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ABOUT BRUCE R. HOPKINS  (1941-2021)

Thank you for visiting this site that features many resource books that help people understand the elements of the law of nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations.

Here's a quick bio about Bruce R. Hopkins' experience of practicing law and writing in this field for 50 years.

In Progress

Bruce R. Hopkins (1941-2021) His thinking and voice live on in the over 45 books he wrote, widely ranging from scholarly books about nonprofit law, including the primary text used in law schools, "The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations," to "The Bruce R. Hopkins' Nonprofit Counsel" (a newsletter published monthly for 40 years), to popular, practical guides about nonprofits for laypeople, and, finally, to memoirs and poetry. The ideas just kept flowing; he was often referred to as the "Dean of Nonprofit Law."

His teaching muscle was built over a period of 19 years when he was Professional Lecturer in Law at George Washington University National Law Center. As Professor from Practice at the University of Kansas, School of Law, Bruce exercised his generative spirit teaching and mentoring younger colleagues. Always the legal scholar, he could brilliantly take complicated concepts and distill them down into easily understood principles for beginners, seasoned colleagues and those, like his wife, unfamiliar with the subject matter.

Bruce R. Hopkins was a presenter and featured speaker, nationally and internationally, at numerous conferences throughout his career,practiced law in Kansas City, Missouri, representing nonprofit organizations. He served as a professor from practice at the University of Kansas School of Law. During his 50 years of law practice, Hopkins authored more than 40 books on nonprofit law subjects. Hopkins also wrote a monthly newsletter for 40 years that focused on updates and discussion of key cases in nonprofit law. On the lighter side, Hopkins wrote poetry focused on nonprofit law and worte a memoir sharing his experience of returning to law school to earn his SJD after the age of 70. 

NONPROFIT LAW
RESOURCE CENTER

On this site, you will find the resources of my Nonprofit Law Resource Center. The purpose of the Center is to provide substantive information concerning developing law of interest and concern to nonprofit organizations. Emphasis is placed on the federal tax law concerning tax exemption matters, charitable giving, and fundraising regulation.

The principal feature in the Center is a set of current developments outlines. They summarize current developments in the fields of tax exemption law, unrelated business, private foundations, charitable giving, and other developments. 

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EDUCATION

  • S.J.D., University of Kansas School of Law, 2016
     

  • LL.M., Taxation, George Washington University 
    National Law Center, 1971

     

  • J.D., George Washington University
    National Law Center, 1967

     

  • B.A., University of Michigan, 1964


Bar Admissions
 

  • District of Columbia, 1969
     

  • Missouri, 1999

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

 

Formerly, the Principal, Bruce R. Hopkins Law Firm, LLC,
Kansas City, MO

 

  • Practiced nonprofit law for more than 50 years
     

  • Published books and newsletters on nonprofit and tax law
    Newsletter for 40 years

     

  • Formerly the Professor from Practice, University of Kansas School of Law
     

  • Served as expert witness in over 30 cases
     

  • 2007 Recipient of the Outstanding Nonprofit Lawyer Award (Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award) American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Committee on Nonprofit Corporations
     

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Nonprofit Organizations, Charity Law, 2007-2020
     

  • Bruce R. Hopkins' Nonprofit Counsel (newsletter) won a 2009 award from The Newsletter on Newsletters for best technical article (published in the September 2008 issue)
     

  • AV Rated Martindale Hubbell

Activities
 

  • American Bar Association, Past Chair, Committee on Exempt Organizations, Section on Taxation
     

  • National Association of College and University Attorneys, Past Chair, Section of Taxation

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