Attorneys

Gregory L. Colvin

PRINCIPAL

Education

• A.B., magna cum laude, political science, University of Washington, 1968; Phi Beta Kappa
• J.D., Yale Law School, 1971; Yale Law Journal

Areas of Practice

Mr. Colvin's practice includes political and lobbying activities of nonprofit organizations, fiscal sponsorship, donor advised funds, anonymous giving, grantmaking, and other issues that arise between individual donors and charities.

Prior Experience

From 1973 to 1976, Mr. Colvin was an attorney in the Seattle Regional Office of the Federal Trade Commission.

Professional Affiliations

Mr. Colvin is Co-Chair of the Subcommittee on Political and Lobbying Organizations and Activities of the Exempt Organizations Committee of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association.

He is also general nonprofit counsel to Toastmasters International, the worldwide public speaking organization, and to Community Initiatives, a leading regional fiscal sponsor based in San Francisco.

Publications

• Mr. Colvin is the author of over twenty articles in Tax Notes and the Journal of Taxation of Exempt Organizations, on the subject of nonprofit lobbying and political activities.
• Contributing author, CEB's text Advising California Nonprofit Corporations
• How to Set Up and Maintain an Action Fund Affiliated with a Charity, co-author, Taxation of Exempts, 2004
• IRS Gives Christian Coalition Green Light for New Voter Guides, Tax Notes Vol.109/No. 8, Page 1093, November 21, 2005
• Fiscal Sponsorship: Six Ways To Do It Right, The Exempt Organization Tax Review 604, 1993 - To obtain a copy of Mr. Colvin's book on fiscal sponsorship (Second Edition, 2005) and for updated information, visit www.fiscalsponsorship.com.

Speaking and Teaching

Mr. Colvin has presented numerous seminars on the IRS political and lobbying rules, fiscal sponsorship, and anonymous giving. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management.

Bar Admissions

Mr. Colvin is a member of The California State Bar Association and The San Francisco Bar Association.

Mr. Colvin is admitted to the bar in the states of California and Washington.

Back to top