The California Center for Nonprofit Law Blog
California SB 642: Pay Scale Transparency and Equity
As of January 1, 2026, California SB 642 amended Cal. Labor Code §§432.3 and 1197.5 to establish new rules for pay scale transparency and fair compensation for employees. More specifically, the amendments expand the definition of "wages" to include benefits…California SB 683: Privacy and Protection of Personal Likeness
SB 683 went into effect in California as of January 1, 2026. This bill strengthens and expands upon the state’s Right of Publicity statute found at Civil Code §3344. Under these amendments, individuals have a greater ability to protect their…California SB 294 – The Workplace Rights Know Your Rights Act
The California legislature passed SB 294, more commonly known as The Workplace Rights Know Your Rights Act ("the Act"), last year, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law. The Act creates new notice and communication responsibilities for employers…Do Charitable Sales Promotions Require a Charitable Registration Filing?
California recently updated its state laws and regulations governing online charitable fundraising platforms under Ca. Gov. Code §12599.9. As a result, companies conducting cause-related marketing programs or charitable sales promotions (CSPs) must register with the state. Understanding CSPs and Commercial…Legislation Expands Definition of California “Qualified Nonprofit Organization” for Purposes of State Grants and Contracts
The California legislature has passed AB 1318, which expands the definition of "qualified nonprofit organization." The legislation adds a new section to the Government Code and amends various portions of the Welfare and Institutions Code. AB 1318 went into effect…California State Oversight Agency Recommends Changes to Nonprofit Contracting Process
The Little Hoover Commission (LHC), California’s independent state oversight agency, recently published policy recommendations to reform state grantmaking and nonprofit contracting processes to improve partnerships with charitable organizations. According to the LHC, current state practices create barriers that block effective…California Court Rules Ministerial Exception Does Not Bar Wage and Hour Claim
A California appellate court has reversed a trial court judge’s grant of summary judgment in favor of a Zen Buddhist church in an employment law dispute. The appellate court rejected the trial court judge’s reasoning that the ministerial exception to…Five Things California Charities Need to Know about Annual Registration Renewal Requirements
Navigating California’s regulatory landscape can be challenging for charitable organizations, especially when it comes to annual registration renewal requirements. Compliance with the rules set by the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers is critical to maintaining good standing.…Should a Church Obtain a §501(C)(3) Determination Letter from the IRS?
Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §508(c)(1)(A), churches are automatically considered tax-exempt under §501(c)(3). As a result, churches are not required to seek Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognition of that tax-exempt status through a formal determination letter. However, for various reasons,…GoFundMe Sets Up Millions of Unauthorized Nonprofit Donation Pages
After the Friends of the San Bruno Public Library discovered a GoFundMe page that it didn’t set up, other charities also began discovering that they, too, had GoFundMe pages – none of which the organizations had authorized. An initial statement…
