CIOGC recently organized a three-hour legal seminar for member organizations on legal and administrative compliance. The seminar covered the differences between a religious institutions such as mosques and churches, and a non-profit organization, whether full-time employees can be asked to volunteer time beyond 40 hours a week, and what political and advocacy activities are permissible for 501(c)3 organizations. Nearly thirty leaders representing fifteen organizations were in attendance.
The presenter of the seminar was attorney Shari Crittendon of the Texas-based Constitutional Law Center for Muslims of America (CLCMA). The Muslim Legal Defense Fund of America (MLFA), which is a CIOGC member organization, established CLCMA to specifically serve Muslim organizations. In addition to the seminar, CLCMA has offered to conduct an audit of individual organizations, by appointment, that will be private and confidential under attorney-client privileges.
CIOGC offers its sincere thanks and gratitude to the Muslim Community Center (MCC) for hosting the seminar and treating the participants with breakfast and lunch.