Working with Government

Developed for the Council on Foundations by Christopher J. Armstrong, Partner at Holland & Knight Congress’s power to conduct inquiries, including information requests, the issuance of subpoenas, and public hearings has long been recognized by the courts as part of Congress’s power to…

This page outlines the range of purposes that qualify an organization for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It explains how the IRS and courts interpret key terms — especially "charitable" — and how those interpretations shape eligibility. Permissible Exempt…

On May 9, the House Ways and Means Committee released initial legislative text of the tax bill to be marked up this week. The Committee is expected to release a revised and more substantive bill Monday afternoon, so the provisions below could be modified and are subject to change. Individual…

Self-Defense Exception: A legislative proposal to modify the private foundation excise tax on net investment income under IRC section 4940 would qualify as a self-defense issue, because it affects a private foundation’s duties. Private foundations may therefore communicate with the legislature, its…

It is extremely rare for an organization to lose its tax-exempt status. When it happens, it's typically the end result of a three-step process: (1) The IRS conducts an examination of the tax-exempt organization; (2) the IRS issues a letter to the organization proposing revocation; then (3) the…