Our Practice

Non-Profit Organizations

We represent local and national non-profit and philanthropic organizations. Our clients include cultural, educational, health-based and faith-based organizations. We assist with the following types of activities:

Formation and incorporation
Governance and board structure, composition, roles, and responsibilities
Board/staff relationships, responsibilities, and delegation of authority
Conflicts of interest
Liability, risk management, litigation and insurance
Regulatory compliance and annual reporting
Fiduciary obligations of board members and officers
Affiliations
Corporate practices and record keeping
Land Use

Specifically, this team counsels tax-exempt organizations, including 501(c)(3) charitable organizations such as public charities, private foundations, faith-based organizations, operating foundations and their supporting organizations. We assist in the obtaining and maintenance of their tax-exempt status, and we provide oversight in the areas of executive compensation, rules and regulations, qualifications and operating standards, tax and annual reporting requirements. We represent national and regional non-profits in all aspects of litigation and risk avoidance.

Organizational Needs:

Inter-organizational relationships, including:

Mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and dissolutions
Agreements for joint services, funding, administration, and joint venturing
Design and implementation of strategic alliances and collaborations

Intra-organizational relationships:

Board/staff relationships and responsibilities
Executive and staff employment agreements
Contracts for independent contractors, vendors and consultants

Non-Profit Intellectual Property:

Protecting and managing intellectual property, including copyrights, trademarks, names, logos and patents
Creation of research, business method, work process and trade secret protocols
Licensing and royalty agreements
Private vs. organizational ownership of intellectual property
Confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements

A list of corporations with whom we have worked is available upon request.

For more information: Contact Dwight Wheaton by email at dwheaton@cairncross.com or by phone at (206) 254-4412 and/or John E. D. Powell by email at jpowell@cairncross.com or by phone at (206) 254-4425.