Overview
Robinson Bradshaw is distinctive in its commitment to providing specialized legal services to nonprofit organizations. As a corporate and commercial law firm, we are uniquely positioned to provide sophisticated and cost-effective counseling and representation to our nonprofit organization clients.
We have extensive experience representing a diverse group of nonprofits in all aspects of organization, administration and management. Our work with these organizations encompasses all areas of our practice, including corporate, taxation, real estate and litigation. Our nonprofit clients include schools and universities, hospitals, churches and other religious organizations, endowments, supporting organizations, corporate and family foundations, museums, social clubs (including fraternal organizations), business leagues, trade organizations and a complement of charitable groups.
Our nonprofit organization clients include:
- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority and affiliates
- Discovery Place Inc.
- Dogwood Health Trust
- The Duke Endowment
- Foundation For The Carolinas
- Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation
- The Morehead-Cain Foundation
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- Orlando Health
- PersonalGenomes.org
- Queens University of Charlotte
- Southeastern Conference
- Spangler Foundation
- UNC Health
- UNC Management Co. Inc.
- UNC REX Healthcare
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte and affiliates
- Young Women’s Christian Association of the Central Carolinas Inc.
Experience
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Represent charitable organizations in all aspects of their formation including incorporation, state and federal tax exemptions, corporate governance and board fiduciary duties, hiring and compensation of employees and consultants, and charitable solicitation licensing and compliance.
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Advise professional fundraisers and fundraising consultants on registration and licensing requirements.
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Represent professional athletes and other celebrities in connection with administering their charitable foundations, including in connection with national fundraising programs, regulatory issues related to online solicitations, raffles and auctions, and major gifts, including perpetual naming rights.
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Represent national collegiate sports associations in a variety of matters including television contracts and associated digital agreements.
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Represent operating charities in disputes with federal, state and local taxing authorities regarding denied exemptions and refunds.
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Represent national fraternal organizations and their affiliate housing corporations and foundations in corporate governance, tax compliance, risk management and related matters.
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Represent nonprofits in various business combinations and reorganizations, including divestitures, asset acquisitions, mergers, reclassifications and dissolutions.
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Represent nonprofits in public-private partnerships and other for-profit ventures.
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Represent churches and other religious organizations in connection with various property-related matters, including acquisitions and dispositions of real property, construction of new facilities and other capital improvements, secured financing transactions and leasing activities.
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Represent family and other private foundations regarding compliance with IRS rules and regulations, such as those related to self-dealing, grantmaking and program-related investments.
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Represent corporate foundations in all aspects of their management, including governance, tax compliance, internal audits, matching gift programs and grant agreements.
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Represent personal and public genomics organizations in all aspects of their formation and operation including incorporation, nonprofit determination and corporate governance matters, and informed consent and other institutional and regulatory compliance matters.
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Represent various public charities on issues related to private inurement and related party excess benefit transactions, including best practices to help ensure compliance thereby reducing exposure to excise taxes.
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Advise board members regarding conflicts of interest, fiduciary duties and other aspects of board governance.
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Represent nonprofit hospitals with regard to a variety of corporate transactions, including acquisitions, affiliations, joint ventures and ownership transfers.
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Represent high-net-worth individuals in connection with their personal philanthropy, including structuring significant charitable gifts and mitigating potential liability associated with volunteer nonprofit board service.
