Counsel for the board, the budget, and the mission.
Executive directors and boards get the governance, compliance, and contract counsel a larger organization would keep in-house — at a cost a nonprofit can actually plan for.
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How we help
Board Governance
Bylaws, resolutions, minutes, conflict-of-interest and gift-acceptance policies — kept current, so the board stays protected.
Compliance Reviews
A structured legal review of your filings, policies, and obligations — with a prioritized roadmap your board can act on.
Formation & Tax-Exempt Status
501(c)(3) formation and federal exemption, structured correctly from day one.
Grant & Funding Agreements
Funder agreements, restricted-gift terms, sponsorships, and fiscal-sponsorship arrangements reviewed before you sign.
Employment & Executive Matters
Executive compensation done by the book — comparables, board approval, documentation — plus employment and volunteer policies.
Strategic Transactions
Mergers, affiliations, program expansions, and leadership transitions — counsel in the room while they’re still decisions.
Most nonprofit matters are handled on flat-fee or defined-scope engagements. Every fee is confirmed in writing before work begins.
The governance layer, not a filing mill
We handle the decisions and documents where legal judgment matters — and refer commodity filings to right-sized providers.
Confidential from the start
Your information is protected and reviewed under a preliminary conflict check.
The Foundation Launch Path
Starting a private foundation
For families and founders creating a grantmaking foundation, the legal step is one defined engagement — formation through the federal exemption application, handled end to end.
Private Foundation Formation & 1023 Exemption
One defined-scope legal engagement that takes a private foundation from intention to a filed federal exemption application — formed correctly from day one.
flat fee
- Nonprofit corporation formed with the purpose and dissolution provisions the IRS requires
- Bylaws and conflict-of-interest policy drafted for a family-governed board
- EIN obtained and organizational minutes prepared
- Form 1023 exemption application prepared and filed
- IRS correspondence handled through the determination letter
- Coordinated handoff to the administrator of your choice at launch
Formation is the legal step of a broader launch path. Foundation administration after formation — governance operations, grants management, and the compliance calendar — is available from Meridian Philanthropic, an affiliated philanthropic services firm.
Established nonprofits that need the board office run rather than counsel — governance operations, compliance coordination, and funder reporting — are served by Meridian Philanthropic as well; their legal matters stay with this firm.
Written Disclosure
Meridian Philanthropic is a philanthropic services firm owned by this firm’s founder. It is not a law firm, and its administration, governance-operations, and advisory services are not legal services. Where a client engages both firms, the client agreement states which services are legal services provided by this firm and which are not, and you are always free to engage any counsel or any administrator you choose — or none at all.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Every engagement begins with a conflict check and a written engagement agreement — no work starts before both are complete.
The IRS user fee and state filing fees are additional and are confirmed with you before filing.
The published flat fee is effective as of July 7, 2026 and will be honored for at least 30 days from that date.