2025

Nonprofit Organizations Fundamentals

PRESENTED BY
The University of Texas School of Law
Philanthropy Southwest

Austin Jan 22, 2025 Four Seasons Hotel
$325 Individual | $375 after Jan 8

$295 Group rate per person (5 registrants minimum) | $345 after Jan 8

$260 Group rate per person (10 registrants minimum) | $310 after Jan 8

Register

Overview

The 2025 Nonprofit Organizations Fundamentals is the perfect overview for new entrants and seasoned practitioners in the field, with focused attention on core issues for both private foundations and charitable organizations, as well as opportunities to ask questions of experts and colleagues.

Continue on for the 42nd Annual Nonprofit Organizations Institute for two full days of nationally recognized experts from private foundations, public charities, law, finance and government discussing the latest tax, legislative and governance issues affecting nonprofit organizations.

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Wednesday Afternoon, Jan. 22, 2025
This agenda is still in development. Updates to topics and speakers will be posted as available.
1:00 pm

Registration Opens

Includes light refreshments.
1:50 pm

Welcoming Remarks
2:00 pm

1.00 hr

Texas Nonprofit Basics (Part 1): Entity Formation, Governance, and Fiduciary Duties

A discussion about the types of entities that can be used to carry out nonprofit activities and the factors that should be considered when selecting among them. Recognizing that nonprofit corporations typically are the most appropriate choice, the panelists explain the role of a Board of Directors and offer suggestions for how to determine whether individual directors are abiding by their fiduciary duties.

Katherine E. David, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC - San Antonio, Texas
Elaine Sommerville, Sommerville & Associates, P.C. - Arlington, TX
3:00 pm

1.00 hr

Texas Nonprofit Basics (Part 2): Regulatory and Tax-Related Essentials

Deepen your understanding of essential regulatory and tax issues for Texas nonprofits. This session covers critical compliance considerations, including franchise and property taxes, sales tax exemptions, UBIT basics and proactive steps to manage fundraising and event-related risks.

Kurt Coburn, Blazek & Vetterling - Houston, TX
Genevra Williams, Mendrygal Law, PLLC - Dallas, TX
4:00 pm

15-Minute Break
4:15 pm

1.00 hr

Federal Organization and Compliance for Nonprofits (Part 1): The Do’s and Don’ts for Obtaining Tax-Exempt Status

Learn what nonprofit organizations need to know to qualify for recognition of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Topics also include an overview of the application process, the different basis for obtaining exemption, and the different types of tax-exempt organizations from an attorney and accountant perspective. Learn about when it may be necessary from a liability standpoint to set up another entity.

Neely D. Duncan, Forvis Mazars, LLP - Dallas, TX
Nykolas McKissic, Holland & Knight LLP - Dallas, TX
5:15 pm

1.00 hr

Federal Organization and Compliance for Nonprofits (Part 2): Maintaining Tax-Exempt Status

Explore a high-level overview of the general compliance requirements in connection with maintaining tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, touch upon certain on-going federal and state-level reporting obligations, baseline operational and technical requirements, and governance practices.

Susanna Blackmon, Blazek & Vetterling - Houston, TX
Hamish Nieh, Fizer Beck - Houston, TX
6:15 pm

Adjourn to Networking Reception (6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.)

Join us for a networking opportunity with faculty and colleagues.

Download Schedule

Planning Committee

Megan E. Bell

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
New York, NY

Jonathan S. Blum

Holland & Knight LLP
Dallas, TX

Lucille DiDomenico

DiDomenico Group
Dallas, TX

Mallory Driggers

Philanthropy Southwest
Dallas, TX

Karey Dubiel Dye

Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
Houston, TX

Joyce Hellums

Ernst & Young LLP
Austin, TX

Tomer Inbar

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
New York, NY

Joanna Jefferson

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Andrea L. March

Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid
Austin, TX

Danika H. Mendrygal

Mendrygal Law, PLLC
Dallas, TX

Darren B. Moore

Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C.
Fort Worth, TX

Norman E. Nabhan

Graystone Consulting
Houston, TX

Jeffrey E. Sher

Fizer Beck
Houston, TX

Nicola Fuentes Toubia

Fuentes Toubia, PLLC
Houston, TX

Kay Walther

Blazek & Vetterling
Houston, TX

Maura L. Whelan

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
New York, NY

Eric Wynn

Philanthropy Southwest
Dallas, TX

Credit Info

Austin

MCLE Credit

Texas – 4.00 hrs
Legal Specialization(s): Expected for Estate Planning and Probate Law, Expected for Tax Law

You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.

California – 4.00 hrs

You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

New York – Available Via Reciprocity – 4.00 hrs

As The University of Texas School of Law is a Oklahoma Bar Association presumptively approved MCLE provider (#169), and Oklahoma is a New York Approved Jurisdiction on List A, our courses are approved for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour, and in accordance with the Program Rules and the Regulations and Guidelines of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board. More information and details can be found at Section 6 of the Regulations and Guidelines (PDF).

You must claim and certify your credit online in your UTCLE "Briefcase", and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. Self-report your CLE credit directly to the New York State Bar Association. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Oklahoma – 5.00 hrs

You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.

Pennsylvania – 4.00 hrs

UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed and submit. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Other States – 4.00 hrs

Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State

If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records and to provided to other licensing authorities as needed.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other Credit

National Accounting CPE – 4.50 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Delivery Method: Group-Live (UT Law CLE is a provider of NASBA Group-Live credit only, which excludes online offerings. If you need Accounting credit in any state other than Texas, please review the self-reporting guidelines on the NASBA website to confirm your ability to self-report credit from the live webcast.)

To comply with NASBA Standards, attendees claiming CPE credit must sign in to verify attendance for each segment. Attendance sign-in sheets will be available at the registration desk. You will need your CPA license number to sign in. A CPE Certificate of Completion will be provided at the conclusion of the conference.

Reporting: CPAs are responsible for reporting CPE credits earned to their state's accountancy board, and must retain appropriate documentation of their participation in learning activities. Visit your state’s reporting website for more information or www.nasba.org.

TX Accounting CPE – 4.50 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Jan 22, 2025 – Four Seasons Hotel

Austin

Individual
Last day for $275.00 Early Bird pricing: Sep 13, 2024
Last day for $325.00 Regular pricing: Jan 8, 2025

$375.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $245.00 Early Bird pricing: Sep 13, 2024
Last day for $295.00 Regular pricing: Jan 8, 2025

$345.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $210.00 Early Bird pricing: Sep 13, 2024
Last day for $260.00 Regular pricing: Jan 8, 2025

$310.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Jan 15, 2025

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Jan 17, 2025

Venue

Four Seasons Hotel

98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701-4082
512-478-4500 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

Details for booking in our dedicated room block at Four Seasons Austin will be included in your conference registration confirmation email.

Parking Information

Daily self-parking: $22
Daily valet: $25
Overnight valet parking: $60

Additional Information

The conference will take place in the Four Seasons Ballroom located on the lake level of the hotel.