Non-Profit Organization Law

Legal Advice and Guidance for Michigan Tax-Exempt Organizations

Although non-profit organizations are businesses, they are quite different than their for-profit siblings. Non-profits are organized and governed under a different set of laws and regulations.

The non-profit lawyers of Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski, P.C. can help you formally organize and incorporate your non-profit entity and file for tax-exempt status with the IRS. The IRS regulations require specific language in your organizational documents, so pulling documents off the internet or using do-it-yourself kits is highly discouraged. The State of Michigan does not tell you when you have made a mistake, and you likely won't find out until many months down the road after you've submitted your tax-exempt forms to the IRS and they are rejected for errors. This can significantly delay your approval by the IRS, and cause issues with your solicitations and funding, including any grant requests, because many donors will not act until you are officially approved as tax-exempt.

Our non-profit attorneys can also advise board members, officers and executive directors regarding day-to-day activities; solicitations of donations; board governance; taxation; employment law; real estate; and major transactions to ensure that your non-profit organization does not jeopardize its tax-exempt status with the IRS.

Our Jackson, Michigan-based non-profit lawyers provide legal advice and guidance to many tax-exempt organizations locally and throughout mid-Michigan, including schools, church organizations, business and trade associations and mental health service organizations. Our attorneys Philip J. Curtis and Brad A. Brelinski are deeply involved in the non-profit community, volunteering and serving on the Boards of Directors of many area non-profits throughout the years. We have first-hand knowledge and experience that is essential to assisting your tax-exempt organization.

Non-Profit Legal Services in Jackson County

  • Non-Profit Formation and Incorporation
  • Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Board Policies and Procedures
  • Applications and Ongoing Compliance of IRS Tax-Exemption
  • Board Governance
  • Donor Solicitation Advice and Legal Compliance
  • Charitable Gift Planning
  • Taxation
  • Employment Law
  • Real Estate Law and Transactions
  • Business and Succession Planning
  • Business Transactions (Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Dissolutions)

For more information or to set up an appointment to speak to one of our non-profit attorneys, please call Curtis, Curtis & Brelinski at (517) 787-9481, email info@curtiscurtislaw.com, or complete our online contact form. Based in Jackson, we serve clients throughout mid-Michigan.