Lawyers Alliance Publishes Updated Getting Organized

Sixth Edition revised to reflect significant legal and practical developments related to New York State nonprofit organizations

Lawyers Alliance for New York is pleased to announce the release of the newest edition of Getting Organized. Now in its sixth edition, Lawyers Alliance substantially updated this 327-page publication to reflect significant legal and practical developments in federal and state law related to nonprofit organizations and tax-exempt organizations.

Getting Organized is a hands-on guide for nonprofit managers and attorneys representing organizations that seek to incorporate and secure recognition of tax-exempt status. It helps newly forming groups and their attorneys find online forms, research information, and complete applications to streamline the incorporation and tax exemption process. Getting Organized also offers insight into reporting requirements and fiscal sponsorship. Extensive appendices contain sample forms and resources.

Getting Organized reflects the Non-Profit Revitalization Act, effective July 1, 2014, which made considerable changes to the New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law (N-PCL). These changes strengthen corporate governance and nonprofit accountability, modernize certain aspects of the N-PCL, and eliminate some administrative and procedural burdens.

“Founders of nonprofit organizations face challenges during the start-up phase. Getting Organized is intended to demystify questions relating to choice of a corporate structure and the process of receiving recognition as a charitable organization,” says Lawyers Alliance legal director and Getting Organized coeditor Linda Schechter Manley.

Lawyers Alliance Staff Attorney and Co-Editor Nicole D. Cuttino says, “Many attorneys want to put their legal skills to use benefiting pro bono clients but may be concerned that they lack the appropriate experience. Getting Organized gives an attorney representing a charitable organization the information and tools they need to successfully incorporate and secure tax exempt status for their clients.”

Volunteers from the following firms provided assistance in updating and formatting portions of the publication: Alston & Bird LLP; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP; Duane Morris LLP; Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP; and Morrison & Foerster LLP.

Lawyers Alliance’s Advising Nonprofits, the companion book to Getting Organized, picks up where Getting Organized leaves off and was extensively updated in fall 2014 to reflect the Non-profit Revitalization Act. Advising Nonprofits provides a comprehensive map of a wide range of legal issues encountered by New York nonprofit staff and the attorneys who advise them, including corporate structure, board governance, contracts, regulatory compliance, fundraising, personnel management, lobbying and political activity, intellectual property, and revenue-generating activities.

Getting Organized is available for purchase as a bound printed copy ($100) and as both an Individual Use ($100) and Site License ($200) PDF download. The electronic versions include linked table of contents, index, and websites. Please visit Lawyers Alliance’s website at www.lawyersalliance.org/publications.php for more information or to order.