Frannie Reilly
Represents nonprofits, government organizations, and private agencies in public finance, nonprofit, and ESG matters. Advises on bonds, borrowing, tax-exempt status, and sustainability.
See full profileCharitable and Nonprofit
Nonprofit organizations need counsel who understands both the purpose they serve and the legal structure that sustains it. We help nonprofits make legally sound decisions as they grow, adapt, and pursue new opportunities.
Our focus
Legal strategy that strengthens the organization behind the mission
Nonprofit leaders often make decisions that can affect tax status, governance, funding, and public trust. We help them identify those consequences early and choose a path that protects the organization’s ability to move forward.
We advise charities, foundations, educational and healthcare institutions, religious organizations, trade associations, social welfare organizations, social clubs, and other tax-exempt entities. Many clients rely on us as outside general counsel, giving us a continuing view of how board responsibilities, contracts, revenue models, and long-term priorities fit together.
Our role often begins with a specific legal matter but continues as the organization evolves. We help leaders evaluate new programs, sources of revenue, partnerships, affiliations, and financing decisions within the legal framework that supports exempt status and accountable governance.
When a matter extends into public finance, employment, real estate, charitable giving, or disputes, we bring the appropriate attorneys into the work while maintaining one coordinated strategy. This gives clients broader legal depth without losing sight of their mission, resources, and institutional priorities. McNees’ current practice combines nonprofit and tax-exempt experience with financial services and public finance capabilities.
We help organizations establish and maintain tax-exempt status under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code. We also advise on federal tax requirements, state regulatory oversight, and changes in activities, revenue, or structure that may affect the organization’s status.
We advise boards and organizational leaders on fiduciary duties, contracts, policies, internal procedures, and corporate governance. Many clients rely on us as outside general counsel for continuing advice as operational needs and strategic priorities change.
We advise on endowment management, donor restrictions, charitable giving, trust formation, and related policies and procedures. Our work helps organizations manage contributed assets in accordance with governing documents, donor intent, and applicable requirements.
We help organizations evaluate activities that may generate unrelated business income and understand the potential tax consequences. We also advise when new revenue sources or business activities may affect the organization’s exempt purpose or compliance obligations.
We advise nonprofit borrowers on taxable and tax-exempt financing for facilities, programs, and other organizational needs. Our experience includes complex master indentures and other financing structures used by 501(c)(3) organizations.
We advise nonprofits considering mergers, affiliations, restructurings, and fiscal sponsorship arrangements. Our attorneys help clients evaluate governance, tax status, contracts, and the legal obligations involved in combining or reorganizing operations.
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Nonprofit sustainability: Social enterprise models
Nonprofit attorney Frannie Reilly recently joined a panel discussion at The High Center’s “Nonprofit Sustainability: Social Enterprise Models” event at The S. Dale High Leadership Center in Lancaster, PA, on June 3, alongside Otto Monroy of LogosWorks Partners and M. Travis DiNicola of The High Center. The panel discussion explored how nonprofit organizations can diversify […]
Pennsylvania Bar Institute 2026 Nonprofit Law Essentials CLE
Attorney Frannie Reilly presented “Fostering a Culture of Compliance” at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI)’s 2026 Nonprofit Law Essentials CLE on May 12, 2026. The program covered common and costly mistakes that can occur when serving Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations. Frannie’s session offered attendees a roadmap for staying on top of essential compliance obligations and cultivating […]
2026 Not-for-Profit Industry Breakfast Seminar
Public finance and nonprofit attorney Frannie Reilly spoke at Kreischer Miller’s 2026 Not-for-Profit Industry Breakfast Seminar on April 29 at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia. The seminar brought together nonprofit leaders for fellowship and conversation, focused on key issues affecting not-for-profit organizations. Frannie works closely with nonprofit organizations to provide guidance […]