Community Empowerment Matters

  Introduction Creating a Community Land Trust (CLT) is a valuable way to protect land in a community through ownership of the land. The most common form of CLT provides for affordable housing   by having a CLT own land and by allowing those who want to own a home to enter into a long-term lease of the land instead of actually purchasing it. For more information on this traditional CLT model and how it is used, see other posts relating to the topic here and here . But, while providing affordable housing is one beneficial use of CLTs, many communities have alternative needs that may also be met through this model of community stewardship.   Using Community Land Trusts for Housing vs. Green Space A CLT is a nonprofit organization formed to allow the community to be the stewards of their own space. [1] The designation of “Community Land Trust” doesn’t come from creating a different form of legal entity than other nonprofits, but comes from the purpose of the organization. CLTs are

  Introduction The global spread of a novel coronavirus disease, widely known as COVID-19, took the world by surprise in early 2020. Many companies were forced to change their business models in order to adapt to the unprecedented challenges resulting from the pandemic. When the United States reopened, questions arose surrounding workforce culture. Topics such as remote work policies and childcare became top priorities for employees at all levels. While businesses consider how to address these concerns, what has become clear is the idea that “getting back to normal” no longer resonates with American workers. [1] Indeed, low-paying jobs, including those in retail and hospitality industries, have had to resort to various measures to attract and retain talent. [2] Officials are also paying attention to changes in employees’ attitudes. In June 2021, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated that “[t]he worker shortage is real — and it's getting worse by the day.” [3] A

  https://www.flickr.com/photos/iceninejon/1470401797   What Is 501(c)(3) Status The term “501(c)(3)” refers to the section of the Internal Revenue Code that governs certain kinds of tax-exempt organizations. In order to receive tax deductible donations, organizations must be:        Charitable;         Religious;         Educational;         Scientific;         Literary;         Testing for public safety;         Fostering national or international amateur sports competition; or         Preventing cruelty to children or animals. Many foundations and other sources of grants require that the organizations they donate to maintain 501(c)(3) status. While applying for 501(c)(3) status is a good idea for many nonprofits, there are some drawbacks. The application process may involve a great deal of paperwork, and 501(c)(3) status subjects organizations to increased reporting requirements. Furthermore, 501(c)(3) organizations are unable to engage in political activities, such as directly or i

  Gaining your 501(c)(3) status is, for many, an exciting and pivotal step towards accomplishing your organization’s goals. With that being said, there are several ongoing obligations ​and ​prohibited activities that are important for you to be aware of to ensure you do not incur fines or lose your organization's tax-exempt status. This article proceeds by laying out your ongoing obligations and then the activities you should avoid. For a more in-depth explanation of these issues, you can check out the I.R.S’s Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Organizations.   ONGOING OBLIGATIONS:   While your 501(c)(3) organization is exempt from federal income tax, you must still comply with reporting obligations, meaning that you must still file an annual return. Additionally, you are responsible for employment taxes and unrelated business income taxes. [1]         1) A 501(c)(3) organization must file an annual information return. [2] The determination of          what form you must file wi