OUR EXPERIENCE
We serve nonprofits of all types and sizes, offering creative legal advice grounded in over 20 years of specialized experience in nonprofit law.
In addition to serving a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, our clients also include donors making significant or complex gifts, businesses forming foundations for cause-marketing campaigns, and nonprofit founders considering the best philanthropic vehicle to meet their needs.
NEW PRACTICE AREA
Employment Law for Nonprofits
Our newest team member, Jennifer Ward, Esq., SPHR, SHRM-SCP, brings over 15 years of experience with a strong focus on nonprofit and employment law. We can now assist you with:
- Employment Agreements, Employee Handbooks and Workplace Policies
- Compliance with federal and state employment laws, including paid sick leave, wage and hour, and discrimination laws
- Governmental agency investigations
- Executive compensation
- Employee performance and management issues
PRACTICE AREAS
Specifically, our team of nonprofit lawyers provides advice and counsel with respect to the following:
- STARTING A NONPROFIT AND MAINTAINING TAX-EXEMPT STATUS
- GRANTMAKING AND GIFT PLANNING
- INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND GRANTS
- NONPROFIT MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, AFFILIATIONS
- NONPROFIT TAX CONSULTING
- OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL
- CAUSE MARKETING (COMMERCIAL CO-VENTURES)
- CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISER REGISTRATIONS
- NONPROFIT EMPLOYMENT LAW
RESOURCES
Free Guides for your Nonprofit Organization
How to Start a Nonprofit
State Registration
Nonprofit Legal Checklist
How to Start a Nonprofit
Before you form a legal entity and apply for tax-exempt status, you need a strong, well-researched plan for your organization. Download our free guide to learn about the many elements needed to run a successful nonprofit organization, as well as how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes.
State Registration
Most states require you to register your organization if you solicit donations from their residents. Many states also require registration if your organization collects substantial or ongoing donations from their residents, even if you aren’t specifically targeting donors in that state. Download our comprehensive list of each state’s requirements.
Nonprofit Legal Checklist
There are many legal issues specific to nonprofit organizations that can be easily prevented by taking certain steps early on in the life of the organization. For more established nonprofits, it’s a good idea to conduct a periodic review of your compliance documents, tax filings, and record keeping. We created this checklist to help you understand the items that a lawyer will assess when reviewing the overall legal health of your nonprofit organization.
CharityLawyer Blog offers plain language explanations of complex nonprofit law concepts, discussions of current events and links to valuable resources for nonprofits.
FEATURED BLOG POSTS
- Hiring Independent Contractors
Nonprofits resort to hiring independent contractors because they are often trying to “do more with less.” This common refrain of nonprofit organizations, intended to maximize the value of each donated or granted dollar, often results in small staff headcounts and employees who are handling heavy workloads and balancing multiple responsibilities. When the next need arises,
- Charitable Solicitation Registration Updates
Charities that seek to maintain nationwide state charitable solicitation registration know that the various states’ laws, practices, and procedures are constantly changing. Recent changes to state solicitation registration requirements for nonprofits include the following: California – Schedule B No Longer Required The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled against the California Attorney General in Americans for
- Nonprofit Directors vs. Officers
Nonprofits run more effectively with a well-functioning board of directors and clearly defined officer roles. Yet there can be confusion between the two different roles, especially when a person serves as both a director and an officer. Understanding the difference between the two can help eliminate confusion and avoid conflicts of interest. Nonprofit Directors A
