Virtual Format of Legal Matters for Community Foundations!
Limited Size ensures peer interaction and direct question sessions.
Led by the Council on Foundations Staff Counsel, Ben McDearmon, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and regulations.
Workshop Hours
- Wednesday, November 17: 1:00-4:30p.m. ET
- Thursday, November 18, 1:00-4:30p.m. ET
Throughout the workshop, sessions will include
- Insight from Council's top-notch legal team that interacts with nearly 2,000 foundation leaders each year
- Trends spotted by our broader team, including National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations
- Timely, relevant take on the basics that informs day-to-day business decisions and operations
- Expertise to advance your knowledge of the organization's inner workings--from admin to governance, donor stewardship to grantmaking.
With each session, there will be time for questions and a deep exploration of the answers. This workshop is open to any board or staff member from any community foundation that is eager to dive into the legalities of our business model and unlock the truth to effective management and leadership of a community foundation.
Sample Agenda
(2 Day Virtual Series)
Specific topics will be defined in advance of the workshop as attendees begin to submit ideas, pressing issues, and assist with the defining of sessions. This event is designed to be time sensitive and relevant to current issues. The format will be discussion-oriented, question and answer-based learning alongside peer sharing.
DAY 1: Wednesday, November 17 — 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
- General Overview of new rules, regulations, and developments for CFs – Discuss latest new rules and regulations affecting community foundations.
- Topics will vary based on current events and attendee requests, but often cover topics such H.R. 3988 (universal deductions), CARES Act, Updated Charity Act, Tax Deductibility, UPMIFA and related public policy trends.
- Small Group Discussions & Deep Dives with Attorneys: Most common legal complexities facing community foundations – Assessing the most common inquiries from the field nationally, Council attorney Suzanne Friday will delve into pressing subjects and issues such as DAFs and permissble grantees, current laws and basic rules regulating DAFs, Notice 2017-73 regarding DAFs, and expenditure responisbility.
DAY 2: Thursday, November 18 — 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
- Trends and Challenges from the Field – Led by Council Lead Strategist for community philanthropy, Brad Ward, hear the trending narratives shaping conversations in board rooms as well as the most common challenges shared among community foundations.
- Small Group & Deep Dive with Attorneys: Most common legal complexities facing community foundations – Assessing the most common inquiries from the field nationally, Council attorney Suzanne Friday will delve into pressing subjects and issues such as scholarships, giving circles, corporate advised funds, variance power, and agency funds.
