Sasser Sefton Tipton & Davis

Although our firm is located in Montgomery, Alabama, our Community Action, Head Start, and Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group works with organizations across Alabama, around the Southeast, and throughout the United States.  With almost 50 years of combined experience, the members of Sasser, Sefton, Tipton & Davis, P.C.'s Nonprofit Practice Group have a deep understanding of nonprofit organizations and their needs.  Our clients range from Community Action Agencies, Head Start programs, and other grant-funded entities, to trade groups, professional societies, and homeowners' associations, and include both long-established, multi-million dollar public charities as well as newly formed organizations.

Overview of Services

Our Nonprofit Practice Group provides diverse legal, management consulting, training, and technical assistance services, to nonprofit organizations.  The members of our Nonprofit Practice Group represent and advise nonprofit organizations throughout the United States in the areas of general nonprofit law, contracts, corporate governance, federal and state grants, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, litigation, labor and employment law, private fundraising, real estate, taxation, and regulatory compliance.  Our services include:

• Formation and Incorporation Services (Initial Articles and By-Laws)
• Amending and Updating Articles and By-Laws
• Preparation of Application for Recognition of Tax Exemption (IRS)
• Review of IRS Information Returns (Form 990 Series)
• Contracts (Preparation and Review)
• Corporate Law and Governance
• Employee Handbooks and Personnel Manuals (Preparation and Revision)
• Operating Policies and Procedures (Preparation and Revision)
• Conflict of Interest Policies and Codes of Ethics
• Whistleblower and Anti-Retaliation Policies
• Legal Representation of Federal and State Grantees
• Training and Technical Assistance (Federal and State Grant Requirements)
• Lobbying and Political Activities
• Block Grants
• Community Action Law
• Affordable Housing Development (Legal Representation and Consulting)
• Head Start Law
• Litigation (General and Employment-Related in State and Federal Court)
• Real Estate (Acquisition, Disposition, and Development)
• Planned Giving Techniques
• Compliance and Legal Liability Audits
• Federal and State Monitoring Reviews and Audits (Preparation and Response)
• Federal and State Administrative Proceedings
• Debarment and Suspension
• Taxation (UBIT, Withholding, Intermediate Sanctions, Etc.)

Additional Services for Nonprofits

Our Nonprofit Practice Group's services extend well beyond the traditional services of drafting documents, solving specific problems, and counseling nonprofits on broader legal topics.  In addition to providing the full range of general legal services to nonprofit organizations, the members of the Community Action, Head Start, and Nonprofit Practice Group offer consulting in the areas of governance, management, and funding; conduct training and provide technical assistance for nonprofits; perform legal liability audits and facilitate self-assessments of grant-funded entities and other nonprofits; prepare grant-funded entities for monitoring reviews and assist in responding to monitoring findings; and regularly represent nonprofits in administrative appeals, enforcement actions, and litigation.

Nonprofit Governance, Management, and Funding

Our Practice Group's members regularly work with nonprofit organizations on issues concerning federal grant program requirements, funding, corporate governance, taxation, human resources, lobbying and political activities, and almost every other significant issue that nonprofits confront.

Training and Technical Assistance

The Practice Group's attorneys frequently conduct training seminars for nonprofit board members, management, and staff, and can develop custom training modules to meet an organization's individual needs.  In addition to training, the members of the Community Action, Head Start, and Nonprofit Practice Group provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations through the creation and revision of policies and procedures (such as operations manuals and employee handbooks), the establishment and enhancement of legal compliance systems, and consultation in implementing key policies, procedures, and legal requirements.

Legal Liability Audits and Technical Assistance in Preparation for Monitoring Reviews

Complementing the Practice Group’s training services, our assessment services are designed to assist nonprofits in determining their compliance with federal and state grant requirements as well as general legal requirements.  The Practice Group's assessment services are also designed to assist nonprofits in preparing for funding source monitoring reviews and program audits and in conducting their own self-assessments.  By performing legal liability audits and assisting with self-assessments, the Practice Group's members help nonprofits determine their levels of compliance and identify weaknesses.  The Practice Group's members then help organizations develop and implement corrective actions before funding sources conduct their monitoring reviews and before other legal issues arise.  If necessary, the Practice Group's attorneys also assist the organizations in responding to reviews or other findings. The goal is to provide an independent assessment of an organization's compliance with legal requirements and to develop any necessary solutions to enhance compliance and avoid legal problems, including enforcement actions by funding sources or regulators.

Enforcement Actions, Administrative Appeals, and Litigation

Finally, our Practice Group's members represent nonprofit organizations in enforcement actions, administrative appeals, and litigation at the state, regional, and federal levels.  Our Practice Group's experience includes regular representation of grant-funded entities before state funding sources as well as before the Departmental Appeals Board of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies.

Related Practice Areas

General Business
Litigation
Estate Planning and Probate

Attorney Contacts

For additional information about our Firm's services for non-profits, please contact Robert E. Sasser or R. Brian Tipton.