BIO

Specializing in the areas of corporate law and taxation, Bruce R. Hopkins’ emphasis is on the representation of nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations. His clients include charitable and educational organizations, associations, colleges, universities, hospitals, other health care providers, religious organizations, business and professional associations, and private foundations. Many nonprofit organizations retain Mr. Hopkins as general counsel; others use his services as special tax and/or fundraising counsel.

Nonprofit organizations work with Mr. Hopkins to establish and qualify for tax exemption and to establish and operate charitable and fundraising programs. Mr. Hopkins advises on matters such as public charity/private foundation qualification, intermediate sanctions, lobbying, political activities, the unrelated business income rules, and nonprofit involvement in partnerships and other joint ventures. Collateral areas of law, such as postal laws and charitable fundraising regulation, also come under Mr. Hopkins’ watchful eye.

Career Highlights

     Senior partner, Polsinelli Shughart PC, in its Kansas City. MO office

     Practicing nonprofit law for over 40 years

     Published books and newsletters on nonprofit and tax law issues 

     2007 Recipient of the Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer Award (Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award) American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Committee on Nonprofit Corporations

     Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Nonprofit Organizations, Charity Law, 2007-2011

     Nonprofit Counsel (newsletter) won a 2009 award from The Newsletter on Newsletters for best technical article (published in the September 2008 issue)

     AV Rated Martindale Hubbell

Activities

     American Bar Association, Past Chair, Committee on Exempt Organizations, Section on Taxation

     National Association of College and University Attorneys, Past Chair, Section of Taxation

Related Experience

     Presenter at many annual conferences and seminars

     Founder, The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations National Conference, PESI (12th annual in 2010)

     Past Chair (for 12 years), Georgetown University Law Center annual conference on Representing and Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations

     Professional Lecturer in Law, George Washington University National Law Center, 1972-1991

     Adjunct Professor, University of Kansas School of Law, 2008-present

Publications

Author or co-author of the following books: 

     The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations (9th ed. 2007; 2010 cumulative supplement)

     Planning Guide for The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations: Strategies and Commentaries (2004)

     The Tax Law of Charitable Giving (4th ed. 2010)

     The Law of Fundraising (4th ed. 2009)

     Nonprofit Governance: Law, Practices and Trends (2009) [with Virginia C. Gross]

     IRS Audits of Tax-Exempt Organizations: Policies, Practices and Procedures (2008) 

     Starting and Managing A Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide (5th ed. 2009)

     The New Form 990: Law, Policy and Preparation (2009) [with Douglas K. Anning, Virginia C. Gross, Thomas J. Schenkelberg]

     Private Foundations: Tax Law and Compliance (3rd ed. 2008; 2010 Cum. Supp.) [with Jody Blazek]

     The Law of Tax-Exempt Healthcare Organizations (3rd ed. 2008) [with Thomas K. Hyatt]

     Nonprofit Law for Religious Organizations: Essential Questions and Answers (2008) [with David O. Middlebrook]

     Nonprofit Law Made Easy (2005)

     Charitable Giving Law Made Easy (2006)

     Private Foundation Law Made Easy (2008)

     Fundraising Law Made Easy (2009)

     The Tax Law of Unrelated Business for Nonprofit Organizations (2005)

     The Tax Law of Associations (2006)

     The Nonprofits’ Guide to Internet Communications Law (2003)

     The Law of Intermediate Sanctions: A Guide for Nonprofits (2003) 

     650 Essential Nonprofit Law Questions Answered (2005)

     The Legal Answer Book for Private Foundations (2002) [with Jody Blazek]

     The Legal Answer Book for Nonprofit Organizations (1996)

     The Second Legal Anwer Book for Nonprofit Organizations (1999)

     The First Legal Answer Book for Fund-Raisers (2000)

     The Second Legal Answer Book for Fund-Raisers (2000)

     The Nonprofit Law Dictionary [out of print; to be reissued someday]

Author of the monthly newsletter, Bruce R. Hopkins’ Nonprofit Counsel

Education

     LL.M., Taxation, George Washington University National Law Center, 1971

     J.D., George Washington University National Law Center, 1967

     B.A., University of Michigan, 1964

Bar Admissions

     District of Columbia, 1969

     Missouri, 1999