The Michigan State Bar Foundation has teamed up with the Council of Michigan Foundations, to provide free resources for lawyers who are helping private charitable foundations file 990-PF forms that are due to the Internal Revenue Service by May 15, 2004.

To help address the increased scrutiny and accountability now faced by charitable foundations, PricewaterhouseCoopers has prepared two resources, "Ten Common Errors to Avoid in Completing a Private Foundation's Form 990-PF" and "What You Should Know Before Signing Your Organization's Form 990-PF". These may be downloaded at www.cmif.org.

"Michigan lawyers are important advisors to many foundations in our state, and we are pleased to partner with the Council of Michigan Foundations to help make these resources available," said Linda Rexer, Executive Director of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

Rob Collier, President of the Council of Michigan Foundations said, "Helping lawyers assure that 990-PF forms are properly completed contributes to the highest level of accountability for Michigan foundations, benefiting all the communities they serve."

The Michigan State Bar Foundation was founded in 1947 to help meet the legal profession's responsibility to the public. It makes grants to advance access to justice and improve the administration of justice. The Council of Michigan Foundations was formed in 1973 to increase, enhance and improve philanthropy in Michigan. It has more than 400 members that are family, independent, community, public or corporate foundations.

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