Practice Areas
How Can We Help You?
California Center for Nonprofit Law advises churches, ministries, charities, schools, and other nonprofit organizations on nonprofit law. Board members, executives, and staff rely on our guidance for fundraising compliance, formation and governance, employment and HR, political activity, and risk management. Legal questions stop blocking mission progress.
Charity Registration And Fundraising Compliance
Review of your fundraising footprint, state charitable solicitation registration, exemptions, renewals, and required disclosures.
Church And Religious Organization Law
Advice on bylaws, membership and leadership structures, church property, internal disputes, and other issues unique to religious organizations.
Nonprofit Formation And Governance
Support for new and existing entities with articles, bylaws, policies, board procedures, and corporate records.
Nonprofit Political Activity And Lobbying
Guidance on advocacy, public policy work, ballot measures, and related federal and state rules for tax exempt entities.
Employment And HR For Ministries And Nonprofits
Counsel on hiring, termination, wage and hour concerns, volunteers, handbooks, and workplace policies.
Risk Management And Internal Policies
Development and review of policies that address financial controls, conflicts of interest, child and youth safety, and board oversight.
Charity Registration And Fundraising Compliance
Charitable solicitation rules differ from state to state. Online donation pages, mailed appeals, special events, and grant applications often trigger registration and disclosure duties. Many organizations raise funds in multiple states without a clear picture of where filings are required.
California Center for Nonprofit Law reviews where donors live, where events take place, and how appeals reach supporters. We explain which states expect registration or exemption filings, plan a realistic filing sequence, prepare or review forms, and help leadership track renewals so fundraising and compliance stay aligned.
Church And Religious Organization Law
Churches, denominations, and ministries face questions that touch both law and religious doctrine. Leadership transitions, membership issues, discipline processes, and property decisions often require careful handling and clear governing documents.
California Center for Nonprofit Law assists with bylaws, membership and leadership structures, board policies, property use questions, and related internal matters. The goal is to support healthy church governance while respecting the theological convictions of each client.
Nonprofit Formation And Governance
Strong formation and governance lay the foundation for long term organizational health. New nonprofits need the right entity structure, clear articles and bylaws, and policies that support good decisions. Existing organizations often need updates as programs grow or boards change.
We help founders and current leaders with entity selection, articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policies, meeting procedures, minutes, and record keeping. Our work supports boards as they carry out fiduciary duties and communicate expectations to staff and volunteers.
Nonprofit Political Activity And Lobbying
Charities and other tax exempt organizations often engage in public policy work, education on issues, and sometimes direct advocacy. These activities sit under detailed federal and state rules that distinguish between charitable work, lobbying, and campaign intervention.
California Center for Nonprofit Law advises boards and executives on advocacy plans, ballot measure activity, interaction with candidates, and reporting duties. We help organizations structure programs so they respect IRS limits on political activity and meet state registration and disclosure expectations.
Employment And HR For Ministries And Nonprofits
Nonprofit workplaces involve staff, contractors, and volunteers who support programs and administration. Turnover, growth, and changes in law raise questions about hiring, termination, wage and hour rules, and workplace culture.
We advise leadership on employment agreements, job descriptions, discipline and termination decisions, overtime and classification concerns, volunteer use, and staff handbooks. Our aim is to reduce risk of disputes and support fair treatment of employees while honoring each organization’s beliefs and mission.
Risk Management And Internal Policies
Policies and training shape how organizations handle money, protect vulnerable people, and respond to problems. Boards need clear tools for conflicts of interest, financial controls, record retention, and safety in programs that serve children, youth, and other participants.
California Center for Nonprofit Law works with boards and executives to design and review policies for conflicts of interest, whistleblower reports, financial oversight, restricted gifts, child and youth safety, and related topics. We connect these policies with broader governance duties so leaders see how daily practice reflects their legal responsibilities.
