School of Public Policy 630 - Nonprofit Law & Management

This course is designed for those who may be involved in nonprofit organizations at some point in their lives as directors, employees, volunteers, customers, funders, or founders. Students will learn about the opportunities and challenges that nonprofits can face by partnering with an existing ?501(c)(3) and by creating, funding, running, and dissolving an imaginary ?501(c)(3) over the course of the semester. We will discuss the theoretical bases for the nonprofit sector and for tax exemption, formation and dissolution of nonprofit corporations at the state level. We will also discuss the process of obtaining tax exempt status from the IRS, the charitable contribution deduction, fiduciary duties of the board of directors, the rules surrounding lobbying and political activity of nonprofits, charitable solicitation laws, unrelated business income tax, private inurement, and excess benefit taxes. During the semester, students will develop tools for two partner nonprofits that will help them measure progress towards their goals and tell their story effectively. They will also analyze the way the partner nonprofits address the issues discussed in this course.