Exempt Organizations

Shipman & Goodwin has one of the state's largest group of institutional not-for-profit clients. The firm has committed substantial resources over many years to establish a broad and comprehensive array of legal services designed to meet every need of this clientele. These services include:

• Formation of tax-exempt and nonstock organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware and other jurisdictions
• Securing federal, state and local recognition of tax-exempt status and resolution of private foundation/public charity status
• Counseling on governance-related issues, including compliance with nonstock corporation laws, conflict of interest policies, director and officer liability and intermediate sanctions
• Review business activities and potential affect on tax-exempt status and/or liability for the tax on unrelated business taxable income
• Preparation and review of qualified and nonqualified pension plans, employee benefits and executive compensation
• Structure and review joint ventures or affiliations with taxable and tax-exempt entities
• Organization and review of charitable donation and planned giving programs, and compliance with federal and state laws regarding the solicitation of charitable contributions
• Merger, reorganization and dissolution of exempt organizations
• Management of endowment funds and investments, including compliance with the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act
• Conversion of exempt organizations to for-profit status
• Tax-exempt financing, including State of Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities bond issues
• Litigation involving matters such as disputes over gift instruments, claims to enforce charitable pledges, and donor standing to challenge the institutional use of charitable funds
• Technology issues, including protecting rights to, and liability for, confidential data

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Related Practices