Students will create, fund, run, and dissolve a virtual §501(c)(3) public charity over the course of the semester, as we learn the opportunities and challenges that nonprofits can face. Section 501(c)(3)s can include soup kitchens, museums, private schools, legal aid centers, private hospitals, environmental organizations, and countless other types of educational, religious, scientific, and charitable organizations. We will discuss the theory behind nonprofit law and tax exemption, starting and dissolving nonprofit corporations at the state level, obtaining tax exempt status from the IRS, the charitable contribution deduction, fiduciary duties of the board of directors, legal rules surrounding lobbying and political activity of nonprofits, charitable solicitation laws, unrelated business income tax, private inurement, and excess benefit taxes.
This is a hybrid distance learning course for graduate students offered fall semester 2014 (NCLC 595, PUAD 727, MBA 797). The couse is offered on Tuesdays from 4:30-7:10pm. Classes meet on campus 7 times. The other 7 classes meet using software from Blackboard that works like Google Hangout or Skype.
For more information regarding this course, please contact Betsy Schmidt, eschmid4@gmu.edu.
August 12, 2014
