The Nonprofit Advisor is prepared by the Office of the DAV’s General Counsel and is published quarterly for the informational use of DAV Departments and Chapters. It addresses legal and practical issues of concern to those working within DAV.
Fall 2019 Edition
Veterans Beware: Avoiding pitfalls of attorney/agent fee agreements
Summer 2013 Edition
Charities like bequests. They accept bequests. They spend bequests. Sometimes, they even ask for bequests.
Spring 2013 Edition
In the most recent issue of the newsletter, we addressed five of the most common mistakes that chapters and departments might make with respect
to employees.
Winter 2013 Edition
Anyone familiar with the legal news in recent years is aware that there has been a growing emphasis on employee rights and on compliance with federal and state laws pertaining to the workplace. In many ways, this is a positive development. In other ways, it presents a growing risk of problems for the employer or potential employer.
Fall 2012 Edition
No one likes to think about it, but sometimes chapters pass out of existence. Revocation, inactivity, whatever the cause – there are usually chapter assets to be handled. Article 6 of the National Bylaws is unambiguous about what happens in such a case: the assets pass to the appropriate DAV state department…
Summer 2012 Edition
One of the great, and unavoidable, risks to department and chapter assets is related to the contracts in which those entities are involved. The types of agreements are almost too numerous to mention, but may frequently include contracts…
Winter 2012 Edition
It is barely possible to get through a day without being assaulted by some promotion that is a variant of that just quoted. This approach to sales is known broadly as “cause marketing.” For purposes of this newsletter, “cause marketing” can be defined as an effort to sell a commercial product or service by stating or implying that the purchase will benefit a charity.
Fall 2011 Edition
In most cases, if a tax-exempt organization devotes a substantial part of its resources (time and/or money) to gambling activities, even those designed to raise funds for programs, the organization risks the loss of its tax exempt status.
Summer 2011 Edition
Many tax-exempt organizations conduct gaming, or gambling, activities either as a recreational pursuit or, more frequently, as a fundraising vehicle. Nonetheless, the frequently used term “charitable gambling” is something of a misnomer.
Spring 2011 Edition
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has responsibility for regulating and monitoring tax-exempt organizations. This is appropriate, since such organizations receive substantial financial benefits (no federal income tax and, in some cases, receipt of deductible contributions) that reduce government revenue…
Winter 2011 Edition
501(c)(19) is a subsection of the Internal Revenue Code that specifically provides a tax exemption to “veterans organizations.” On its face, it would appear that all veteran organizations would logically seek exemption under that subsection. Appearances, however, can be deceiving!
Fall 2010 Edition
Few issues cause as much confusion as the status of DAV under the Internal Revenue Code. In this and the next issue of the newsletter, we will present the issues, and the answers, in an accessible question and answer format in the hope of clarifying this important issue.
Summer 2010 Edition
“Puffing” is what lots of salesmen do. Put simply, it’s promising the moon and delivering a small asteroid. In the service context, one can only promise what one can deliver – a careful, intelligent approach to assisting the veteran in filing his or her claim…
Spring 2010 Edition
Many of our departments and chapters have substantial service programs that contribute significantly to DAV’s reputation as the unsurpassed leader in the veterans claims’ arena. Certainly, members of DAV will need no convincing about the important mission that a service officer undertakes in representing a veteran.
Winter 2010 Edition
There is a legend that a fellow named Crassus, who lived in ancient Rome, started the insurance business. It seems that Crassus owned a fire truck and would pull up in front of burning buildings and offer “instant insurance” –- at a hefty price -– to distraught owners whose property was going up in smoke.
Fall 2009 Edition
Many nonprofit organizations, especially those that have a fraternal component, need to pay attention to a myriad of laws pertaining to the sale and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages. DAV is no exception…