Join us for the nonprofit event of the year
This is an exceptional program for lawyers, nonprofit directors and board members, staff, volunteers, consultants, accountants, fundraisers and anybody who is thinking of starting up a nonprofit. The combined expertise of our faculty will send you off at the end of the day with great advice and new approaches for your nonprofit organization and clients!
Our program lets you:
Catch up on all the current issues
Obtain valuable resource material
Get re-charged with new ideas!
Hear from leaders in the field
In Philadelphia you can choose from multiple topics. Or register for a simulcast site convenient to you for the six topics* below, including ethics.
Program Schedule:
9:00 – 10:05 am
1.* Combating the Opioid Epidemic: Lessons Learned and Stories from the Trenches – Jose A. Benitez, Katherine E. Levins, Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake & Laura Solomon (moderator)
Hear key players from the public, private and philanthropic sectors discuss lessons learned from our collective efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
10:05 – 10:20 am
Break
10:20 – 11:20 am
2.* Latest Developments in Nonprofit Law – Donald W. Kramer
Don Kramer will present another of his popular reviews of the year in nonprofit law, covering the changes in charitable giving stemming from the change in the federal tax law, updates on issues of naming rights, standing, state and federal taxation, law enforcement against private foundations, the growth of donor advised funds, the issue whether Pennsylvania charities hold all of their assets "in trust" for the benefit of the public - plus whatever else is hot at the moment.
11:20 – 11:30 am
Break
11:30 am – 12:30 pm (Concurrent Sessions)
3.* Employment Law Update – William K. Kennedy, Andrea R. Kramer & Kathryn Goldstein Legge
Employment law has been actively changing at the federal, state and local levels. We will discuss developments that affect your practice on a daily basis: what can you no longer ask on an application form (Ban the Box and prior salary information), how are you classifying and paying your employees (new federal and local salary tests for exempt employees), the #MeToo movement and sexual harassment, drugs and alcohol (including medical marijuana), how to operate HR with minimal staff, and more.
4. The Challenges & Opportunities of Place-based Philanthropy – Sidney R. Hargro, Nadya K. Shmavonian & Laura Solomon (moderator)
Experienced philanthropic and nonprofit leaders demystify the jargon surrounding the term "Place-Based Philanthropy." We will define what place-based philanthropy is, discuss where and how it can provide important community impact, and provide examples of approaches that have worked both in this region and across the nation.
5. Life Cycle of a Nonprofit Part 1: Starting a Nonprofit – Emily Christian & Jack Owen
A Pennsylvania charity may take various corporate forms, the most popular of which is a nonprofit corporation. In Part 1 learn about the various entity options, the process, and the paperwork for forming a nonprofit organization at the state level. We will describe the benefits and burdens of qualifying for recognition as a federally tax exempt charitable organization. And we'll discuss the various subcategories of Section 501(c)(3) entities, the requirements for qualifying as a public charity, and the Internal Revenue Service's recognition of exemption under Section 501(c)(3).
12:30 – 1:10 Lunch for all
1:10 – 2:10 (Concurrent Sessions)
6.* Nonprofit Tax and Accounting Issues – 2020 Update – LaVon Chancy & Joyce E. Miller
Learn about current accounting and tax issues affecting non-profit organizations, such as changes in the excise tax, accounting for leases, common issues when preparing Form 990-PF and more.
7. The Anatomy of Succession Planning for Executive Directors – Marla K. Conley, Kimberly Follett & Laura Otten
Over the course of the next five years, many nonprofit boards will likely have to execute one of their most important responsibilities: hiring the next executive director. There is a science to this - the right way to do succession planning; there is the art - selecting and supporting the right candidate; and there is the messy reality of nonprofits - personalities, emotion and limited resources. Three individuals, who come at succession planning from different perspectives, will explore it all, providing guidance on best practices, real world stories and suggested do's and don'ts.
8. Life Cycle of a Nonprofit Part 2: Maintaining a Charitable Organization – Morgen Cheshire & Kayci D. Petenko
In Part 2 we will describe how to maintain the good standing and tax-exemption of Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations with a focus on important compliance and capacity-building steps to take after formation in order to stay healthy and high-functioning for greater impact. We will explain how compliance creates capacity and how organizations investing in systems, long-term solutions and key compliance measures are better poised for making an impact and weathering the life-cycle challenges nonprofits face. Key compliance considerations presented include registering to fundraise and qualifying for sales or property tax exemptions in Pennsylvania, potential unrelated business income tax (UBIT) pitfalls for public charities and the Form 990 series annual filing requirements.
2:10 – 2:20 Break
2:20 – 3:20 (Concurrent Sessions)
9.* The Role of the Attorney General in Regulating Nonprofit Organizations – Noel A. Fleming, Evelyn McGravey & Mark A. Pacella
We will explore the role of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office in overseeing, regulating and investigating Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations. The panel will ask questions such as, what is the Attorney General's authority? How does the Attorney General's Office identify, prioritize, and investigate potential problems with nonprofit organizations? What is the role of nonprofit counsel and a nonprofit's board of directors in this process? Bring you questions and come prepared to hear from the Attorney General's Office and seasoned practitioners as they discuss these enduring issues that affect all nonprofit organizations.
10. The Social Safety Net System: Is the Traditional Partnership between Government, Philanthropy and Nonprofits Sustainable? – Russell Johnson & Claire Robertson-Kraft
The social safety net system is primarily funded by government and supplemented by philanthropic giving. Government long ago determined that it was more cost-effective to purchase services, mostly from local nonprofit organizations, rather than provide services directly. So how does this region fare today as a result of this policy? It depends upon who you ask. Government mostly pays a discounted rate from actual cost expecting nonprofits to raise charitable funds to 'make up the difference.' This is both an expense to raising funds and uncertainty as to whether the funds raised actually will close the gap. Moreover, working capital rarely exists to adjust/develop new programs, invest in new equipment, staff recruitment and training, and support IT platforms and data analyses. As the demographics and needs of individuals and families using safety net services change, nonprofits need to adapt their services, and prepare for these financial implications. We will explore what opportunities exist for nonprofit leaders and their government and philanthropic partners to improve upon the financial resiliency of the region's safety net system.
3:20 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:30
11.* We Are Not Immune: Lawyers and Their Clients Battle Opioid Use Too! (ETHICS) – Hon. Renée Cardwell Hughes (Ret.), Jeffrey P. Lewis, Brian S. Quinn & Dr. Clarence Watson
We will discuss the significant medical and ethical risks that arise when an attorney is addicted or is working with clients who are impaired.
*This session will be simulcast.
ProPass - Online does not apply to Institute programs delivered via webcast
Materials: All attendees will receive the course book as a digital download. A printed copy of the course book is available, at a discount to attendees, for $40. Additional copies are available at full price. If you wish to purchase the printed version of the course book, please call PBI Customer Service at 800-932-4637. Printed versions of the course book will not be distributed at the course; please allow up to two weeks after the program for the printed versions of the course book to be shipped.