May 15, 2003 | Read Time: 1 minute
Extra Credit: a Legal Guide for Nonprofits Offering In-School and After-School Programs, edited by Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer and Deborah A. Widiss, provides an overview of New York State employment and liability regulations governing charities that run programs for school-aged children. Ms. Guggenheimer, legal director, and Ms. Widiss, staff attorney at Lawyers Alliance for New York, describe how nonprofit leaders should hire and train staff members, including how to conduct background screenings and deal with frequent sources of confusion, such as withholding taxes and overtime requirements. The authors explain that an organization can be sued if a child is injured in its facility and the organization had not taken reasonable steps to prevent the injury from occurring. The guide provides examples of such negligence claims and explains how nonprofit organizations can limit their legal liability. It also describes the steps charities need to take to get started—such as registering with local and state government agencies—and includes sample incorporation certificates and other legal documents.
Publisher: Lawyers Alliance for New York, 330 Seventh Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001; (212) 219-1800; fax (212) 941-7458; http://www.lany.org; 193 pages; $35 plus $5 shipping.
