Teaching Paper: Ensuring Compliance in Non-Profit Organizations – A Practical Checklist for Governance and Accountability

Compliance is a critical foundation for non-profit sustainability and credibility. This Teaching Paper provides a structured compliance checklist covering incorporation, tax-exempt status, state and local reporting, employment law, fundraising, governance, financial management, and policy obligations. Practical notes and a case study illustrate how organizations can use the checklist to move beyond mere “box-ticking,” strengthen transparency, and enhance ethical leadership. Reflection questions guide practitioners and scholars in applying these principles to their own organizations.