Fiduciary Firepower: What California Nonprofit Boards Must Know (and Get Right)

California’s nonprofit sector manages more than $473 billion in revenue—and every board member is a fiduciary steward of that public trust. In this episode, we break down exactly what board members of California 501(c)(3) organizations are legally and ethically responsible for—and what happens if they get it wrong.Based on the California Attorney General’s Guide for Charities and expert insights from BoardSource, this episode covers:The three core fiduciary duties: care, loyalty, and obedienceReal-world implications of financial oversight, including liability for inaccurate reportsHow to spot and prevent self-dealing, excessive compensation, and conflicts of interestThe legal difference between related vs. unrelated business incomeBest practices for internal controls, budgeting, and board-level auditsWhat to document—and what could trigger personal liability or regulatory actionFiling and compliance essentials: Form CT-1, RRF-1, SI-100, Form 990, and moreWhether you're a seasoned trustee or newly appointed to a board, this episode equips you with the clarity and caution needed to govern with confidence—and avoid legal risk.🎧 Listen in and ask yourself: Does our board culture empower fiduciary excellence—or expose us to preventable risk?