Client Alert: Updated Guide for Board Members of Charitable Organizations

On December 22, 2022, then-Attorney General Maura Healey released a revised “Guide for Board Members of Charitable Organizations” (the “Guide,” available here), last updated in 2015, to outline best practices for charitable boards in Massachusetts. The press release regarding the new Guide is available here. The revised Guide includes “a call for boards to emphasize

Client Alert: Volunteers on Nonprofit Boards May Be Personally Liable for Unpaid Wages, Despite SJC Ruling That Broadly Interprets Federal and State Volunteer Immunity Statutes

By: Sharon C. Lincoln, Anita S. Lichtblau, and Stéphanie Smith We are nearing the first anniversary of a first-of-its-kind ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The SJC’s ruling in Lynch v. Crawford in December 2019 has particular relevance right now as many nonprofit organizations are facing budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19

Client Alert: Paycheck Protection Program — New Funding and Updates

By: Sharon C. Lincoln On April 24, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (“PPP & HCE Act”), was signed into law. This new federal relief legislation includes $310 billion of additional funding to restart the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The PPP is an economic stimulus initiative that makes it easier for

Client Alert: Endowment Fund Guidance, Deadline Extension and Other Relief for Massachusetts Charities and Non-Profit Organizations

By: Eric W. Dyer, Anita S. Lichtblau and Sharon C. Lincoln   The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division (the “Division”) has recently released timely and helpful guidance for nonprofit organizations. On April 28, 2020, the Division issued guidance for charities on utilizing endowment funds titled, “Attorney General Guidance on Endowments for Charities

Client Alert: COVID-19 Relief for Nonprofit Governing Boards

By: Sharon C. Lincoln and Anita S. Lichtblau On Friday April 3, 2020, Governor Baker signed into law emergency provisions that will permit nonprofits organized in the Commonwealth to adapt their governance practices to the unique challenges posed by the current COVID-19 crisis.   One of the key issues the emergency provisions are

Client Alert: The CARES Act — Omnibus Overview

By Sharon C. Lincoln and Eric W. Dyer As the economic impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt throughout the United States, the federal government has provided $2.2 trillion in relief by enacting the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was signed into law on March 27. The