Tax Exempt Organizations
Nonprofits and exempt organizations are focused on delivering upon their mission, however complicated regulations dictate every structure of their life-cycle. It’s crucial nonprofits know how to stay in compliance with government rules and regulations. Our attorneys understand the important work these organizations provide and realize they can ease the burden of compliance.
We work with public charities, private foundations, social service organizations, and family trusts from their inception – preparing organizational documents and tax exempt applications – through ongoing maintenance and daily operations. Specifically, services include:
- Incorporation and corporate structures
- Nonprofit board governance
- Mandatory filings
- IRS issues
- Tax-exemption applications
- Legal audits
- Charitable solicitation registration
- State and local tax matters
- Charitable gifts and fundraising
- Unrelated business income tax (UBIT)
- Employment
- Investment and endowment policies
- Reasonable compensation
Our lawyers also counsel section 501(c)(3) organizations in fundraising and donor-related activities, providing advice on matters such as:
- Compliance with charitable solicitation laws
- Availability of income tax deductions for donors, and substantiation requirements
- Creation of donor advised funds, field of interest funds and endowment funds
- Creation of charitable remainder and lead trusts
- Creation of gifts annuities and pooled income funds
Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services. A full-service law firm, over 45 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.
Posted on November 15, 2022 by Shanna N. Yonke
In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote a blog post on how to create a valid will in Wisconsin. At the time, we were all stuck at home by government order, and many clients signed their wills without a notary public. Signing a will without a notary public was a short-term fix during […]
Posted on September 22, 2022 by Ashley L. Hawley
My husband just recently opened a new account at one of those online, do-it-yourself, investment companies. He promises that with the tiny amount of money I was willing to allow him to experiment with that he will make us tons of money. After he got the account set up, he asked me to sit beside […]
Posted on June 21, 2022 by Shanna N. Yonke
One of the most common questions asked by our clients is, “What is the difference between a will and a trust, and which is right for me?” Last week, I provided a brief summary of the differences between these two common estate planning tools in a vlog. You can view the vlog here. In this […]
Posted on February 23, 2022 by Shanna N. Yonke
Spring officially begins on March 20th – less than one month away. In Wisconsin, that means wedding planning is in full swing. One important item on many wedding planning to-do lists is a pre-nuptial agreement. We hear a lot about “pre-nups” in pop culture. One of the most iconic pop culture references is in the […]
Posted on February 22, 2022 by Aric D. Burch
Wendell knew he needed a financial power of attorney document in order to make sure he named someone to manage his finances and take care of his business if he was ever unable to do so on his own. However, Wendell was busy and didn’t want to take the time or spend the money to […]
Posted on February 14, 2022 by Ruder Ware Estate Planning Attorneys
You likely are aware, from the news and our prior communications, that Congress currently is considering proposals that may have a significant impact on many estate plans. Although we still cannot be certain which, if any, of the proposed changes will become law, we want to provide you with an overview of their potential effect […]
Posted on December 13, 2021 by Ashley L. Hawley
Drafting an estate plan allows a person to put into writing their wishes for division of assets upon death. Sometimes this means making a choice to give more to one child over the other, or to completely write out natural heirs of law. An uncle whose nephew is like a son to him may bypass […]
Posted on November 22, 2021 by Shanna N. Yonke
Last week, I provided a brief overview of the gift tax in a vlog. You can view the vlog here. In this blog post, I’ll expand on basic gift tax concepts, just in time to make your holiday gifts. What is the gift tax? Basically, the gift tax is a tax imposed on the gratuitous […]
Posted on September 20, 2021 by Linda M. Danielson
So you’ve received an inheritance and you’re married. The person who left you the inheritance probably intended for it to benefit you, not your spouse, if you get divorced. How do you protect the inheritance? Wisconsin law provides limited protection. Under Wisconsin’s Marital Property Act, which governs the classification of assets during marriage and on […]
Posted on September 1, 2021 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Estate planning is a process that must be customized to fit each individual’s unique situation. Each individual has their own priorities and issues to address. The priorities and issues for an unmarried individual are often different than those for married couples. Some of the common priorities and issues that arise in estate planning for unmarried […]
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