May is excited to visit with Gene Takagi, the founder of NEO Law Group in San Francisco and a prolific writer for the Nonprofit Law Blog. During their conversation, they delve into the nuances of California nonprofits, exploring the differences between adhering to state laws versus federal regulations. The discussion extends to the general lack of oversight for nonprofits and the underlying reasons behind it. They also touch upon the potential pitfalls nonprofits face, whether through social media or whistleblowers notifying the attorney general about non-compliance with the law. Gene concludes the episode by sharing two crucial tips every budding nonprofit should implement.   IN THIS EPISODE: [1:40] Gene explains how he became involved in working with tax-exempt organizations [10:27] Governing documents for nonprofits in the state of California [14:50] Gene shares that there is a difference between meeting a state requirement and a federal requirement and why there is a lack of oversight [19:11] Discussion of ways the Attorney General’s office finds out that nonprofits are not operating under the law [27:11] Gene says you cannot overstate the importance of a mission statement [34:08] Gene explains why the selection of your board members is critical   KEY TAKEAWAYS:  [9:47] He emphasizes the critical role of governing documents and highlights the significance of adhering to the nuanced guidelines that nonprofits must navigate [14:50] If you meet the state requirements for the 501c3, you still need to meet the Federal requirement. [24:59] It is essential to spend money on administration to stay compliant.   RESOURCES: For Profit Law Group - Website Nonprofit Counsel - Website Nonprofit Counsel - Instagram Nonprofit Counsel - Linkedin Neo Law Group - Website Non-Profit Attorney - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nonprofitattorney/   ABOUT THE HOST: May Harris has been a pioneer of nonprofit law practice for over a decade, having founded For Purpose Law Group in April 2012. She serves the nation's nonprofit sector with unparalleled expertise, prioritizing her client's missions, visions, and values. She specializes in nonprofit & tax-exempt organizations, social enterprise & business law, and estate planning & charitable giving.   GUEST BIOGRAPHY:    Principal of NEO Law Group, Contributing Publisher of the Nonprofit Law Blog, and P/T Lecturer at Columbia University. I've been published by The New York Times, The Nonprofit Quarterly, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and The Nonprofit Times and spoken at conferences for Independent Sector, BoardSource, the National Association of State Charity Officials, and the American Bar Association. In the past, I've served as a corporate attorney for an AmLaw 100 firm, professor of nonprofit law at USF and SMU-MN, director of the medical and behavior divisions of the San Francisco SPCA, and management consultant for a billion dollar privately held company. I'm an alum of UCLA School of Law honored to have received several awards for doing the work I love including the 2016 Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer from the American Bar Association's Nonprofit Organizations Committee. I also serve on the boards of BoardSource and The Nonprofit Quarterly, the board of advisors of the National Center on Philanthropy and the Law (NYU), and the planning committee of the Western Conference on Tax Exempt Organizations. I previously served on the public policy committee and John W. Gardner Leadership Award committee of Independent Sector and the boards of CompassPoint, Net Impact, JCYC, Barrister Club (BASF), and Community Initiatives.