Course Description

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

After completing this course, the learner should be able to:

• 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

Notes

Estimated time to complete: 3 hours

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.