Experience

Saskia provides proactive counsel to help mission-driven organizations achieve their vision and successfully navigate and operate among federal and state requirements and restrictions. Her experience includes:

• Advises boards on governance and fiduciary responsibilities of directors and officers
• Structure multi-party collaborations among nonprofits with the same tax-exempt status or different tax-exempt statuses, and between nonprofits and for-profit entities; forms public-private partnerships
• Develops full suite of governance documents and operations policies and procedures
• Creates federal and state advocacy frameworks; advises on lobbying, political activities, ballot measures and election-year activities
• Provides counsel on all key stages in life cycle of organizations: forms nonprofit corporations and obtains tax-exempt status; creates fiscal sponsorships and affiliated organizations; prepares merger and dissolution materials
• Develops and negotiates collaboration agreements with all 50 states and with sovereign American Indian nations and Alaska Native corporations and communities
• Conducts preemptive legal audits to identify areas of noncompliance and risk
• Represents organizations in IRS and state Attorney General audits
• Provides counsel to businesses to create corporate giving programs and foundations that fulfill their goals of charitable intent, community involvement and effective marketing
• Counsels donors and recipients regarding grant-making, fundraising, and charitable solicitation registration
• Advises on risk management for organizations that provide services, conduct research, and collect and share de-identified and identifiable data
• Works with boards of tax-exempt organizations to develop strategic plan, define mission and establish benchmarks

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

• Named by Best Lawyers^® as Nonprofit / Charities Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Portland, 2023
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Nonprofit / Charities Law), 2022–2023
• Listed among Rising Stars (Nonprofit Law), Oregon Super Lawyers^®, 2008–2009
• Recipient of “Light a Fire Award” for Extraordinary Board Member from Portland Monthly magazine

Civic Activities

• Board Member, Portland Center Stage
• Board Member, James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation
• Recent Member, Council on Foundations Public Policy Committee
• Former Board Chair and Member of Board of Directors, Planned Parenthood Columbia/Willamette
• Past Member of Board of Directors, Creative Advocacy Network
• Former Member, Hillsboro Library Foundation Board of Directors
• Pro bono adviser for several nonprofit organizations

Insights & Presentations

Saskia has given several presentations on subjects related to tax-exempt organizations. She is a frequent presenter on hot topics related to the unique issues faced by nonprofits.

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