Nonprofit Law

Overview

The members of Plunkett Cooney’s Nonprofit Law Practice Group represent nonprofit organizations, public charities and private foundations in all aspects of their life cycle — from formation, administration, governance and compliance to mergers, terminations and dissolutions. They counsel organizations and individuals in all aspects of charitable giving and philanthropy.

As part of a larger firm, our attorneys partner with other practice groups to offer comprehensive guidance on the myriad of issues that can arise in connection with the creation and administration of nonprofit organizations, including corporate structuring, tax, employment, real estate, immigration, administrative, regulatory and health care law.

Our attorneys have a perspective that is grounded in front-line nonprofit leadership and government service. They have served as general counsel for a community foundation, estate and gift tax attorney for the Internal Revenue Service, member of state legislature, state assistant attorney general, and board members of nonprofit organizations — translating their experience into practical guidance for clients.

The group's goal is simple — to help you make defensible, timely decisions while protecting your staff, board leadership, work and mission.

Areas of Focus

Our attorneys provide strategy and guidance to charitable and nonprofit organizations, corporations, philanthropists and private donors in all aspects of charitable planning. The group's services include:

Private and publicly supported charitable organizations: establishing and maintaining charitable organizations and advising on operations, governance and charitable contributions
Corporate formation and complex structures: handling regulatory filings and governance for nonprofit organizations, strategic affiliates, supporting entities, joint ventures, mergers and dissolutions - aligned with board oversight and funding realities
Tax and exemption: obtaining federal tax-exempt status, counseling clients on maintaining tax-exempt status, and advising on compensation, private benefit and inurement, unrelated business income, and other aspects of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
Tax controversy and audits: representing clients in IRS examinations, disputes, administrative appeals and tax-exempt compliance matters
Funding, grants and compliance: advising clients on donor intent, grant terms and public funding requirements, and reporting obligations, as well as navigating attorney general oversight
Employment and workforce: providing day-to-day counseling, policy development, labor relations and dispute resolution services that help your mission-ready teams stay focused on people, not paperwork
Health care and regulated programs: advising on reimbursement and participation, fraud and abuse, privacy, credentialing and peer review, and payor requirements for providers and programs that serve vulnerable communities
Privacy and data protection: building practical data governance, lead incident response and handle breach-related litigation
Real estate transactions: handling leasing, development, financing and commercial agreements that make your facilities, programs and partnerships possible in the real world
Government, administrative and public records: navigating state and federal agencies and appeals, public records issues and First Amendment concerns
Disputes, investigations and resolution: conducting internal reviews, managing regulatory matters and handling commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution — aimed at timely, efficient outcomes that preserve resources for your mission
Immigration and mobility: assisting organizations and individuals in family-based immigration and work-sponsored immigration, naturalization, employment authorization and change of status filings