Tax, Employee Benefits & Global Compensation

Foundations and Tax Exempt Organizations

Manatt represents a wide range of public charities, private foundations and charitable trusts. We make sure that their organizational form and structure meet all Tax Code requirements for tax-exempt status. Our attorneys handle status applications to the Internal Revenue Service, secure letters of determination, and respond to audits and inquiries involving Section 501(c)(3) charitable or educational organizations, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, 501(c)(6) trade associations and similar entities. Because Manatt has extensive experience and good working relationships with IRS personnel, we are effective advocates for securing and maintaining our clients' tax-free designation. We also form charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts to handle the deductibility of gifts to various charitable organizations, finalizing all of the details of tax status qualification and advising on the appropriate deductibility of contributions.

Foundations and trusts are organizations with their own unique operational challenges, and our nonprofit team guides them through the complexities of:

• Governance issues such as avoiding self-dealing
• Management of for-profit subsidiaries in compliance with tax requirements
• Documentation of board proceedings and distribution decisions
• Preparing and filing state and federal tax and information returns
• Leases, loans, contracts and other business agreements
• Legislative advocacy and political matters