Resources You Can Use
Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Director of Legal Resources
Question: A donor is interested in setting up a scholarship fund with a selection committee comprised of educators from different parts of the state, and has asked about the possibility of reimbursing their travel expenses or paying compensation for their service on the committee. Is this permissible?
Answer: There’s no general legal reason a foundation couldn’t pay travel expenses or a stipend, but be sure to check your internal policies to make sure it wouldn’t be inconsistent with those, as some scholarship policies state that selection committees are unpaid. While providing compensation for volunteers—including individuals serving on a scholarship committee—is uncommon, it is not prohibited if the compensation is necessary and reasonable to accomplish the work needed and the amount is not excessive. The foundation would need to comply with any applicable reporting requirements, such as issuing a 1099 if the amount exceeds the minimum limits. A more common approach is to provide reimbursement of reasonable expenses such as travel to meetings or meals while they are working. Whatever the foundation decides, it needs to be applied equally to all members of the committee.
Council members are encouraged to send any legal inquiries to legal@cof.org.
National Standards Updates
National Standards has rebranded with a new website and redesigned logo and seal that you’ll be able to show off on your website and foundation materials. The program has also officially changed its name from “National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations,” to the already widely used “Community Foundations National Standards.”
Have questions on these updates or ready for your community foundation to apply for National Standards? Please reach out to Ashley Tobon, our National Standards Associate.
Career Pathways 2024 Applications Close Soon!
Career Pathways, founded by the Council on Foundations in 2010, is a selective leadership development program that cultivates bold, representative, and inclusive decision-makers to lead the philanthropic sector. The program is rigorous, highly personal, and built for mid- to senior-level philanthropic professionals looking to advance their careers and contribute to a more equitable society.
Applications for the 2024 Career Pathways Cohort close November 1! Join our office hours on October 25 for help with your application.
Currently Recruiting: Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Faculty
The Council is seeking new voices to bring in as faculty for the Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals course. Appealing to a broad audience of new and growing community foundation staff, CFE Fundamentals builds essential skills that balance governance and management with a broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.
If you're eager to share your expertise on board governance and recruitment, development, finance, and grantmaking with community involvement, we'd love to have you! To learn more about this opportunity, please email Jill Gordon, Manager of Training.
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