Robinson+Cole has earned a reputation for our firm’s special interest in serving nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. We represent nonprofits ranging in size from well-established community charities with multi-billion-dollar endowments to start-up organizations with modest levels of financial activity.
Our clients include community foundations, hospitals and health care organizations, private foundations, supporting organizations, educational institutions, social service agencies, cultural and performing arts organizations, religious entities, trade and professional associations, social clubs, and public municipalities.
Our highly experienced Tax-Exempt Organizations practice group provides wide-ranging advice to tax-exempt organizations, from business operations to fund development and compliance strategy. Each member of our team shares your passion for serving the community, and we are committed to understanding and advocating for your organizational objectives, across all legal matters.
Our Services
We represent exempt organization clients in matters before State attorneys general, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Revenue Services, the probate courts, and other authorities. We assist clients who may wish to engage in a combination of nonprofit and for-profit activities. We have extensive experience advising our clients in negotiating and closing tax-exempt financing transactions.
We provide advice on a range of matters including:
Business Operations + Transactions
- Business transactions and contracts
- Corporate law and governance
- Corporate transactions (mergers, assets sales, and dissolutions)
- Economic and community development investments and initiatives
- Employment matters and executive compensations
- Establishment of social enterprises (benefit corporations, B corporation certification)
- Formation of social enterprises and mission-oriented businesses
- Impact investing, charitable registrations, including program-related investments
- Joint ventures and formation of for-profit subsidiaries
- Policy development
- Real estate and leasing transactions
- Risk management
- Strategic planning
- Taxes and tax-exempt status
- Tax-exempt financing
- Unrelated business income tax
Donor + Fund Development Activities
- Cause marketing
- Charitable giving, charitable registrations, and charitable solicitations
- Online fundraising, including crowdfunding and social media campaigns
Compliance
- Attorney general inquiries
- Conflicts of interest
- Compliance with the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and other endowment fund issues
- Data privacy and security
- Fiduciary responsibilities
- Intermediate sanctions transactions
- Internal investigations
- Lobbying limitations and public advocacy and policy activities
Our Team
Our Tax-Exempt Organizations lawyers provide representation for diverse and wide-ranging business activities. We use a cross-disciplinary approach to create legal solutions tailored to the unique characteristics of the client, collaborating with colleagues across our firm’s practice groups, including:
- Business Transactions
- Education
- Construction
- Environmental
- Finance + Public Finance
- Health care law
- Intellectual Property + Technology
- Government Relations + Lobbying
- Labor, Employment, Benefits + Immigration
- Litigation
- Real Estate + Development
- Tax
Our cross-disciplinary approach is one of the hallmarks for our tax-exempt team. We deliver client-centered solutions and advice, working seamlessly across legal specialties and practice groups at the firm. We are well-versed in every area of nonprofit law. We are dedicated to your organization’s success, leveraging legal services to support your leaders, staff, volunteers, and community by delivery on your strategic goals.
