Venable LLP‘s Nonprofit Organizations practice is the largest of its kind in the United States, advising more than 700 nonprofit clients ranging from leading national charities to influential trade and professional associations. Structured as a distinct nonprofit-focused practice rather than a traditional tax group, the team offers true one-stop shop for legal support across governance, tax, advocacy, fundraising, employment, IP, mergers, and regulatory compliance. The group is particularly noted for its work with public charities, private foundations, advocacy and social welfare organizations, and nonprofit entities in the entertainment sector. Based out of Washington DC, practice head George E Constantine specializes his practice exclusively on providing legal counseling and advocacy to nonprofit organizations and has represented Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) clients on a number of critical tax-exemption matters, including clients that are undergoing Internal Revenue Service examinations challenging their exempt status. Other key team members include DC-based Janice Ryan who provides expertise in lobbying and political compliance while New York-based Lindsay Nathan’s practices span tax exemption, political law, and high-profile advocacy.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Key clients
- The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- American Institutes for Research
- Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
- North American Veterinary Community
- Circular Action Alliance
- Association for Materials Protection and Performance
Work highlights
In early 2025, after Executive Orders aimed at ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs led the NIH to terminate related grants, a group of organizations sued to challenge the agency’s actions. Filed briefs on behalf of leading biological and biomedical research societies supporting the plaintiffs at all levels of the federal courts; the district court cited. Venable’s brief in its opinion, emphasizing the importance of diverse collaboration in maintaining US scientific leadership.
Represented the American Institutes for Research (AIR) in challenging the US Department of Education’s termination of four grants totaling nearly $60 million. Following Venable’s appeals before the Department’s Office of Hearings and Appeals, DoEd, and AIR entered into settlement negotiations and reached an agreement to reinstate all four awards.
Advised Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) on its corporate and global rebranding and continues to support the organization on a range of governance, corporate, and tax matters. Helped strengthen ethics and board systems, and it provides ongoing counsel for the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP)—a venture philanthropy initiative that has invested over $100 million in more than 50 biotech projects to advance blood cancer treatments.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
George Constantine
Other key lawyers
Janice Ryan; Lindsay Nathan; Ronald M. Jacobs; Meredith McCoy; Andrew Steinberg; Robert L. Waldman; Yosef Ziffer