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.
Nonprofit Skills: Fulfilling Legal Obligations as a Board Member
Professional Credits:
Completion Time
3 hours
Access Time
90 Days
Outcome
Individual Skill Course
Language
English
Training Level
Beginner
Delivery Information:
Description
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
Additional Information
This course includes an “Ask the Expert” feature. You can use this feature to submit questions about course content. A subject matter expert will provide guidance or point you to additional resources for the topics you’re studying. Questions are answered as quickly as possible and usually within 24 hours. Learners must achieve an average test score of at least 70% to meet the minimum successful completion requirement and qualify to receive IACET CEUs.
Requirements
Technology Requirements
Hardware Requirements: This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements: Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible. Cookies and JavaScript must be enabled
- The latest Adobe Reader/Acrobat Reader ( free download available at https://get.adobe.com/reader/ )
- Any modern Office suite: Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice
- Reliable internet connection. Broadband cable or highspeed DSL is recommended for optimal experience.
- E-mail account (to be able to register and to receive e-mail from the course system regarding registration, course status, etc.)
Enroll My Team
Are you looking to enroll your team in this training Course? You Can: