That raises serious issues: unauthorized charitable solicitation, donor confusion, and brand misuse.

If your organization (or a client’s) shows up on a platform you didn’t authorize, it’s worth acting quickly.

#Nonprofits #CharitableGiving #Fundraising #Charities #GoFundMe

7/✅ Final Thought:
Harvard will likely survive this intact.
But smaller, less-prepared organizations might not.
The Illegality Doctrine may not bring down Harvard, but it’s still a very real framework nonprofits must respect.

#NonprofitLaw #Harvard #DEI #HigherEducation

6/🔍 What nonprofits should do now:

Review advocacy, political activity, and policy positions

Ensure governance is rock-solid

Train boards on legal risk—not just optics

501(c)(3) status isn’t just about mission. It’s about compliance.

5/🤔 So why does this matter?

Because legal theory ≠ legal outcome, but it can still cause serious reputational damage.

Public scrutiny and regulatory interest are rising—and the IRS is under political pressure.

You don’t want to be the test case.

4/👩‍⚖️ Here’s why:

✅ Harvard hasn’t been found in violation of any federal law
✅ No court has determined it acted against public policy
✅ The facts are highly distinguishable from Bob Jones or 80-278
Any revocation would almost certainly be appealed—and likely reversed.

3/📚 Enter Rev. Rul. 80-278

This IRS ruling confirmed:
Even a charitable purpose is not enough if the organization’s operations include illegal activity.

So: Could the IRS apply this to Harvard? In theory—yes.

In practice—very unlikely.

2/⚖️ First: What is the Illegality Doctrine?
A nonprofit can lose tax-exempt status if it violates the law or fundamental public policy.
It’s rare, but real.

Think Bob Jones Univ. v. United States (1983)—when SCOTUS upheld revocation based on racially discriminatory policies.

1/📣
The IRS may be pressured to challenge Harvard’s 501(c)(3) status—but don’t expect them to win.
That said, every nonprofit/tax-exempt organization should watch closely.

Let’s talk about the Illegality Doctrine, Rev. Rul. 80-278, and what this moment means.
👇

With lawsuits also filed in Illinois, California, and D.C., this fight is heating up. What do you think—where does DEI stand in 2025?

📖 Read more here: www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/na...

#DEI #LegalNews #FreeSpeech #DiversityMatters #EqualOpportunity #WorkplaceEquity

The court ruled these provisions likely violate the First Amendment—and Trump’s request for a stay was DENIED. Meanwhile, Perkins Coie just secured a temporary restraining order against another Trump EO targeting DEI in law firms.

The ruling stops:

❌ Defunding DEI grants & contracts
❌ Forcing contractors to abandon DEI policies
❌ Government investigations into workplace DEI

Link to complaint here: www.dandodiary.com/wp-content/u...

4/ If the lawsuit moves forward, organizations may face increased scrutiny over diversity-focused funding and eligibility criteria. #Scholarships #Nonprofits #Diversity #LegalNews #EqualRights #CorporateGiving #DEI

3/ This case could set a major precedent, impacting nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations with identity-based scholarship programs.

2/ McDonald’s helped set the program criteria, while International Scholarship & Tuition Services (ISTS) administers it. Both McDonald's and ISTS are named in the case.

Courts will weigh financial value vs. charitable use of assets.

#NonprofitLaw #HigherEducation #AssetSales #Bankruptcy #CharitablePurpose

Link to article here: www.highereddive.com/news/temple-...

for $300k less to ensure its continued charitable use.

Key takeaways:
Sale proceeds (beyond paying creditors) must align with the nonprofit's charitable mission.

Nonprofits need to ensure asset sales comply with their dissolution clauses.