Legal Resources

The Council has full-time attorneys with a breadth of experience on staff. This team serves as a valuable resource to Council members, and is available to provide information on a wide range of topics that impact foundation operations.

On a regular basis, members of our Legal Team:

  • Field more than 150 inquiries per month from members,
  • Interpret murky areas of the law for the benefit of the field,
  • Present at academic and professional meetings on emerging legal topics,
  • Facilitate professional development trainings and workshops for foundation leadership and staff,
  • Review submissions for the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program, and
  • Provide guidance and education for the field to improve philanthropy.

The Council’s Legal Team maintains a number of resources with information on legal topics from ethics and accountability to grants management and public disclosure requirements.

Access Legal Resources


All information on this website, and all publications, articles, e-mail correspondence and telephone consultations provided by Council attorneys and legal staff are intended for informational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. Council attorneys are not licensed in every state and cannot provide legal representation. The information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax or other professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances, and may not be relied upon for the purposes of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code.

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