- Nonprofit Legal Services
Freeing nonprofits to focus on their mission while we handle the legal complexities.
- What We Do
At Lighthouse Legal, we provide a wide range of legal services for nonprofits, including public charities, private foundations, social clubs, and fraternities. Whether you’re starting a new nonprofit, navigating tax regulations, or need ongoing legal support, we’re here to help.
Comprehensive Legal Services for Nonprofits
Nonprofit Startups
We help you identify the best path to tax exemption, prepare your application, and secure your nonprofit’s tax-exempt status.
National
AG Complaints
We’ll help you respond to state inquiries and investigations so that you can get back to focusing on your mission.
Indiana, Ohio, Georgia
Employment Matters
Whether you’re bringing on your first employee, a remote employee, or having trouble with a current or former employee, we’re here to help.
Indiana, Ohio, Georgia
Corporate Structure
We advise on structuring your nonprofit to meet your goals, including forming subsidiaries or adjusting governance for tax purposes.
National
Tax Guidance
Get answers to federal tax questions and practical advice on managing potentially taxable activities.
National
Contracts
From vendor agreements to independent contractor templates, we’ll draft and review contracts to protect your nonprofit’s interests.
Indiana, Ohio, Georgia
Trademarks
We assist with applying for trademarks through the USPTO to protect your nonprofit’s branding.
National
Ongoing Guidance
For legal questions that don’t require a major project, we’re your go-to counsel for quick, reliable answers via email or phone.
National
Referrals & Collaboration
If a legal issue falls outside our skillset, we’ll guide you toward the right resources or refer you to a trusted local attorney.
National
Interested in working together? Let's talk.
Transparent Pricing, Always
At Lighthouse Legal, we believe in clear communication, not just in our legal advice, but also with out pricing.
No Pay-and-Wait: You won’t pay until your work begins, so we’re not tying up your funds while nothing is happening.
Hourly Rate: Our services are billed at a rate of $250 per hour. We encourage you to compare our pricing with others to see how we stack up!
No Add-On Fees: We believe in transparency, so no surprise fees like printing, technology fees, and credit card processing fees.
Clear Communication: We’ll clearly communicate the full cost and scope of your project upfront, so you always know what to expect.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you provide services?
Most of what we do can be provided no matter where your organization is located.
Representation for tax guidance, IRS inquiries, trademarks, and tax exemptions focus on federal law, so we assist organizations nationwide.
For other services, like responding to Attorney General investigations and reviewing contracts or corporate documents, we can only provide support for organizations operating in Indiana, Ohio and Georgia. However, we can provide you with templates for contracts of all kinds and for corporate documents in most states.
Why can’t we do anything for anyone? Attorneys can only practice law in the states where they are licensed, with limited exceptions. While each state usually has rules for multijurisdictional practice (known as MJP), the rules do not grant carte blanche to practice law nationwide. If you’re already a client of ours in Indiana, Ohio or Georgia, we can assist you in other states on a temporary basis on a broader range of matters.
What kind of clients do you work with?
Nonprofits of all types and sizes. Whether you are exempt under 501(c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(6) or (c)(7), or maybe you have no exemption at all, Lighthouse Legal has experience with your needs and can get you the guidance you need to get back to running your organization.
We also assist for-profit companies with nonprofit-related needs, from setting up a disaster fund for employees to answering questions about donations to a donor advised fund.
What’s included in the free consultation?
A no-cost conversation to discuss your legal needs, determine if we’re a good fit, and outline potential next steps.
Just shopping around? No problem! We think hiring the right attorney is just as important as hiring the right CFO. Use this opportunity to get familiar with us. If we aren’t a good fit, we’re always happy to point you in a better direction, if we can.
How do you handle ongoing legal questions?
Think of us like your “outside” general counsel. We give you ongoing guidance via email or phone, so you can get quick answers when you need them without committing to a major project. We also help you evaluate risk and help you decide when and how you need to respond to a potential legal liability. If we can’t handle your question, we’ll facilitate another attorney’s services at no charge, so you don’t have to spend time reading bios to find the right fit.
And, you’ll only ever pay for what you need. We would start with a retainer that works for your needs, usually $500 – $1,000. Then we bill against that for ongoing questions until you need to add more. That means no need to worry about an ongoing subscription or constantly paying invoices.
Discover our client-focused process, from start to finish.
1. Initial Consultation
Begin by scheduling a free consultation or submitting a request outlining your legal needs. We’ll respond promptly to determine if we can assist you and provide a clear estimate of any associated costs.
2. Project Begins
We’ll send you an engagement letter detailing the scope of services and pricing. We’ll then request a retainer to secure our services and ensure dedicated focus on your needs.
3. Communication
We maintain open communication throughout your project. If your legal needs evolve or require additional resources, we’ll provide timely updates and adjust pricing accordingly, ensuring you’re always informed and in control.
4. Project Completion
Upon completion of your project, any unused retainer funds will be promptly returned. You retain full ownership of all generated documents, and we’re always available to provide ongoing support should you need it in the future.