Search
Close this search box.

Karen I. Wu

Partner

Karen counsels the firm’s nonprofit clients in all stages of the corporate life cycle: incorporation and applying for tax-exemption, establishment of organizational affiliations and subsidiary structures, key corporate transactions (mergers, acquisitions, and major asset transfers), and dissolution.  She advises public charities, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations on a variety of issues relating to federal tax-exemption, corporate governance, and state charitable solicitation regulation. She represents a wide variety of nonprofits, with missions that target anti-poverty, economic development, the environment, health, and education, as well as churches and other religious organizations.

Karen provides legal advice to a broad range of for-profit businesses, including Fortune 500 and start-up companies, on traditional and emerging issues involving corporate philanthropy and cause marketing, including corporate foundations, corporate sponsorships, commercial co-ventures, crowd-sourced fundraising, fundraising platforms, and social media campaigns. She is a frequent author, blogger, and speaker on legal issues affecting the philanthropic sector.

  • Lead outside counsel for Subaru of America’s award-winning Share the Love campaign (Golden Halo Award, Cause Marketing Forum)Provided guidance in developing a framework and process to manage the contract and regulatory compliance across one of the most complex, large-scale campaigns in the history of cause marketing. Share the Love has raised over $200 million for several national charities and hundreds of local charities.
  • Representation of a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization serving the most economically disadvantaged region of the country, including conducting a review of the tax-exemption implications for establishing a new economic development program to provide job training and employment to individuals undergoing rehabilitation.
  • Representation of a major nonprofit service provider focused on workforce and economic development in accomplishing a corporate restructuring involving numerous subsidiary organizations.
  • Representation of several leading global corporations with respect to their charitable and social impact initiatives, including cause marketing, corporate foundations, corporate giving, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 
  • Representation of the Hebrew Technical Institute, a 150-year-old institution, in dissolving, requiring obtaining approval from the New York State Court and the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau over the distribution of its remaining assets, and seeking cy pres relief with respect to numerous restricted gifts received over one hundred years ago.
  • Collaborative representation of a university in petitioning the New York State court for cy pres relief to modify the restrictions on $8.4 million of a $70 million endowment fund.
  • Advisement to various online fundraising platforms which provide innovative tools to facilitate charitable giving, including guidance on charitable fundraising regulation.

DC Bar, Exempt Organizations Committee, Vice Chair, 2021-present

Christian Legal Society, Member

Christian Legal Aid of the District of Columbia, Board Chair

National Collegiate Table Tennis Association, Pro Bono Counsel

Taiwan Mission Foundation, Advisory Board Member

Open Hands Legal Services, Advisory Board Member

Karen counsels the firm’s nonprofit clients in all stages of the corporate life cycle: incorporation and applying for tax-exemption, establishment of organizational affiliations and subsidiary structures, key corporate transactions (mergers, acquisitions, and major asset transfers), and dissolution.  She advises public charities, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations on a variety of issues relating to federal tax-exemption, corporate governance, and state charitable solicitation regulation. She represents a wide variety of nonprofits, with missions that target anti-poverty, economic development, the environment, health, and education, as well as churches and other religious organizations.

Karen provides legal advice to a broad range of for-profit businesses, including Fortune 500 and start-up companies, on traditional and emerging issues involving corporate philanthropy and cause marketing, including corporate foundations, corporate sponsorships, commercial co-ventures, crowd-sourced fundraising, fundraising platforms, and social media campaigns. She is a frequent author, blogger, and speaker on legal issues affecting the philanthropic sector.

  • Lead outside counsel for Subaru of America’s award-winning Share the Love campaign (Golden Halo Award, Cause Marketing Forum)Provided guidance in developing a framework and process to manage the contract and regulatory compliance across one of the most complex, large-scale campaigns in the history of cause marketing. Share the Love has raised over $200 million for several national charities and hundreds of local charities.
  • Representation of a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization serving the most economically disadvantaged region of the country, including conducting a review of the tax-exemption implications for establishing a new economic development program to provide job training and employment to individuals undergoing rehabilitation.
  • Representation of a major nonprofit service provider focused on workforce and economic development in accomplishing a corporate restructuring involving numerous subsidiary organizations.
  • Representation of several leading global corporations with respect to their charitable and social impact initiatives, including cause marketing, corporate foundations, corporate giving, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 
  • Representation of the Hebrew Technical Institute, a 150-year-old institution, in dissolving, requiring obtaining approval from the New York State Court and the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau over the distribution of its remaining assets, and seeking cy pres relief with respect to numerous restricted gifts received over one hundred years ago.
  • Collaborative representation of a university in petitioning the New York State court for cy pres relief to modify the restrictions on $8.4 million of a $70 million endowment fund.
  • Advisement to various online fundraising platforms which provide innovative tools to facilitate charitable giving, including guidance on charitable fundraising regulation.

