Regulating Civil Society Through Tax and Nonprofit Law
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
3-20-2025
Conference / Event Title
Law, Religion, and Civil Society in Challenging Times
Conference / Event Location
New York, NY
Hosting Organization
New York Law School and the Interfaith Center of New York
Abstract
CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION: Faith-based and secular nonprofit organizations provide vital services for all community organizations, social service agencies, advocacy groups, and more— scholars from Alexis de Tocqueville to Robert Putnam have described these civil society organizations as the very lifeblood of our democratic system, but their future is uncertain in our increasingly polarized social and political environment.
Long-standing norms for houses of worship, social service providers, and nonpartisan policy advocates have been challenged in recent years, and proposed legislation could further alter or curtail their work. Religious communities sheltering or supporting undocumented immigrants could be criminally liable for faith-based acts of service. Advocacy organizations could lose their nonprofit status on the basis of arguably protected political speech.
Social service agencies supporting historically marginalized communities— including racially diverse and LGBTQ+ New Yorkers—will need to pursue their critical missions while grappling with potential changes to state and federal law and regulations.
Join us as we explore the rapidly shifting legal landscape of American civil society. A keynote dialogue will bridge partisan and religious divides to highlight the important work of civil society organizations. Panel discussions focused on tax, nonprofit, and immigration law will feature legal scholars, policy advocates, and community leaders. In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville famously argued that "The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens." All are welcome to join the conversation.
Conference URL
https://www.nyls.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIV-Law-Religion-and-Civil-Society-Program-PDF-0325-v1r1-locked.pdf
External Links
https://www.nyls.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIV-Law-Religion-and-Civil-Society-Program-PDF-0325-v1r1-locked.pdf
Recommended Citation
Leff, Benjamin, "Regulating Civil Society Through Tax and Nonprofit Law" (2025). Presentations. 1103.
https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/pub_disc_presentations/1103