NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Clerkin, Sinclair & Mahfouz, LLP, provides services to a wide range of nonprofit organizations and associations. Nonprofit organizations attract increasing scrutiny from federal, state, and local regulatory authorities. Careful attention to this fast-changing area of the law is necessary to enable these organizations to comply with regulatory restrictions and maintain their tax-exempt status while operating under their stated purpose. Similarly, as nonprofit organizations struggle to find alternative sources of support and to maximize resources available to them, they must be aware of legal implications stemming from such fundraising practices. We counsel and assist nonprofit organizations in all areas of legal concern. The firm also provides resources regarding board recruitment and maximization of board effectiveness. We often assist, on an advisory or consulting basis, other attorneys and CPA's who work with, or serve, nonprofit organizations. Our services to nonprofit organizations include seeking qualification of organizations as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code, providing advice as to unrelated business taxable income, and offering assistance regarding exemptions for various state and local property and sales taxes, as well as Federal unemployment taxes. Our attorneys represent nonprofit organizations in obtaining tax letter rulings. In addition, the firm assists nonprofit organizations in planning corporate and business transactions to preserve tax-exempt status and to comply with state law requirements. Finally, in keeping with our day-to-day business operation focus, the firm assists nonprofit organizations in the creation of planned giving programs.