DC Bar, Exempt Organizations Committee, Vice Chair, 2021-present

Christian Legal Society, Member

Christian Legal Aid of the District of Columbia, Board Chair

National Collegiate Table Tennis Association, Pro Bono Counsel

Taiwan Mission Foundation, Advisory Board Member

Open Hands Legal Services, Advisory Board Member

Education
Bar Admissions
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Awards
Education
Bar Admissions
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Awards
perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue logo

click to exit page

silk lanterns

who we work with

Our clients are diverse nonprofit organizations with a broad range of missions, as well as for-profit companies in evolving areas such as social enterprise, corporate philanthropy, joint ventures, technology-driven fundraising, and impact investing.

A.B. Data
AB InBev Foundation
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
Americans for Ben Gurion University
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Avalon Consulting
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Bleeding Blue for Good Fund
Bradley Cooper’s One Family Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Brooks Brothers
Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Doctors of the World/ Medecins du Monde
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
Feed The Children
Food For The Poor
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Hope for New York
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
J. Crew Group
Johns Hopkins University
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

LSU Foundation
Marts & Lundy
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
NAACP Foundation
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Marrow Donor Program
National Park Foundation
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
PopSockets
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Save the Children Federation
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Subaru of America
The Little Market
Touro University
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
United Way Worldwide
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
Vote.org
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YWCA USA

A.B. Data
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
Americans for Ben Gurion University
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Burger King McLamore Foundation
Cancer Care
Carnegie East House and James Lenox House Association
Center for Car Donations
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Convoy of Hope
Cornell University
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Feed The Children
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Helen Keller Services
Hope for New York
Human Rights Watch
Humane Society of US
Indiegogo
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
Japanese American National Museum
Johns Hopkins University
Lane Bryant Charities
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
LSU Foundation
Mattel
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
National Breast Cancer Coalition
National Marrow Donor Program
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Obama Foundation
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Steinhardt Foundation
Subaru of America
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
University of Montana Foundation
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YMCA USA
YWCA of New York City
YWCA USA

perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue logo

click to exit page

news & events

Our attorneys’ recent contributions to the media and nonprofit sector publications.

news & events

Check out our attorneys’ recent contributions to the media and industry publications.

Secure Your Data – Seriously, AFP New York Chapter News
As Jon Dartley, a data privacy and security attorney at Perlman and Perlman says, “It is vital to have the appropriate legal terms in the contract to protect your interests.”  Find out what your liability limit is.  Have it in writing who bears the responsibility and cost of a data breach.  And, have the vendor agree on a specific timeframe within which they need to advise you of a data breach.

Warning: Don’t Cut Legal Corners When Mixing Social And Business Impact,  Forbes
Particularly striking is that (Karen) Wu believes this is the “first multi-state regulatory activity involving cause marketing in almost two decades.”

Is stealing, then giving back, OK?
Cliff Perlman lends his advice on theft within a nonprofit.

Buyer Beware: Negotiating Terms in Technology Agreements
Jon Dartley provides tips on negotiating contracts with technology vendors.

Four Ways Charitable Giving Could Change with a Tax Overhaul
Cliff Perlman remarks on the possible threat of a change to charitable deduction.

How To Deal With Residual Data, Nonprofit Times
Jon Dartley’s advice on addressing “data exhaust”.

Secure Your Data – Seriously, AFP New York Chapter News
As Jon Dartley, a data privacy and security attorney at Perlman and Perlman says, “It is vital to have the appropriate legal terms in the contract to protect your interests.”  Find out what your liability limit is.  Have it in writing who bears the responsibility and cost of a data breach.  And, have the vendor agree on a specific timeframe within which they need to advise you of a data breach.

