Shira Helstrom
Shira helps tax-exempt organizations stay tax exempt.

- Offices
- Phone
- Social
- vCard
Shira advises tax-exempt nonprofit organizations throughout their lifecycles. From formation and qualifying for tax exempt status through their ongoing operations, clients rely on Shira to help them structure and manage a wide range of operational, programmatic, and transactional matters consistent with requirements under the Federal tax laws and the state charitable and nonprofit laws. Shira is Vice Chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Committee of the American Bar Association Business Law Section and has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Legal 500 and as a “Next Generation Partner.” Shira speaks regularly on matters affecting tax-exempt organizations and also co-leads the Firm’s Nonprofits & Associations Industry Group.
Shira’ clients include public charities, private operating and grantmaking foundations, social welfare organizations, trade and professional associations and other tax-exempt organizations representing a broad range of industries, including medical and scientific research organizations, museums and cultural institutions, educational organizations, healthcare organizations, humanitarian organizations, standards development and certification organizations, “friends of” organizations, low-income and affordable housing organizations, corporate foundations, family foundations, supporting organizations, and advocacy organizations.
Shira advises regularly on issues such as unrelated business income tax, intermediate sanctions and self-dealing, lobbying and political campaign activities, fundraising and revenue generating activities (including cause-related marketing, corporate sponsorships, and online fundraising), complex grants, impact investments, executive compensation, excess business holdings, jeopardizing investments, and qualifying distributions. She also helps structure major corporate transactions involving tax exempt organizations, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, and forming affiliated nonprofit groups and for-profit subsidiaries in compliance with the unique requirements that apply to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.
Shira was on the Task Force that drafted the Revised Model Nonprofit Corporation Act and works with nonprofit boards on improving governance processes and discharging their fiduciary obligations. She also represents clients during IRS audits and investigations by state charity regulators.
Representative Matters
Federal Tax Compliance
- Advised Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) organizations on structuring and managing revenue generating activities to minimize unrelated business income tax and help mitigate risk to their tax-exempt status, including on developing and operating corporate sponsorship programs.
- Advised public charities and private foundations on the federal tax rules that apply to lobbying and political campaign activities both nationally and internationally, including holding trainings for program staff and grantees.
- Advised Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) on forming affiliated nonprofit organizations (including supporting organizations) and for-profit organizations, and on operating as an affiliated group consistent with their tax statuses. Accordion Toggle
Nonprofit Corporate Governance and Fiduciary Duties
- Advised charitable organizations on fiduciary obligations applicable to nonprofit officers and board members, including with respect to investing and managing investment assets and endowment funds pursuant to applicable Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Acts.
- Worked with nonprofit boards to improve governance processes and procedures, develop effective committee structures, modernize governing documents, and implement policies and procedures to better serve the needs and goals of the organizations.
- Assisted nonprofit organizations to reincorporate in different jurisdictions to help improve and simply governance structures without having to reply for tax-exempt status.
Corporate Transactions and Compliance with State Nonprofit Laws
- Advised nonprofit corporations on structuring mergers and acquisitions and on complex restructuring transactions, including obtaining private letter rulings from the IRS and consent from state charity regulators.
- Advised a non-US-based humanitarian organization on structuring options to develop a multi-national structure with a US-based affiliate.
- Advised standards-setting and certification organizations on forming, acquiring, and managing nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries, and structuring intercompany transactions in compliance with their respective tax-exempt classifications. Accordion Toggle
Publications
- Proposed Legislation Targets Nonprofits Supporting Immigrant Communities” (co-author) (Feb. 20, 2025)
- “Updated: Court Halts Trump Administration Order Pausing Government Grants; Trump Administration Rescinds OMB Memo” (co-author) (Jan. 28, 2025)
- “What Employers and Nonprofits Should Know About Trump’s Executive Order Banning Diversity Preferences” (co-author) (Jan. 23, 2025) Accordion Toggle
Presentations
- “Navigating the Complexities of Private Operating Foundations,” TEGE Annual Exempt Organizations Update and Meeting (Feb. 20, 2025)
- “Private Foundation: Excise Taxes,” 2025 DC Bar Tax Conference (Jan. 15, 2025)
- “UBIT Update and Case Studies,” Georgetown Law’s 41st Annual Representing and Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations Conference (Apr. 19, 2024) Accordion Toggle
Recognitions
Shira has been ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Tax and Not-For-Profit by The Legal 500, 2024.
-
-
Education
New York University School of Law, LL.M., 2010Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD, summa cum laude, 2008Muhlenberg College, BA, cum laude, 2000