Charitable immunity doesn’t cover contempt charges

Massachusetts’ charitable immunity law that immunizes charities against tort liability in excess of $20,000 does not protect a charity from having to pay a plaintiffs’ legal fees to enforce a civil contempt citation when the defendants failed to comply with court orders, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has ruled.

The full text of this article is available to paid subscribers only. Login or subscribe to read more

August Webinar

Special Event Fundraising: Create your legal checklist
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
1:30-3:00 PM ET

From picking a name and getting a venue, through sending the invitations, getting all the required permits, getting the right insurance, staffing the event, serving alcohol, acknowledging donations, and reporting to the IRS, there are a lot of technical rules to follow. This webinar is for nonprofit board, staff and volunteers who have any responsibility for the event, outside event planners, and their professional advisers. It can help your event be a spectacular success, instead of a continuing legal headache.

Charities running special event fundraisers have struggled for years to stay compliant with the law. Many new issues have emerged from “virtual” events over the last few years. Now is the time to put the new rules and the old rules together in planning your next fundraiser.

This webinar will take you through a step-by-step review of key legal issues, from initial planning to final reporting. It will allow you to put together a comprehensive checklist for your specific event.

Learn more and register

Nonprofit bylaw review

Don Kramer will review and comment on your own current or proposed bylaws

Do your Bylaws reflect the way you actually operate? Do they protect the interests of those who should be protected? Do they spell out clearly how to deal with governance issues? Or do they create uncertainty for those who have to implement them?

Most nonprofits don't spend a lot of time looking at their Bylaws until there is a question or a dispute. That's when you need bylaws that are clear and unambiguous, so your questions on how to proceed are already answered. That's when bad bylaws can lead to unnecessary controversies or even costly litigation. Nonprofit Issues editor Don Kramer will review your current or proposed Bylaws to see if they work for you.

Learn more

New Subscribers can have full access to the entire website and all editions for 3 months for only $17.95.

Subscribe Today

Here's what our readers say about Nonprofit Issues:
Thanks again for your excellent and helpful website - it's a wonderful resource for the non-profit community! --Stephanie H.

Thank you for your informative and keen advice on nonprofit matters. I believe it's a unique and concise place to get answers to this often wispy area called nonprofit. --Richard T.

SAY THAT AGAIN?

July 14, 2026

The draft of an endowed fund agreement for a community foundation called for grants to be made annually to a designated charity and provided that if the charity ever went out of business, the future grants should be made to another charity in the same location.

The agreement set forth the charity’s name and listed its location as a P.O. Box.

See our "Say That Again" collection

Special Report Available

Increasing Gender Diversity on the Boards of Nonprofit Eds and Meds: Why and How to Do It

This report provides a rare inside view on barriers women face to selection and success that are particular to nonprofit organizations and makes specific recommendations on how to improve the gender ratio.
Download the full report free

YOUR ONE-STOP PLACE FOR NONPROFIT LAW YOU NEED TO KNOW

Charitable immunity doesn’t cover contempt charges

Charitable immunity doesn’t cover contempt charges