Ice Miller lawyers actively advise a number of nonprofits, large and small, on their corporate and governance issues, and regularly attend board meetings, serving as a legal and business resource to the board and executive staff. Our team advises on governing documents, committee charters and enabling resolutions, conflicts of interest policies, issues of board/staff relations, appropriate delegation and accountability, board and staff succession plans, director and officer indemnification and insurance, and other governance related matters. Our clients benefit from our active monitoring of industry trends and legislative activity.
Ice Miller advises colleges and universities, private schools, hospitals, scientific organizations, foundations, social service organizations, and other nonprofit organizations. Our efforts include:
- Adopting proactive governance policies that reasonably balance the necessity of corporate compliance with the expense of managing that compliance in the following areas: conflicts of interest, whistleblower, document retention and destruction, negotiation and documentation of joint ventures, business expense reimbursements, and gift acceptance policies;
- Implementing a grants process and infrastructure;
- Assessing board structure and the working relationship and responsibilities of the board of directors and board committees versus those of the administrative staff;
- Implementing internal governance principles and procedures to supplement the organizational documents and provide direction to the board and executive staff;
- Reviewing and refining the roles and responsibilities of committees and drafting committee descriptions and charters;
- Explaining and assisting with the adoption of conflict resolution procedures and excess benefit transaction policies;
- Implementing planned giving vehicles and charitable giving programs; and
- Educating the board with respect to endowment management, recommending and drafting investment policies, and providing legal and tax analysis with respect to investment strategies.
