Scholz Nonprofit Law focuses exclusively on providing high quality, affordable legal and strategic
advice to tax-exempt or social enterprise organizations.

Specific areas of counsel include:

Start-up or Wind-down

• identifying optimal legal structure and tax status for proposed activities
• creating articles of incorporation and bylaws
• evaluating fiscal sponsorship options
• advising on registration with State authorities
• assisting with merger or dissolution

Governance

• guiding organizations or directors through governance issues
• preparing and revising bylaws and governance policies
• structuring affiliated organizations, particularly between 501c3, 501c4s, and 501c6s

Tax-Exemption

• obtaining federal tax-exempt status, primarily under Section 501(c)(3), and 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code
• advising on state and local sales and property tax exemption issues
• explaining rules and responsibilities related to tax-exemption
• assisting with annual filing obligations
• evaluating public support requirements
• guiding private foundation compliance

Business Transactions

• preparing and negotiating business agreements
• structuring business transactions involving nonprofits and for-profits
• helping clients navigate relationships between 501(c)(3) organizations and other affiliated tax-exempt or non-exempt entities
• evaluating and identifying strategic direction

Specialized Regulatory Issues
Including the regulation of:

• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and nonprofit loan funds
• Advocacy and political work
• IRS political activity audit
• Program related investments
• Health care organizations

Melissa often works collaboratively with other attorneys. If specific needs arise outside of her areas of expertise, she helps her clients identify other attorneys to address these issues. She works with an array of small-firm and big-firm lawyers, both in Wisconsin and Washington DC, to address all of a client’s legal needs.