Non-Profit Practice

Doyle & Nelson has significant experience providing legal and strategic planning services to non-profit and tax exempt organizations. Before the year 2007 is over, Jon Doyle will have presented at three major seminars in Maine on current legal issues affecting non-profit organizations. Both he and Craig Nelson are frequently called upon to consult on such issues. In an era when non-profits are increasingly active in providing services for Maine state government, we use our skills to facilitate their financial and legal dealings with State agencies.

Critical Legal Issues for Non-Profit and Tax-Exempt Organizations
It has been our experience in representing numerous non-profit organizations, that little or no attention is paid to the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the directors and to the need for both short and long-term strategic planning.

New Rules, New Requirements
As an example, many nonprofit organizations and their directors are still not aware that several years ago, the Maine Legislature enacted extensive amendments to Maine's nonprofit corporate laws-with many new requirements that must be complied with, either through operational plans and policies or through bylaw provisions. While engaging in a formal strategic planning process is an essential tool to provide the directors and administration of an organization with a roadmap for future operations and functions, we find that many organizations fail to do so.

Because we feel very strongly that sound organizational governance results from well-informed directors and regular strategic planning, Doyle & Nelson regularly conducts board/staff educational seminars and programs and provides strategic planning facilitation services for both non-profit and for-profit organizations of all sizes throughout Maine and Northern New England.