Nonprofit Crisis Management

NONPROFIT CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Unfortunately, bad things happen to good charities. Crisis management is tough. When something goes wrong in a big way for your nonprofit it can be terrifying. With a 24-hour news cycle the media is all too happy to publish scandal stories about charitable organizations.

A crisis is the ultimate unplanned activity and the ultimate test for nonprofit leaders. In a time of crisis, conventional management practices are inadequate and ways of responding usually insufficient.

Crisis-management-sadness-Legal-For-Good

Has your organization experienced a theft of nonprofit assets? Did the board fail to properly restrict a donor’s gift and spend money improperly? Will your situation blow up into a governmental investigation or audit? What will donors think? Who should be told and what should they be told? How do we make sure it never happens again? These are all questions our clients in crisis need answers to. We excel at helping you stay calm in a crisis and taking the steps needed to protect the organization and demonstrate your responsible stewardship.

Timely Nonprofit Crisis Intervention

No matter what type of Minnesota nonprofit organization you’re involved with, handling bad news or adverse situations can be a challenge. We can help! Our skilled intervention can often turn things around quickly, enabling your organization to move forward, even after disaster has struck.

How do you determine if you are experiencing a nonprofit crisis and how serious it is?

Ask the following of your team:

Has someone verified the incident or crisis?
Do we need professional help to conduct an internal investigation?
What are the legal implications of the incident or crisis?
Is there potential for action by a governmental agency? A potential lawsuit? Or a Bankruptcy?
Is the incident or crisis confined, or is it likely to spread if not managed properly?
What level of resources will be required to manage the incident or crisis?

It is important to call in your crisis team as early as possible. We can help with legal and communications issues, as well as coordinate with a team of public relations experts and financial professionals as needed. Call us now at (612) 284-6441 or send us a message online.

Nonprofit Crisis Management: Protecting Your Mission When It Matters Most

At Legal for Good, we understand that even the most well-intentioned and diligently run nonprofits can face turbulent times. Unfortunately, bad things do happen to good charities. Whether it’s a financial misstep, an internal conflict, or an unexpected public scandal, nonprofit leaders are often left feeling blindsided, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to move forward. That's why we offer tailored crisis management services—so you don’t have to face these challenges alone.

What is a Nonprofit Crisis?

A crisis is more than just a rough patch or a PR hiccup. It is the ultimate unplanned activity—one that tests leadership, resilience, and organizational systems. A true crisis is a serious, potentially reputation-damaging event that disrupts your operations, shakes stakeholder trust, and often invites scrutiny from the media, donors, regulators, or even the general public.

Consider scenarios like these:

Theft of nonprofit assets
Inappropriate use of restricted donor funds
Sudden departure or misconduct by key leadership
Government investigations or audits
Civil or criminal lawsuits
Reputational harm via media coverage or social media backlash

When such incidents occur, every moment counts. You need a crisis management plan—and more importantly, the right people to help you execute it.

Our Approach to Crisis Management

Crisis management for nonprofits isn’t just about damage control—it’s about protecting your mission, demonstrating responsible stewardship, and rebuilding trust. At Legal for Good, we help nonprofit organizations navigate crises with calm, confidence, and legal precision.

We know the nonprofit landscape intimately, and we work solely with mission-driven organizations. This exclusive focus enables us to provide nuanced legal guidance that takes into account your values, goals, and vulnerabilities. Our crisis management services are rooted in three pillars:

Timely Intervention

When disaster strikes, speed matters. Our legal team responds quickly to assess the situation, identify risks, and help you stabilize the organization. With the right crisis management training and support, many potentially devastating incidents can be contained and resolved before they spiral.

Strategic Communication

A carefully considered communication plan is essential. Who should be told? What should they be told? How do we ensure transparency without exposing the organization to further liability? We help you shape your message for internal and external stakeholders, including staff, board members, donors, and the media.

Sustainable Resolution

Once the initial wave of crisis has passed, the real work begins. We help you implement governance reforms, strengthen internal controls, and put crisis management plans in place so your organization is better equipped for the future.

How to Identify a Nonprofit Crisis

Not every issue rises to the level of a full-blown crisis. But when something feels off, you need to ask the right questions:

Has someone verified the incident or crisis?
Do we need professional help to conduct an internal investigation?
What are the legal implications of the incident or crisis?
Is there potential for action by a governmental agency? A potential lawsuit? Bankruptcy?
Is the incident confined, or could it spread without proper management?
What level of resources will be required to manage the situation?

Answering these questions candidly will help you understand the scope of the problem—and how urgently you need crisis management support.

Why Legal for Good?

Because we’ve been there.

Our founder, Jenn Urban, has nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, charitable organizations, and governmental agencies. From her time in the Ohio Attorney General’s office to her legal work in Minnesota, she’s seen firsthand how crises can affect the organizations doing some of society’s most important work.

At Legal for Good, we combine legal acumen with a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector. We don’t just offer legal advice—we offer solutions grounded in your values and tailored to your unique mission.

Whether it’s helping you navigate a government investigation, respond to media inquiries, or develop a robust crisis management plan from scratch, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Crisis Management Training: Be Ready Before It Happens

One of the most effective ways to reduce harm from a future crisis is to prepare in advance. Our crisis management training services are designed specifically for nonprofit boards and leadership teams. We offer:

Mock crisis scenarios to test your organization’s response
Customized training sessions on legal compliance and risk mitigation
Workshops on building a strong internal control system
Guidance on drafting a tailored crisis management plan

We help you build the tools and confidence needed to respond quickly, transparently, and legally when something goes wrong.

What Should Be in a Nonprofit Crisis Management Plan?

Every nonprofit should have a crisis management plan in place—long before a crisis ever occurs. Your plan should include:

Defined roles for key team members during a crisis
Step-by-step protocols for internal investigations
Guidelines for communication with the public, donors, and media
Legal response strategies to mitigate liability
Post-crisis follow-up plans, including compliance and governance audits

If you don’t have one yet, we’ll help you create one.

Common Crisis Management Legal Services We Provide

Our legal services in nonprofit crisis management include:

Board and leadership consulting
Internal investigations and reporting
Coordination with external auditors and forensic accountants
Representation in regulatory investigations or hearings
Review and revision of bylaws, policies, and financial controls
Risk analysis and liability assessments
Donor communication strategies
Legal guidance for restructuring, merger, or dissolution if needed

No matter how severe the situation, our focus is always on helping your organization regain stability, restore trust, and get back to serving your community.

Let’s Get Through This—Together

We know how tough crisis management can be. But we also know how strong the nonprofit sector is—full of people who care deeply about their work and the communities they serve.

If your organization is in crisis—or if you want to prepare so you're never caught off guard—we’re here to help. With our crisis management services, training, and planning support, Legal for Good will stand by your side when it matters most.

Let’s get out there and do some good—even when things get hard.

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Legal for Good. Legal help. Mission driven.