Disclaimer

We write every guide carefully and check it against official sources. But we want to be clear about what Golden Hint is, and what it is not.

General information, not advice

Everything on Golden Hint is general information. It is not legal, tax or financial advice.

• General information explains how things usually work, for most people.
• Advice looks at your exact situation and tells you what to do.

Only someone who knows your full situation, and is qualified to advise you, can give you advice. Reading Golden Hint, using our tools or asking us a question does not make us your lawyer, accountant or financial adviser.

Rules change, and every situation is different

Laws, tax rules, fees and deadlines change. They are also different from state to state, and sometimes from city to city. We show the date each page was last reviewed, but something may have changed since then.

Check official sources

Before you file a form, pay a fee or meet a deadline, check the official source. Most of our guides link to the government pages we used, such as the IRS or your state's charity regulator. If our page and the official source disagree, the official source is right. Please tell us at hello@goldenhint.com so we can fix it.

Get a qualified professional

For important decisions, talk to a qualified professional, such as a lawyer, a certified public accountant (CPA) or another licensed adviser. This is especially important when you are:

• forming a nonprofit corporation or applying for tax-exempt status
• signing contracts, leases or employment agreements
• handling payroll, taxes or audits
• dealing with a complaint, investigation or dispute

Many professionals offer free or low-cost help to charities. Once membership opens, the Expertise Exchange can also connect you with volunteers who have relevant skills. Help given through the Exchange is still between you and that member. Use your judgment, as you would with any volunteer.

Templates

Our templates are starting points. Read them carefully and change them to fit your organization and your state's rules. Ask a professional to check anything important before you rely on it.

Links to outside sites

We link to outside websites because they are useful. We do not control them, and we are not responsible for what they say or do. A link is not an endorsement. Outside sites have their own privacy policies and terms.

Questions

If something on Golden Hint seems wrong or unclear, write to hello@goldenhint.com.