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Tracy L. Boak

Partner

Tracy Boak represents nonprofit organizations in matters including fundraising compliance, regulatory investigations, and governance.  Tracy regularly guides clients through comprehensive legal audits, a process that evaluates an organization’s overall legal health and compliance, and identifies areas to improve compliance and manage risk.  On the for-profit side, she counsels professional fundraisers on their state and federal regulatory compliance obligations, as well as contractual issues related to their partner charities.

As an experienced litigator, Tracy represents clients on matters such as responding to investigations and defending actions initiated by the various states’ charity and other government officials; organizational internal governance disputes; and breach of contract claims.

Tracy’s proficient knowledge in the regulation of charitable solicitation is rooted in her twelve years of service in the public sector, including as Director of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations, the agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the State’s charitable solicitation law. Tracy served on the board of the National Association of Attorneys General/ National Association of State Charity Officials (NAAG/NASCO) for six years as Secretary, Vice-President and President.

  • Represented Food For The Poor (FFTP) in a case brought by the California Attorney General claiming that FFTP misrepresented in its charitable solicitations the percentage of donations allocated towards its programs.   The judge’s Statement of Decision declared as facially unconstitutional two sections of California’s Supervision of Trustees Act and vacated the cease-and-desist order and the $1 million fine that had been imposed by the State. 
  • Represented members of the American Psychoanalytic Association in a successful Article 78 proceeding against the Association (Ascherman vAmerican Psychoanalytic Assn., Inc.) to enforce the Association’s bylaws in novel dispute regarding certification standards. Cited as Decision of Interest in New York Law Journal, Vol. 250; No. 76.
  • Obtained a summary judgment in the amount of $329,604.52 and pierced the corporate veil in favor of the United Service Organizations (USO) in a breach of contract action against Jet One Jets, Inc., Louis Ottimo and Anthony Ottimo, Jr.
  • Represented the Association of Research and Enlightenment of New York and several members in obtaining a judgment confirming the election defeat of the organization’s chair and enjoining him from any further acts as chair of the organization.
  • Represented Wadsworth Avenue Baptist Church in obtaining an injunction against several individuals who were asserting themselves as the pastor, officers, trustees or members of the church.
  • Obtained a dismissal of an action brought by the California Attorney General against Creative Direct Response in the matter of The People of the State of California vs. Help Hospitalized Veterans, et al.

New York City Bar Association, Nonprofit Organizations Committee, Co-Chair 2022-2025

The Nonprofit Alliance, Government Affairs Committee, member

Nonprofit New York, Government Relations Committee, member

Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Sciences, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Practice

Tracy’s practice includes all aspects of nonprofit law. Her proficient knowledge in the regulation of charitable solicitation is rooted in her twelve years of service in the public sector, including as Director of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations, the agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the State’s charitable solicitation law. Tracy served on the board of the National Association of Attorneys General/ National Association of State Charity Officials (NAAG/NASCO) for six years as Secretary, Vice-President and President.

As an experienced litigator, Tracy represents our clients on matters such as responding to investigations and defending actions initiated by the various states’ charity and other government officials; organizational internal governance disputes; and breach of contract claims.

Tracy conducts legal audits and advises clients on general governance and regulatory compliance matters.

Representative Work
  • Represented members of the American Psychoanalytic Association in a successful Article 78 proceeding against the Association (Ascherman vAmerican Psychoanalytic Assn., Inc.) to enforce the Association’s bylaws in novel dispute regarding certification standards. Cited as Decision of Interest in New York Law Journal, Vol. 250; No. 76.
  • Obtained a summary judgment in the amount of $329,604.52 and pierced the corporate veil in favor of the United Service Organizations (USO) in a breach of contract action against Jet One Jets, Inc., Louis Ottimo and Anthony Attimo, Jr.
  • Represented the Association of Research and Enlightenment of New York and several members in obtaining a judgment confirming the election defeat of the organization’s chair and enjoining him from any further acts as chair of the organization.
  • Represented Wadsworth Avenue Baptist Church in obtaining an injunction against several individuals who were asserting themselves as the pastor, officers, trustees or members of the church.
  • Obtained a dismissal of an action brought by the California Attorney General against Creative Direct Response in the matter of The People of the State of California vs. Help Hospitalized Veterans, et al.
Professional & Nonprofit Affiliations

Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Sciences, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Center against Domestic Violence, Brooklyn, NY Board Secretary

New York Junior League

New York Road Runners, Volunteer Leader

Tracy Boak represents nonprofit organizations in matters including fundraising compliance, regulatory investigations, and governance.  Tracy regularly guides clients through comprehensive legal audits, a process that evaluates an organization’s overall legal health and compliance, and identifies areas to improve compliance and manage risk.  On the for-profit side, she counsels professional fundraisers on their state and federal regulatory compliance obligations, as well as contractual issues related to their partner charities.

As an experienced litigator, Tracy represents clients on matters such as responding to investigations and defending actions initiated by the various states’ charity and other government officials; organizational internal governance disputes; and breach of contract claims.

Tracy’s proficient knowledge in the regulation of charitable solicitation is rooted in her twelve years of service in the public sector, including as Director of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations, the agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the State’s charitable solicitation law. Tracy served on the board of the National Association of Attorneys General/ National Association of State Charity Officials (NAAG/NASCO) for six years as Secretary, Vice-President and President.

  • Represented Food For The Poor (FFTP) in a case brought by the California Attorney General claiming that FFTP misrepresented in its charitable solicitations the percentage of donations allocated towards its programs.   The judge’s Statement of Decision declared as facially unconstitutional two sections of California’s Supervision of Trustees Act and vacated the cease-and-desist order and the $1 million fine that had been imposed by the State. 
  • Represented members of the American Psychoanalytic Association in a successful Article 78 proceeding against the Association (Ascherman vAmerican Psychoanalytic Assn., Inc.) to enforce the Association’s bylaws in novel dispute regarding certification standards. Cited as Decision of Interest in New York Law Journal, Vol. 250; No. 76.
  • Obtained a summary judgment in the amount of $329,604.52 and pierced the corporate veil in favor of the United Service Organizations (USO) in a breach of contract action against Jet One Jets, Inc., Louis Ottimo and Anthony Ottimo, Jr.
  • Represented the Association of Research and Enlightenment of New York and several members in obtaining a judgment confirming the election defeat of the organization’s chair and enjoining him from any further acts as chair of the organization.
  • Represented Wadsworth Avenue Baptist Church in obtaining an injunction against several individuals who were asserting themselves as the pastor, officers, trustees or members of the church.
  • Obtained a dismissal of an action brought by the California Attorney General against Creative Direct Response in the matter of The People of the State of California vs. Help Hospitalized Veterans, et al.

New York City Bar Association, Nonprofit Organizations Committee, Co-Chair 2022-2025

The Nonprofit Alliance, Government Affairs Committee, member

Nonprofit New York, Government Relations Committee, member

Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Sciences, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Education
Bar Admissions
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Awards
Education
Bar Admissions
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Awards
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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

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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