Karen Leaffer Joins Colorado Secretary of State Advisory Committee
May 2nd, 2013 in Uncategorized

Karen Leaffer joined the Colorado Secretary of State Advisory Committee as the nonprofit, tax-exempt organization representative. The Advisory Committee, comprised of experts in areas of law that are under the Secretary of State’s authority, focuses on issues that affect the filings and substantive law that governs the activities of the Secretary of State’s Office.

Karen Leaffer published in Law Week Colorado on Helping Nonprofits Survive IRS Backlog
April 26th, 2013 in Uncategorized

Karen Leaffer’s article on the IRS backlog of applications for 501(c)(3) status—and the resulting implications for new organizations in the interim—was published in the April 25 edition of Law Week Colorado. The article focuses on explaining the current situation at the IRS, and emphasizes the importance of communicating with clients to set expectations. It also provides some options for organizations to consider as a contingency plan while they await an IRS determination.

Becky Seidel joins Levitt Pavilion Denver Board
April 16th, 2013 in Uncategorized

Becky Seidel joins Levitt Pavilion Denver Board

Becky Seidel has joined the board of Friends of Levitt Pavilion Denver. The organization is helping to create an outdoor pavilion in Denver’s Ruby Hill Park that will be home to 50 free concerts a year. Levitt Pavilion Denver will provide  opportunities for people to experience a variety of different music, with performances by local, national and international musicians. A press conference to announce the project is planned for Monday, April 22, at 2:30 in Ruby Hill Park. Visit the Levitt Pavilion Denver website to learn more about this exciting community project!

Becky Seidel Named a 2012 Up-and-Coming Lawyer by Law Week Colorado
November 6th, 2012 in Uncategorized

Becky Seidel Named a 2012 Up-and-Coming Lawyer by Law Week Colorado

Law Week Colorado selected Leaffer Law Group attorney Becky Seidel as one of nine up-and-coming lawyers for 2012.  Lawyers practicing for five or fewer years were nominated by their professional colleagues.  One of Becky’s accomplishments that led to this selection includes leading the firm’s efforts in emerging areas of law important to nonprofit organizations and charitably minded companies such as social enterprise, program-related investments, and advocacy and political activity. In addition to being a valuable resource in these emerging areas, Becky focuses on fundamental taxation, corporate and charitable giving matters that impact nonprofit organizations.

Becky is managing editor of the firm’s nonprofit law blog and a contributing author to the Guide for Colorado Nonprofit Organizations.  For the National Scholarship Providers Association,  she co-authored three sections in The Scholarship Providers Toolkit, and presented  on “The Big Picture: Legal Considerations for Scholarship Providers,” focusing on a variety of key issues including requirements for donor-advised funds, reporting and withholding obligations, and record retention and document security considerations. Becky serves on the Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable’s Brown Bag Committee, a role she has played for the last two years.

Karen Leaffer and Becky Seidel Presenting at NSPA Event
October 10th, 2012 in Uncategorized

Karen Leaffer and Becky Seidel Presenting at NSPA Event

Karen Leaffer and Becky Seidel will present at the National Scholarship Providers Association’s annual conference in Austin, Texas, on October 18. Their session, “The Big Picture: Legal Considerations for Scholarship Providers,” will focus on a variety of key issues including requirements for donor-advised funds, reporting and withholding obligations, and record retention and document security considerations. This is the third straight year that the firm has presented at the conference.