Who We Serve
Legal Support For A Wide Range Of Charity Organizations
From formation and governance to fundraising
and charitable solicitation registration
California Center for Nonprofit Law advises and represents nonprofit organizations through every stage of formation and operations. We support organizations as they pursue objectives while staying compliant with federal and state rules tied to tax-exempt status, governance, and fundraising.
Types Of Organizations We Serve
Nonprofit law touches many sectors. These are some of the main kinds of organizations we support with formation, governance, tax exemption, and state charitable solicitation questions.
Charities
Charity organizations face legal needs similar to for profit businesses, but they operate under specialized federal and state rules. We help charitable organizations choose and form the right entity, secure and maintain tax exempt status, develop governance policies, and address routine business matters and unexpected legal problems.
Common issues
Entity choice, articles and bylaws, board disputes, tax exemption, contracts, fundraising compliance, mergers, and dissolutions.
Churches And Religious Organizations
Churches, religious ministries, and faith based charities carry out their work within both legal and theological frameworks. We advise these organizations on formation, governance, property issues, employment questions, and boundaries on political activity, always with respect for their beliefs and mission.
Common issues
Governing documents, leadership structures, property and facilities, employment, religious liberty questions, political activity limits.
Schools And Educational Organizations
Nonprofit and independent schools provide important educational options in their communities. We support new and established schools with formation, tax exemption, policies, registration with required agencies, and ongoing compliance counseling for boards, officers, and administrators.
Common issues
Corporate documents, school policies, tax exemption, registration, employment agreements, student and staff misconduct issues.
Politically Active Organizations
Organizations that engage in advocacy or lobbying face detailed rules that tie directly to their tax exempt status. We help charities, social welfare organizations, labor organizations, and business leagues understand where the lines sit for lobbying, ballot measure work, and campaign activity.
Common issues
Lobbying limits, 501(h) election, campaign activity rules, disclosure requirements, bylaws and policy language.
Poverty Relief And Social Service Organizations
Charities focused on poverty relief offer food, housing support, training in employment skills, and other services for people with low income. We assist these organizations with formation, tax exemption, annual filing requirements, governance updates, and legal questions that arise as programs grow and needs change.
Common issues
Articles and bylaws, 501(c)(3) recognition, annual reports and returns, board procedures, staff growth, and program changes.
Business Leagues And Trade Associations
Business leagues and trade associations are nonprofit organizations that receive tax exempt status under section 501(c)(6). We help leadership decide whether 501(c)(6) is the right category, maintain compliance with IRS rules, and address governance and membership questions that arise in these member based organizations.
Common issues
Eligibility for 501(c)(6), membership structure, dues, lobbying activity, benefit limits, and corporate governance.