Does anyone know of any legal precedents preventing bosses from ordering their subservients to undertake charitable activities?
199092
They can't make you do that. These employers are just bullying the employees.
462270
What about charity work?
57827
Government funded and nonprofit are exempt.
258822
Companies often have the power to limit the extent of commission.  It depends on interpretation of company policy and your state's worker's rights law.
388409
You need to consider setting up a non-profit organization. I don't think you are going to be successful in soliciting donations without this status. Or, maybe you could partner with a non-profit in your area that has the same goals?\n\nA nonprofit organization (abbreviated "NPO", or "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is an organization whose primary objective is to support some issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes. Nonprofits may be involved in an innumerable range of areas relating to the arts, charities, education, politics, religion, research, sports or some other endeavor.\n\nIn the United States, nonprofit organizations are normally formed by incorporating in the state in which they expect to do business. The act of incorporating creates a legal entity enabling the organization to be treated as a corporation under law and to enter into business dealings, form contracts, and own property as any other individual or for-profit corporation may do.\n\nIn the United States, after a recognized type of legal entity has been formed at the state level, it is customary for the nonprofit organization to seek tax exempt status with respect to its income tax obligations. That is typically done by applying to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), although statutory exemptions exist for limited types of nonprofit organizations. The IRS, after reviewing the application to ensure the organization meets the conditions to be recognized as a tax exempt organization (such as the purpose, limitations on spending, and internal safeguards for a charity [1]), may issue an authorization letter to the nonprofit granting it tax exempt status for income tax payment, filing, and deductibility purposes. The exemption does not apply to other Federal taxes such as employment taxes. Additionally, a tax-exempt organization must pay federal tax on income that is unrelated to their exempt purpose.[2] Failure to maintain operations in conformity to the laws may result in an organization losing its tax exempt status.\n\nAlso in the United States, individual states and localities offer nonprofits exemptions from other taxes such as sales tax or property tax. Federal tax-exempt status does not guarantee exemption from state and local taxes. These exemptions generally have separate application processes and their requirements may differ from the IRS requirements. Furthermore, even a tax exempt organization may be required to file annual financial reports at the state and federal level.\n\nCapacity building is an ongoing problem faced by nonprofits that rely on external funding to maintain their operations, largely because nonprofit organizations have little control over their source(s) of revenue. Increasingly in the United States, many nonprofits rely on government funds to support their operations, often through grants, contracts, or customer-sided subsidies, such as vouchers or tax credits. Some nonprofits may also rely primarily on support from charitable foundations and donations. Changes in these sources of revenue may influence the reliability or predictability with which the organization can hire and retain staff, sustain facilities, or create programs. Increasingly, there are few sources of revenue that allow nonprofits to develop their organizational capacities.
200125
It is a complicated process that includes filing with the IRS and having a board, audits, etc.  Is there a broader organization that you fall under that could filter the donations for you?  For example, the amateur sports association.  That would be MUCH easier.
608474
I think what you are basically talking about is already allowed, I mean I actually know someone who has helped a homeless person find a job and clean up and get his own small trailor home, while helping him save some money in a shared bank account, maintained by the helper. But yes, in that sense, I believe it should be allowed if it isn't already.
643384
Yes you can donate an interest in land.  But the charity will probably study the value, future potential, etc. of the interest in the land, and depending on what they find, they may reject the gift.  \n\nI have heard of churches rejecting gifts of property, if the maintenance on it was greater than what they might get out of it.
29406
Normally a church has information regarding assistance, etc within their bylaws. It is best to have a piece of paper showing what criteria and selection process is used to determine who receives help and how much help is given (the amount). The IRS - should they ever wish to check - will want to see that you were using a nondiscriminatory method of selection. It does not necessarily need to be open to the general public as I understand - but if within your church - needs to be open to all members.\n\nFrom the IRS site "If your organization is applying for recognition of exemption as a charitable organization, it must show that it is organized and operated for purposes that are beneficial to the public interest. Some examples of this type of organization are those organized for: \n\nRelief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged,\n\nAdvancement of religion,\n\nAdvancement of education or science,\n\nErection or maintenance of public buildings, monuments, or works,\n\nLessening the burdens of government,\n\nLessening of neighborhood tensions,\n\nElimination of prejudice and discrimination,\n\nDefense of human and civil rights secured by law, and\n\nCombating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency."\n\nHope that helps
302394
this is common in every church and organization.  people who have the money, have power in those settings.  If this was particularly obvious and cumbersome in your church, then be proactive--for real.  talk to the minister and see if he/she would address the issue.\n\nyou may want to go to a different church-but you will find those types of people everywhere, some less obvious and kinder though.
433041
Yes!  A pledge to a charity is a legal obligation.  The exact rules can vary from state to state, but charities are required to record pledges as assets.   And if some sort of consideration is given in exchange for a pledge, it makes it more likely that a court will enforce it.\n\nMost will not go to great lengths to collect as the typical donation is less that it would cost, but they will 'remind' you of your pledge on a regular basis.
40586
No Way can they make you donate from your hard earned money. Great Question, I am sure that most of the answers you  see here will help you "fight back" if  you can get some support from your co-workers
51006
Unfortunately, an employer can pretty much demand an employee to do anything that's not illegal.  The only exception would be if there was an employment agreement signed that specifically outlines duties.\n\nIs it right?  I don't think so.  But other than finding another job or risk getting fired, I don't think there's a thing you can do about it.
16634
Private donations, and offerings from congregation. separation of church and state makes it, illegal for state local, or federal , governments to give financial aid
483756
Dave, your principles bear no interest for me ;-)\n\nGetting back to the question, an interest-free loan to charity is not deductible.  There are a number of reasons for this, but just suppose your benefactor did not loan you the money, but invested it himself and donated the income to your foundation.  He would have offsetting items of income and deduction for zero net effect on taxable income.  The same result arises from the interest free loan:  No income, no deduction.\n\nAnd it's principAL, not principLE, in case you missed the joke.
284583
You can sue them for violating their contract in order to force them to follow the bylaws, but you would need to prove that there was damage and what exactly it was (not necesarily in a quantity of money) in order to receive any payment.
187412
if you are an at will employee, which means you work or do not work at-the-will of your boss like 98% of the world out here...your gone and that's that. If you have an attorney that would pursue this, they would probably soak you for some money upfront instead of a contingency.