HR Compliance Check & Handbook Development for a New Nonprofit

We are a newly registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with one employee and want to ensure we are fully compliant with all HR requirements for U.S. nonprofits, including federal and state labor laws. We are seeking a skilled volunteer to:

Conduct an HR compliance review to ensure we meet legal requirements for our size and structure.

Identify and fill any compliance gaps (e.g., required postings, recordkeeping, onboarding forms).

Develop a simple but compliant HR system suitable for a small nonprofit.

Create or adapt an employee handbook that includes policies, procedures, and best practices relevant to our organization.

This project will help us establish a strong HR foundation as we grow.

Our nonprofit’s mission is to provide access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for rural communities in Ethiopia. While our primary focus is on delivering impact in the community, we recognize that a compliant, fair, and transparent workplace is essential to achieving our goals. By ensuring our HR practices are legally sound and equitable from the start, we strengthen our credibility, protect our organization, and create a supportive work environment that will enable our team to serve communities more effectively.

We have full internal buy-in for this project and have designated leadership to work closely with the volunteer. While we currently do not have formal HR documents in place, we have our single employee’s job description and are ready to provide all necessary organizational information, including our structure, mission, and operational context. We will be available to answer questions promptly and provide any additional details needed. Once the project is complete, we will adopt and implement the handbook, compliance checklist, and any recommended HR processes immediately.