The non-profit world is larger than ever, and Culhane Meadows attorneys have an extremely nuanced understanding of the issues that federal and state regulations can pose for tax-exempt organization of various types.  We work with both new and established non-profits and can help with the legal and tax issues an organization may face at every point in its life cycle, from start-up organizational and exemption work (after considering alternatives to non-profit status) through governance changes, guidance on avoiding the excess benefits, private inurement and other regulatory prohibitions, and domestic and international grant-making and operational issues.

Culhane Meadows helps our tax-exempt clients stay in compliance with all federal and state regulatory requirements in a cost effective and practical manner.  We regularly:

• Advise and implement formation of public and private non-profit corporations, including US “Friends” organizations that support non-US charitable causes.
• Help clients apply to the IRS and the states for recognition of tax-exempt status, including with respect to income taxes, property taxes and sales and use taxes.
• Advise on domestic and international grant-making issues.
• Advise on charitable solicitation and fundraising compliance.
• Structure mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures of non-profits.
• Advise on the creation of complex structures involving both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, including for-profit subsidiaries.
• Represent clients in state and federal audits and appeals on compensation and excess benefit issues.
• Counsel on developing planned giving programs.
• Obtain reinstatement of tax-exempt status following automatic revocation.
• Address nonprofit corporate governance issues, including with respect to fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, committee powers and responsibilities, indemnification and insurance.
• Counsel on avoiding forfeiture of tax-exempt status, intermediate sanctions and self-dealing violations as a result of transactions with related parties.
• Advise on restrictions on campaigning, advocacy and lobbying.
• Structure US and international program-related investments, private equity and hedge fund investments.
• Plan to avoid or minimize unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) and private foundation excise taxes.
• Advise on endowment fund issues.
• Advise on compliance with federal and state dissolution requirements.

Our clients include Section 501(c)(3) public charities and private foundations, Section 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations and Section 501(c)(6) business leagues and trade organizations of varying size.  We also represent 501(c)(7) social clubs and various other less common exempt organizations.  When employee, real estate, intellectual property, information technology or litigation issues arise, our partners are ready to help.

Culhane Meadows attorneys have decades of extensive experience with a variety of tax-exempt organizations, together with a deep understanding of the operational issues that are likely to arise and the concerns of both individual donors and grant recipients.  This often enables us to proactively help our clients avoid issues that could otherwise result in unfavorable attention from the IRS or state regulators.