The firm represents many of the largest private foundations in the State of Michigan. As the home to some of the most prominent private foundations in the country, our state plays a leading role on the national scene among organizations of this kind. One client, the Council of Michigan Foundations, is the largest regional association of grantmakers, and has wide-ranging influence among its peers.
Our attorneys participate in many workshops and educational activities sponsored by the Council. Duane L. Tarnacki is the author of four editions of Establishing a Charitable Foundation in Michigan, a widely used handbook for creating private foundations and public charities. In addition, Clark Hill attorneys have written numerous other publications and articles and lecture frequently on subjects of interest to private foundations and community foundations. Our work for private foundations has included general corporate advice and services, preparation or review of information returns, advice about self-dealing issues, the excess business holding rules and other prohibited transactions, negotiation of sales of blocks of securities, negotiation of financing transactions in connection with economic development grants, compliance with expenditure responsibility requirements, and addressing board member and volunteer liability concerns. We also have extensive experience in advising foundations on the legal aspects of alternative investments.