Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit organizations are an integral part of our social fabric. They help shape our society and make an important contribution toward improving many people’s lives – whether with assistance for families or the elderly or through charities, cultural institutions, or sports associations. As the State increasingly withdraws from many areas of social assistance, nonprofits are steadily gaining in importance. At least nonprofit organizations can get financial assistance from the State – provided they play by the rules.
Nevertheless, nonprofits have to rely more and more on commercial activity to finance their social missions. A customer orientation, cost-effectiveness, and competition pose new challenges for their understanding of themselves and their organizational structures, not to mention the many legal hurdles. From founding to financing to carrying out individual projects, nonprofits face many specific issues: How should their charters be drafted to meet the legal requirements for foundations and nonprofits? How to ensure that funds are applied properly? What about restructuring processes and cooperative agreements? The answers must comply with the applicable laws on nonprofits and taxation, and keep pace with their dynamic evolution. We’ve specialized in developing and implementing practical solutions with you.
Our services at a glance
- Audits of single-entity and consolidated annual financial statements
- Audits of workshops for the disabled
- Audits to the specific requirements of associations
- Reviews of proper management under the Budget Principles Act
- Audits of use of funds in a nonprofit context
- Audits of the use of donations and grants received
- Ongoing tax returns, including calculation of reserves permissible for nonprofits, and assistance with tax audits
- Documentation of prompt utilization of funds (fund use accounting)
- Expert opinions on individual questions of nonprofit law
- Tax-optimized organization of restructuring processes and cooperative arrangements
- Advising on threatened loss of nonprofit status
- Drafting charters and coordination with regulators
- Specific contracts and ongoing consulting; expert opinions on legal issues
- Advising on succession using foundation models, including double foundations, as well as (nonprofit) family foundations
- Representation in and out of all levels of the tax courts