Overview
Nonprofits can depend on Butzel’s experience with organizations of all types, particularly large and complex entities with sophisticated business needs. We serve a wide variety of nonprofit clients, including business leagues and trade associations, hospitals and other health care organizations, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, religious organizations, and community and social service organizations. The Nonprofit Organizations Practice Department works to ensure compliance with federal and state law, preservation of tax-exempt status, and provides counsel on a wide variety of business transactions.
Once a nonprofit organization is established, our team can assist with governance issues, board recruitment, and other strategic issues. We also advise on director and volunteer liability and indemnification; executive compensation; unrelated business income taxes; engaging in international activities and transactions; real estate transactions; fiscal sponsorship and affiliation agreements; nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries; lobbying and advocacy issues; and many other complex transactions and activities. With offices in key political hubs including Lansing and Washington, D.C., we are also able to assist charities and other nonprofit organizations to navigate regulatory issues and manage relationships with government officials and candidates for political office.
The attorneys that comprise this team are experienced in explaining the legal implications of various fundraising practices, prospect research, solicitation, and volunteer recruitment. We create planned giving programs, donor agreements, donor-advised funds, and help with risk and crisis management programs. We also consult on IRS audits and appeals, obtain tax rulings, represent organizations in federal and state tax litigation, and obtain exemptions for state and local property taxes, sales tax, and federal unemployment tax.
Butzel attorneys are dedicated to serving our communities and actively participate on many nonprofit boards, which informs a unique understanding of the practical and legal challenges nonprofit organizations can encounter. This firsthand involvement provides the insight to deliver tailored, effective, and efficient legal solutions that address the needs inherent to nonprofit entities.
Members of this Department regularly present continuing education programs for attorneys, accountants, and other professionals who serve nonprofit organizations and also frequently speak at client and nonprofit association conferences. Butzel attorneys have served on the Michigan State Bar Nonprofit Corporations Committee, have worked on drafting legislative changes, and have testified before the Michigan Legislature on revisions to nonprofit corporation law.
