Weekly commentary on the legal questions shaping the sector. Current matters before federal and state regulators, developing case law, policy shifts, and practical guidance on what it all means for mission-driven organizations.
The Beacon.
Many Changes Afoot for Nonprofit Organizations at Internal Revenue Service
Three IRS developments — Form 8976's move to Pay.gov, a possible precedent revisiting regarding race-based selection criteria, and looming Johnson Amendment guidance — are reshaping the ground under paired (c)(3)/(c)(4) structures before the June 30 window closes on IRS/Treasury priority program guidance.
DOJ Proposes to Shield Its Attorneys from State Bar Oversight
DOJ has proposed exempting federal prosecutors from state professional-conduct rules in any state where they practice, which would make federal attorneys uniquely unaccountable to the same ethical regime that governs every other lawyer in the jurisdiction.
DOGE and the Debate over Nonprofits
As DOGE proposes deep cuts to federal grant programs that fund a substantial share of nonprofit operations, the question isn't only what gets cut, but whether the public-private partnership model that built the modern sector survives the next budget cycle intact.
Resurrecting the U.S. Department of Education?
A Massachusetts federal court ordered the Trump administration to reinstate hundreds of Department of Education employees, reviving the broader constitutional question of whether the executive branch can effectively eliminate a Cabinet-level agency that Congress created.
Three publications. One convenient monthly update.
Topical legal news from The Beacon. Resources from the Nonprofit Law Primer. Commonlight Legal news when it happens From the Hearth.
Ready to talk?
A complimentary 30-minute call with a managing partner. Clear scope.
Transparent fees. No primer required.