Lawyers Clearinghouse Newsletter
Spring 2010
Legal Problem? We Can Help!
Is your nonprofit facing difficult challenges due to the economic downturn? Perhaps
your organization is considering:
- renegotiating or terminating your lease
- laying off some of your staff or otherwise reducing your HR costs
- working with another organization to share costs
- merging with one or more other organizations
- discussing options with regard to dissolving the organization
The Lawyers Clearinghouse can provide your organization with pro bono legal services to address these and many other legal matters that your organization is facing during these tough times. We have experienced lawyers who will work with you at no cost to help your organization with its legal needs. For more information, please visit our website or contact Legal Referral Director Machiko Sano Hewitt at (617) 887-1954.
Legal Resources for Nonprofits
The IRS is offering a number of helpful resources on its website for nonprofit organizations.
The interactive Stay Exempt Workshop was specially designed to help representatives of new 501(c)(3)s get up to speed on IRS rules and regulations. The program has five modules.
A number of topics of interest to nonprofits are covered in the IRS Web-Based Mini-Courses. Each presentation can be viewed online or downloaded for later viewing and run from 5 minutes to 40 minutes each.
If you missed our seminars and webinars on the new Form 990 or would like further information, the IRS is offering a new online tool that shows organizations how to address key areas of the redesigned Form 990 and Schedules.
Getting Started: A Case Study includes a sample filled-in Form 990 and Schedules A and O, prepared using information about a hypothetical organization’s mission, board of directors, financial information and policies. A series of online videos explain how to complete key sections of the Form 990 and highlight some of the form changes.
In addition, the IRS has summarized the Significant Changes to the Form 990, schedules, and instructions in a very concise and useful table.
Pro Bono Spotlight – Daniel Kolodner
Dan’s work with Foundation for a Green Future, Inc. is just one example of his long-running dedication to helping his community. During college, Dan worked at, and eventually ran, an in-school tutoring program in Dorchester at the MatherElementary School. He has also run a charity event called “An Evening with Champions”, where the best figure skaters from around the world perform to raise money for the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Institute, which has raised more than $2.5 million over the last 35 years.
Dan has carried this enthusiasm over to his legal career at Nixon Peabody in Community Development Finance using tax credits, such as Historic Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits, to assist tax exempt entities in funding community revitalization projects, such as building affordable housing, developing low-income areas, and rehabilitating historic buildings. He is fortunate that Nixon Peabody and Matthew Lynch, Boston office Pro Bono Partner, have been extremely supportive of his participation in pro bono matters; something strongly encouraged of all attorneys and staff firm-wide.
Throughout the past three years, Dan has handled numerous tax exempt formation cases through the Lawyers Clearinghouse. When asked why he helps organizations like Green Future, Dan responded that, “most of the pro bono clients I work with are very passionate about their chosen tax exemption, and they just need some help and guidance in translating that enthusiasm into a legal entity/structure which they can build their organization around … in the end, it is very rewarding work.”
The Lawyers Clearinghouse is only as strong as its volunteer attorneys who take the time out of their busy schedules to assist others and the firms that support their work. Nixon Peabody attorneys and staff have a rich history of supporting the communities in which they live, beginning from their founding days, when William Rodman Peabody advised all young lawyers to give one third of their time to public service. From representing refugees fleeing persecution in their home countries to helping low income micro-entrepreneurs get their struggling businesses off the ground, their contributions are many and diverse.
Nixon Peabody LLP is recognized as a “Global 100″ law firm-one of the largest in the world. With 800 attorneys collaborating across major practice areas in 17 cities, including Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rochester, San Francisco, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC, the firm’s size, diversity, and advanced technological resources enable it to offer comprehensive legal services to individuals and organizations of all sizes in local, state, national, and international matters. Nixon Peabody LLP was recognized as one of FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies To Work For®” three years in a row. The firm has also been named to the Human Rights Campaign’s 2010 “Best Places To Work For LGBT Equality” list.
Thank you to Nixon Peabody and to Dan for his exceptional efforts on behalf of our clients.
Thank You John Ritchie
The Lawyers Clearinghouse is extremely grateful to John “Jay” Ritchie for his invaluable help the past few months. A recent graduate of Suffolk Law and newly admitted lawyer, Jay contacted the Clearinghouse in the fall to volunteer. In addition to Jay’s legal skills, we quickly noticed his IT background and asked him to assist us with some data base issues we were having. He graciously agreed and wasted no time in seeking out a new and improved data base system for us.
Thanks to Jay, we now have a modern, integrated system for all of our data which will enable us to collect and analyze that data much more efficiently.
Jay has also assisted with and taken on matters through the Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Thank you Jay!
