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A review of this website quickly reveals that forming and maintaining a nonprofit is a complex venture.  While Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) is providing this website for your information and ongoing use, information on this website is not intended to provide, or substitute for, legal advice.  MNA encourages those forming and operating nonprofit organizations to:

 

1.  Consult with an attorney who is experienced in nonprofit law;

2.  Consult with an independent auditor who is experienced in nonprofit accounting

     and management;

3.  Use the services of a legal clinic that is knowledgeable about the needs of nonprofits; and/or

4.  Hire a consultant who is familiar with the legal requirements and best practices for nonprofits. 

 

To review a list of attorneys who can provide legal counsel to nonprofits, visit the Service Directory located on MNA's website or go to the list of Resources provided on this website.  The inclusion of vendors (attorneys, accountants, consultants, and others) on these lists indicates no endorsement by MNA; the names of vendors are provided for informational purposes only.

 

 

 

This Staying Legal website will:

 

      • Attempt to provide all the information Michigan charities need to locate and follow federal and state legal requirements that apply to Michigan charities, including links to the forms and other information. Because no website can be a perfect source of information, please take note of the disclaimers above and in the “What This Website will NOT Do For You” section.  This website is intended to assist both newly forming organizations, as well as those that need information to maintain an existing charity.
         
      • Help you sort out the information you MUST KNOW (to get and keep the organization in compliance with federal and state laws) from all of the other information you SHOULD KNOW to run an efficient, effective charity using "best practices."

        For those who want resources for "best practices," go to MNA’s Homepage and click on the various resources offered there, such as Principles and Practices and related resources. MNA also offers trainings and a bookstore to help you learn and practice good management principles.
         
      • Correct certain misconceptions about charities, their operations and requirements.  Watch for the the words and throughout the website.  Here is an example.

        :         
        All nonprofits are charities.
         
        : 
        All charities are nonprofit, but there are many nonprofits that are not charities. For example, labor unions, those that are organized to lobby or engage in political activities, homeowners' associations, and those that are formed for recreational purposes may be formed as nonprofit organizations, but they are not operating for charitable purposes.
         
        A page of this website called         Common Myths Debunked compiles the misconceptions on one page.

 

 

 

This website will not:
 

  • Answer questions about all nonprofit organizations. It is intended for CHARITIES ONLY, although a great deal of the information will apply to all nonprofits. To help you understand if a particular nonprofit is a charity, go to 5 Rules of Being a Charity.
     

  • Be absolutely complete.  It will not answer questions about charities. While MNA’s goal is to provide a comprehensive review of laws and rules that apply to charities, there may be laws or rules that have not been included on this site that do apply to the operations or activities of a particular charity.

  • Substitute for legal advice.  We recommend obtaining advice from your own legal counsel.
     
  • Be perfect!  While MNA will diligently try to keep the material on this site current, laws and regulations are constantly changing.  Be sure to check the “Last Update” date of each section to see how recent the information is.