Four Rules for Tax-Exempt Organizations with Volunteers

As discussed last month, the use of volunteers and interns by nonprofit corporations comes with legal risks, particularly from potentially applicable wage and hour laws and from harms caused by or happened upon the volunteers and interns, risks that may be reduced by following four basic rules, enumerated in last month's article and repeated here for continuity. Those nonprofits fortunate enough to have people willing to serve without compensation should consider carefully the possible legal implications. This article discusses both federal and California state law; Part One focused on wage and hour laws. Part Two herein focuses on injuries to volunteers, injuries caused by volunteers, and reimbursing the expenses of volunteers.