All nonprofits should maintain confidentiality of medical information related to their employees, program participants, and volunteers. Is such information subject to “HIPAA?” For many organizations, the answer is no – HIPAA does not apply across the board to all medical…
Nonprofits regularly use logos, taglines, and other descriptions for their organizational activities. To what extent may nonprofits trademark such information, along with their corporate name? Just exactly what is a trademark, and why is it important – particularly for legal…
As Bitcoin and other virtual currencies become increasingly popular, Section 501(c)(3) nonprofits may encounter a novel question when a donor offers to contribute Bitcoin. Should the nonprofit accept Bitcoin as a tax-deductible charitable contribution? The short answer is likely, “yes.”…
We are huge fans of Google AdWords. It gives your company short term gains and an almost instant return on investment. However, not everyone should be using AdWords. Here are 4 situations in which it is best to avoid Google…
The COVID-19 pandemic has gripped our country’s nonprofits with urgent questions about financial stability. Will donors continue giving? How can nonprofit leaders effectively reach and inspire supporters to keep charitable support coming and to keep their doors open? Perhaps more than…
A nonprofit organization that incorporates or registers to conduct business in a particular state is required to have and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address, or registered office, located within such state. What does a registered agent…
Starting a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit can be quite an adventure! What legal steps are required? While the details may vary widely, the concrete steps may be best summarized as follows: (1) form a nonprofit corporation, consistent with Section 501(c)(3) requirements;…
Search engine optimization continues to be one of the most important things you can do if you have a website. How can you get people to visit your site if no one can find it? While some people would say…
Don’t just write a marketing plan for the sake of checking off the box; develop one that takes the cake. What stands between you and this delicious competitive advantage? Only a baking dish, some flour, a few eggs, frosting, and of…
As our team transitions out of “Benefit Season” and into the Holiday Season, we’re reflecting on what we’ve learned in the past several months. In the past 6 weeks alone, Luminate Marketing helped launch three nonprofit fundraising events. The hands-on,…
