charitable giving / tax exempt organizations

The utilization of a tax exempt organization enables a client to further certain business and/or family objectives, while promoting the client’s philanthropic goals. Our broad experience with tax exempt entities allows us to respond to the variety interests of our tax, business and estate planning clients.

As with other business organizations, there is a wide variety of tax exempt entities that offer advantages in specific circumstances. We regularly provide advice regarding the tax exempt options available to our clients.

We represent tax exempt organizations from their initial formation (including the preparation of the application for federal tax exempt status), to complying with annual reporting requirements and developing an appropriate governance structure. We also provide advice regarding solicitation, fundraising and day-to-day operating procedures. Moreover, we assist our clients in avoiding the pitfalls that may occur within the maze of prohibited (yet often unassuming) transactions that can trigger penalties and potentially nullify tax exempt status.

Our experience in representing both donors and tax exempt organizations enables us to provide our clients with comprehensive charitable services. We help our clients develop and realize their philanthropic goals during their lifetimes and at death.

Our attorneys have designed and implemented major gifts of real property, stock, artwork, life insurance policies, open space and conservation easements and other types of property.

We offer advice regarding the structure of charitable gifts by creating private foundations and qualified charitable trusts such as charitable lead and remainder trusts. Once a charitable vehicle is formed, we advise our clients on the adoption of policies and procedures, selection and succession of management, ongoing governance issues, strategic planning and achieving financial sustainability.