Legal Issues for Nonprofits: WWW Resources

The following are some sites that may prove useful as a starting point for legal issues for nonprofit organizations. Inclusion of any site on this page does not constitute legal advice or sponsorship of any site or viewpoint. If you have questions about nonprofit laws in your state, contact a legal professional and any appropriate state government agencies.

Nonprofit Information

• Links for Nonprofit Organizations (Oakland Community Networking Project)
  Good starting point/links site.

• Idealist (sponsored by Action Without Borders) (formerly The Contact Center)
  "Linking people and organizations in 120 countries," this site offers a global directory of more than 10,000 non-profit groups' web sites, as well as a service that allows any organization, whether or not it has a Web site, to post information on its mission, resources, volunteers needs, etc. Includes links to online resources for nonprofit managers. Searchable by organization name or keyword.

• The Foundation Center
  Searchable, essential grant-writing database and website from "an independent nonprofit information clearinghouse established in 1956. The Center's mission is to foster public understanding of the foundation field by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information on foundations, corporate giving, and related subjects."

• Guidestar
  "Free service with information on programs and finances of over 600,000 American charities and nonprofit organizations."

• The Grantsmanship Center

• Alphabetic List of Nonprofits (U.S.) -- Harvard Business School, Baker Library.

• Legal and Tax Answers for Nonprofit Organizations (exemptlaw.com)
  Includes tax forms and other links.

• Council on Foundations
  The COF, founded in 1949, is a "nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations." The web site includes: news, publication information, conferences and workshops announcements, and links to member foundation web sites. Searchable - Try using the search engine for "legal" or other specific topics.

• Specifically for artists, check out the OSLA (Ocean State Lawyers for the Arts) Arts & Law Home Page.
  An "affiliate of a nationwide network of non-profit public service organizations dedicated to providing legal assistance to visual artists, actors, performers, theatre companies, museums, dance troupes, artists' groups and any other artists or arts organizations in need of help regarding contracts, copyrights, trademarks, tax-exempt status, collection of accounts and any other arts-related problems. Free legal information - but "CANNOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SOUND LEGAL ADVICE FROM A COMPETENT ARTS OR ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY."

Government Information

• GPO Access
  The U.S. Government's Superintendent of Document's website - search for published government information. Also available via WebPALS.

• Nonprofit Gateway Network -- "A network of links to Federal government information and services"

• The U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library
  Searchable site which includes: U.S. Code, Attorney and Legal Profession Directories, U.S. Federal Laws, U.S. State and Territorial Laws, and more.

• Everybody's favorite - the IRS -- Search for Exempt Organizations -- or access Information for Tax Exempt Organizations
  Searchable site. Especially good for a finding exempt organizations and guidelines for charitable contributions.

• U.S. Tax Code Online
  Gives access to the "complete text of the United States Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the U.S. Code (26 USC) in a variety of ways. Hyperlinks have been embedded in the Code to permit following cross-references between sections with a simple mouse click." Full-text search engine "allows you to quickly locate Code sections by content."

Company Information Sites

• The Virtual Chase's Guide to "Company Information on the Web" (Genie Tyburski) -- Gives step-by-step instructions on using the Internet to research companies.

Organizations

• Internet Nonprofit Center

• Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations -- Based out of Harvard, this web site gives resources and links, along with information on nonprofit-related research.

• Alliance for Nonprofit Management

Legal Reference Tools and Sites

• FindLaw-- Internet Legal Resources
  One of the best legal resources on the WWW. Searchable. Includes categories such as: Supreme Court Opinions, Law Reviews, Legal News, and Career Information/Service.

• THOMAS -- The Library of Congress's legal resources guide, including access to tracking federal legislation.

• State and Local Government Information -- from the Library of Congress

• WorldWideWeb Virtual Library: Law
  Materials organized by organization type (i.e., U.S. Government Servers) and by legal topic (i.e. Contracts). Includes listing of search tools and other comprehensive sites for law.

• For journal articles, try OCLC FirstSearch -- Click on " Public Affairs & Law" -- Access to Public Affairs International (PAIS) and Legal Index to Periodicals.

• Litigator's Internet Research Guide
  -- Links to federal and state Rules of Court.