Duane L. Tarnacki

Member
Phone: (313) 965-8264
Fax: (313) 965-8252
JavaScript required
Save vCard

Areas of Practice
Corporate Law
Tax Exempt Organizations

Bar Admissions
Admitted to practice in State of Michigan

Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Notre Dame, 1980
M.B.A., with honors, University of Notre Dame, 1980
B.A., with high distinction and high honors, University of Michigan, 1976

Memberships
American Bar Association, Business Law Section Outstanding Nonprofit Attorney Award (2003)
Best Lawyers in America
Council on Foundations (Wash. DC), Legal Subcommittee of the Legal & Legislative Action Team
Detroit Renaissance, Business Contributions Council
Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt and Governmental Entities Council for the Great Lakes Area
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow
Michigan Super Lawyers (2008)
Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, Founding Director, Director and Secretary (1988-1996)
Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, founding member and former Executive Committee member
State Bar of Michigan
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in American Law

Duane L. Tarnacki's practice includes representing and advising tax-exempt organizations such as private foundations, community foundations, professional and trade associations, community development organizations, colleges and secondary schools, human service agencies, community mental health authorities and providers, museums, arts and cultural institutions, public libraries, and social, civic and religious groups. This involves a full range of services, including incorporation and qualification of new nonprofit organizations, advice about regulation by the Internal Revenue Service and state authorities, representation relating to general corporate matters and tax issues, including unrelated business taxable income, the preparation and administration of retirement plans and welfare benefit plans, and all aspects of organization and operations.

In his planned giving work, Mr. Tarnacki serves as legal counsel to the development offices of a number of large charitable institutions. He assists nonprofit clients in creating and maintaining planned-giving programs and facilitates planned gifts with donors on behalf of the organization. He also advises donors regarding charitable-giving options and analyzes income and estate tax implications.

Mr. Tarnacki was named recipient of the Outstanding Nonprofit Attorney Award for 2003 by the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Tarnacki is the author of Establishing a Charitable Foundation in Michigan (Council of Michigan Foundations, 1987; 1989; 1999; 2004), Law and Responsibilities: A Primer for Trustees, Directors and Officers of Michigan Private Foundations (1996), The Responsibilities of Service: A Guide for Directors of Nonprofit Organizations in Michigan (2007), and has co-authored The Michigan Community Foundation Legal Reference (1991; 1996; 2000). He frequently lectures on subjects ranging from estate planning aspects of charitable giving to officer and director liability issues.

Mr. Tarnacki is an officer and member of the governing board of the Detroit Historical Society.  He is also a Trustee and the Secretary of the Stratford Shakespear Festival of America. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Futures Foundation, a supporting organization to the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center for persons with disabilities.  He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Detroit Athletic Club Foundation.

Mr. Tarnacki is a founding director of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society and served as a Director and the Secretary for nine years (1988-1996). He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Thompson- McCully Foundation and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. He is a founding member, and served on the Executive Committee of the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan. He served as an officer and Trustee of the College for Creative Studies (1991-1996). Mr. Tarnacki has also served on the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Metropolitan Detroit Chapter (1990-1995) and the Board of Directors of the Accounting Aid Society (1990-1996). He is a contributing editor to the Michigan Nonprofit Management Manual.

Mr. Tarnacki is a member of the Internal Revenue Service's Tax Exempt and Governmental Entities Council for the Great Lakes Area. He also serves on the Washington, D.C.- based Council on Foundations' Legal Subcommittee of the Legal and Legislative Action Team.

Mr. Tarnacki is a member of the Business Contributions Council of Detroit Renaissance. He is a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and has served on its Legal Services Grants Committee (1991-1995). Mr. Tarnacki served as chairman of the Michigan Cancer Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Council (1991-1994).

Mr. Tarnacki serves as legal counsel to the City of Detroit's Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and is general counsel to the Detroit Economic Club.

Mr. Tarnacki is a graduate of Leadership Detroit XVI. While attending the University of Notre Dame, he was an Associate Editor on the Notre Dame Lawyer. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, Who's Who in American Law and in Who's Who in America.