprofits: Finding Relief with Paycheck Protection Program, Disaster Loans and More

Late Friday, March 27, 2020, the Federal Government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. This $2 trillion stimulus package allocated ...
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COVID-19 Legal Issues for Nonprofit Employers

Employers of all sizes and in all industries, including the nonprofit sector, continue to grapple with unique employment law issues in the face of the ...
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Board Governance during COVID-19

With Governor DeWine’s stay-at-home order, what started out as social distancing now requires Ohio nonprofit boards to forgo in-person meetings until the COVID-19 crisis has ...
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What Nonprofit Employers Need to Know

On March 18, the Senate passed the House’s Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and President Trump signed the bill into law. The Act creates ...
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Navigating a Nonprofit’s Tax Obligations and Exemptions

As a nonprofit, maintaining 501(c)(3) status is essential to operational success. This status is so important because it grants nonprofits exempt status from certain taxes ...
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Retirement Benefits for Non-Profits: Keys to Structuring and Maintaining a 403(b) Plan

Non-profit organizations constantly compete to attract and retain talented employees, and retirement plans are one tool that can be used to win that competition. While ...
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Ohio Non-Profits Need to be Proactive in Addressing 2020 Minimum Wage Increase

Starting January 1, 2020, the minimum wage in Ohio will increase to $8.70/hour. The best way for non-profits to minimize any impact on services while ...
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DOL Overtime Rule: New Minimum Salary Level for Exempt Employees

Employers, are you ready for the new overtime rule?  The minimum salary for exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act is increasing to $35,568 ...
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