Faegre Baker Daniels is among the few firms nationwide with a team of lawyers dedicated to supporting the work of nonprofits, including educational organizations. Our professionals greatly enjoy serving exempt organizations, which provide many communities with great benefits from their educational work.

The regulatory environment within which nonprofit organizations operate is rapidly changing and becoming increasingly complex — with serious consequences for noncompliance. Our team serves as a resource to our exempt organization clients by assisting and counseling them with:

Regulatory Issues

Obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, private inurement and private benefit issues, intermediate sanctions and self-dealing, lobbying and political activities, public charity status, unrelated business income tax, IRS audits and compliance programs, and attorney general investigations.

Corporate Matters

Corporate governance, bylaws, corporate policies, fiduciary duties, corporate structure, taxable and tax-exempt subsidiaries, reorganizations, joint ventures of nonprofits and for-profits.

Operational/Transactional Matters

Liability and risk management, employee and volunteer screening, contracts, leases and corporate transactions.

Financial Matters

Fundraising, donor services, corporate sponsorships and license agreements, and fiscal agency arrangements.

Grantmaker Issues

Regulation of private foundations, supporting organizations, and donor advised funds; international and scientific research grants; scholarship awards, prizes, disaster relief, and hardship assistance; public policy development and advocacy; endowment funds and restricted gift management.

Trade Association Matters

Antitrust compliance; conventions and trade shows; government relations; technology and Internet law; and chapter, membership and certification issues.

Understanding that nonprofits have many of the same legal needs as for-profit businesses, we also provide counsel on health law compliance; trademark, copyright and patent protection; real estate acquisitions, leases and financing; labor and employment matters; employee benefit plans; executive compensation planning; and litigation.