Nonprofit Skills and trade;: Fulfilling Legal Obligations as a Board Member

The law not only requires all nonprofit organizations to have a board of directors; it also identifies critical duties that boards must fulfill. As is the case for for-profit boards, non-profit boards have a duty to act in the organization's shareholder's interests; but for a nonprofit, the shareholders are the members of the public that the organization serves. Board members have three primary legal duties: the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of obedience. If a nonprofit causes harm by an act or omission, the organization or even individual officers or employees may be liable. This course explores the legal obligations of nonprofit board members, key legal concepts that board members should understand, and the risks and limits of liability.

Learning Outcomes: 

Explain the role of the board in fulfilling nonprofit legal obligations

Differentiate between the three primary legal duties of nonprofit boards: "duty of care," "duty of loyalty," and "duty of obedience"

Describe best practices for fulfilling the primary legal duties of nonprofit boards

Distinguish between different tax-exempt classifications and their legal implications

Explain key federal, state, and local laws regulating nonprofits

Describe the role of the board in ensuring compliance with all relevant rules and regulations

Explain the consequences of failing to comply with laws and regulations and describe best practices for protecting the board from legal liability

Credits:

IACET CEUs: 0.3 (Contact Hours: 3 hours)

HRCI Credits: 3 (Type: General)

SHRM PDCs: 3

CFRE Points: 3

Estimated time to complete: 3 hours