RKW’s lawyers have represented non-profit organizations for decades. Our clients include religious institutions, universities and private schools, community organizations, and organizations that provide employment opportunities, housing, education, and care for vulnerable people and those with special needs. We serve on non-profit boards so we understand the issues surrounding finances, budgeting, grants, fundraising and revenue generation, governance, and other challenges and opportunities. Our knowledge stems from both our legal experience and from our personal participation in the community we represent. We are uniquely positioned as a corporate and commercial law firm to provide sound and cost-effective counseling and representation to our nonprofit organization clients.

RKW’s attorneys provide a variety of services regularly to the nonprofits it supports including issues of governance, board management and accountability including: understanding and complying with board member duty and liability; addressing conflicts of interest and non-profit insider transactions; updating and revising bylaws; instruction on proper board procedures such as elections, notices of meetings and the preparation of meeting minutes; helping to formulate best practices; and complying with legally mandated public disclosure requirements.

In addition to governance issues, our experiences include providing advice on establishment of revenue generating subsidiaries; joint ventures with for-profit businesses; corporate sponsorships; fiscal sponsorships; and grant-making policies and procedures, including grant agreements.