I am passionate about helping nonprofit organizations reach their philanthropic goals. Having worked at a nonprofit as in-house counsel, I am able to understand issues from a client’s perspective.

Bio

With experience practicing tax law as in-house and outside counsel, Melanie offers her clients a unique well-rounded perspective on both the legal and business operational issues that arise.

Her practice focuses on representing nonprofit organizations in a wide array of areas. She has formed and secured tax-exempt status for complex organizations, including charter schools, museums, religious-based entities, educational centers, private foundations, and public charities with various missions. She has represented nonprofit organizations in tax-exempt bond financing transactions, sponsorship agreements, complex grant and subgrant negotiations, and expansions into new mission-driven activities. Boards of directors rely on her to guide them through sensitive, complicated issues regarding financial statements, lobbying compliance, treatment of revenues and expenses, compensation, and disclosure of items on annual returns.

Melanie also handles tax issues on behalf of her clients. Her experience includes drafting partnership and LLC agreements, structuring complex organizational arrangements, and advising on transactional tax planning. She has guided clients through complicated real estate transactions, including like-kind exchanges, tax credits deals, and public bond financing. Her clients trust her to lead them through planned giving options in trusts, wills, and family limited liability partnerships.
 

  • Colorado Bar Association
    • Executive Council, 2018-2020
  • Colorado Nonprofit Association
  • Colorado Nonprofit Development Center
    • Board of Directors, 2023
  • Law Week Colorado's 2022 Barrister's Best Nonprofit Lawyer
  • Albert E. Arent Pro Bono Award 2010
  • SOME (So Others Might Eat) Volunteer Award 2011
  • “Formation and Governance of a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation,” A Primer on Advising Nonprofit Organizations in Colorado Event, Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (August 31, 2022)
  • "Collecting for Philanthropy", Denver Art Museum (January 31, 2023)
  • Represented the Denver Art Museum in a merger with the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. Read more about the merger here
  • Successfully represented C4 in the acquisition of Lake County Solar Garden.

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