The California Center for Nonprofit Law Blog

A new California Court of Appeal decision raises questions about whether volunteers at charities may be legally reclassified as employees. This reclassification could result in greater responsibilities and liabilities for charities, including wage-and-hour laws, class actions, and Private Attorneys General…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have released long-anticipated new guidance on obtaining and maintaining group tax exemptions. Revenue Procedure 2026-08 (January 20, 2026), along with the accompanying Notice of Issuance of Revenue Procedure…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…