Overview

Many organizations, whether for mission, fund-raising, tax, or historical reasons, operate as non-profit organizations. At Goulston & Storrs, we have extensive experience assisting the executive, legal, investment, marketing, human resources, facilities management, procurement, technology transfer, and other professionals within such organizations in all phases of their operations; we understand our clients’ businesses and share in their visions.

We are proud to represent a wide variety of nonprofits, domestically and internationally, that range in both mission and focus, including: public charities, private foundations, social clubs, religious institutions, government associations, educational institutions, government organizations, hospitals and medical facilities, and industry and trade associations.

Our attorneys often act as outside general counsel, helping with anything that comes across our clients’ desks. We appreciate and are sensitive to the unique challenges that affect non-profit organizations, including those that relate to their financial and programmatic operations (such as UBTI, financing, and advising on balance sheets), and those that relate to the more abstract issues of mission and governance (such as reputation and risk management, and rights of control).

Our experienced lawyers, paralegals, and business professionals collaborate efficiently and seamlessly across practices and offices to provide sophisticated, well-rounded advice to our clients, addressing:

Business Planning & Strategy

  • Organizational formation structuring
  • Master planning and enterprise development
  • Governance
  • Succession Planning
  • Strategic alliances, JVs, and collaborations
  • Lobbying and political activities
  • Commercial co-venturing
  • Risk assessment and insurance
  • Litigation and alternative dispute resolution

Tax, Financial

  • Fiscal sponsorships and grants
  • Federal, state and local tax issues, including tax exemption, UBTI and PILOT issues, and sales tax
  • Fundraising, donor communication, and solicitation
  • Form 990, Form 1023, Form PC, state return review, and other applicable state and federal reporting

Real Estate

  • Purchases, sales, and financing
  • Public approvals, institutional master plans
  • Conservation easements and land trusts
  • Land use
  • Construction
  • Leasing
  • Property tax exemption

Corporate

  • Intellectual property
  • Technology transfers and licensing
  • Banking and finance
  • Bankruptcy and creditor rights
  • Regulatory compliance (federal, state, and local)
  • Employment
  • ERISA
  • Data privacy and security
  • Procurement

Though many of our non-profit clients are traditional 501(c)(3) charities, we have significant experience working with clients that operate as 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), and more.  We help our clients to choose the appropriate form of business entity for any new ventures, which may or may not be a nonprofit.