Compliance Checklists

When you’re running a nonprofit, you want to spend your time pursuing your mission, not filling out forms. But there’s no avoiding the fact there are a lot of details to worry about to keep your organization in compliance with various federal, state, and local laws and regulations. If you have employees, especially if you have many employees, compliance can be a big issue. Here are a few checklists that can help you keep track of some key compliance issues.

Nonprofits Compliance Checklist. CalNonprofits offers this basic checklist of key filings every incorporated nonprofit needs to be aware of and complete if appropriate. It includes such things as the Statement of Information which you need to file every other year, the Annual Registration with the Attorney General’s office, and the Federal Annual Information Return (forget to do that for three years running and you’ll lose your tax exemption!).

HR Compliance Toolkit. UST provides this set of ten resources that you can download for free (assuming you’re willing to share your email address). The HR Audit Checklist is a four page document that easily leads you through a simple self-assessment of what you’re doing right and what you might want to work on. Other handy tools in the kit include an interview checklist and an exit interview checklist.

Compliance Calendar. Do you offer medical benefits to your employees? If you do, you have more things you may need to file. Morris and Garritano provides an annual Compliance Calendar that can help you comply in a timely fashion.