Warning: Don’t Cut Legal Corners When Mixing Social And Business Impact,  Forbes
Particularly striking is that (Karen) Wu believes this is the “first multi-state regulatory activity involving cause marketing in almost two decades.”

Is stealing, then giving back, OK?
Cliff Perlman lends his advice on theft within a nonprofit.

Buyer Beware: Negotiating Terms in Technology Agreements
Jon Dartley provides tips on negotiating contracts with technology vendors.

Four Ways Charitable Giving Could Change with a Tax Overhaul
Cliff Perlman remarks on the possible threat of a change to charitable deduction.

How To Deal With Residual Data, Nonprofit Times
Jon Dartley’s advice on addressing “data exhaust”.

perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue and green logo

click to exit page

perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue and green logo

click to exit page

silk lanterns

who we work with

Our clients are diverse nonprofit organizations with a broad range of missions, as well as for-profit companies in evolving areas such as social enterprise, corporate philanthropy, joint ventures, technology-driven fundraising, and impact investing.

who we work with

Our clients are diverse nonprofit organizations with a broad range of missions, as well as for-profit companies in evolving areas such as social enterprise, corporate philanthropy, joint ventures, technology-driven fundraising, and impact investing.

A.B. Data
AB InBev Foundation
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Avalon Consulting
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Bleeding Blue for Good Fund
Bradley Cooper’s One Family Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Brooks Brothers
Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Doctors of the World/ Medecins du Monde
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
Feed The Children
Food For The Poor
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Hope for New York
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
J. Crew Group
Johns Hopkins University
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
LSU Foundation

Marts & Lundy
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
NAACP Foundation
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Marrow Donor Program
National Park Foundation
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
PopSockets
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Save the Children Federation
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Subaru of America
The Little Market
Touro University
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
United Way Worldwide
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
Vote.org
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YWCA USA

A.B. Data
Absolut Company
American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
American Diabetes Association
American Friends of the Hebrew University
American Parkinson Disease Association
American Rivers
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation
Burger King McLamore Foundation
Cancer Care
Carnegie East House and James Lenox House Association
Center for Car Donations
Changing Our World
Charity Defense Council
Christian Appalachian Project
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Convoy of Hope
Cornell University
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins San Frontieres
Drug Policy Alliance
Duke University
Emory University
Feed The Children
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Grameen Foundation USA
Helen Keller Services
Hope for New York
Human Rights Watch
Humane Society of US
Indiegogo
International Campaign for Tibet
International Crisis Group
International Justice Mission
Japanese American National Museum
Johns Hopkins University
Lane Bryant Charities
LSU Foundation
Mattel
Meyer Partners, LLC
Milken Institute
National Breast Cancer Coalition
National Marrow Donor Program
Natural Resources Defense Council
North Carolina State University
North Shore Animal League
Obama Foundation
Operation Smile
PBS Foundation
Pernod Ricard USA
PetSmart Charities
Population Action International
Project ORBIS International
Public Interest Communication
Rails to Trails
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Sesame Workshop
Simon Wiesenthal
SOS Children’s Villages – USA
Steinhardt Foundation
Subaru of America
United States Equestrian Team Foundation
University of Montana Foundation
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation
Whitney Museum of American Art
World ORT
World Wildlife Fund
YMCA USA
YWCA of New York City
YWCA USA
Lautman Maska Neill & Company
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

perlman & perlman philanthropic sector law firm blue and green logo

click to exit page

Culture & Values

Vision

We view our clients as partners that share our commitment to bring about change in the world. Our goal is to provide them the peace of mind of knowing that they are in compliance with their legal obligations and to further empower them to achieve positive social impact and financial success.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the highest quality, integrity-driven legal services to our clients, using a practical, consultative, client-focused approach to identify and respond to problems and challenges.

We strive to maintain a culture characterized by respect, opportunity, diligence, mutual empowerment, entrepreneurship, and fair reward for efforts made on behalf of clients and the firm.

Perlman & Perlman is a Certified B Corporation

Certified B Corporations use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps are unlike traditional businesses because they

  • Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards
  • Meet higher legal accountability standards
  • Build business constituency for good business