Catie Bitzan Amundsen

Catie Bitzan Amundsen advises a broad range of organizations in the nonprofit and health care sectors. Her clients include operating nonprofits, private foundations, family foundations, grantmakers, international and foreign-based nonprofits, governmental entities, hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and other health care providers. Catie counsels nonprofit organizations on issues related to tax exemption, corporate governance, private foundation rules, international operations and grantmaking, mergers, affiliations, joint ventures, program-related investments, formation, social enterprise, and regulatory matters. Catie represents health care organizations in mergers, joint ventures, and other collaborations, and advises them on contracting, bond financing, licensing issues, governance and tax exemption, and other federal and state regulatory matters.

Catie also serves as Co-Chair of the Lathrop GPM Foundation, our firm’s charitable giving foundation.

Catie enjoys collaborating with clients to develop creative legal strategies and solutions so that clients can take smart, informed risks, protect their tax-exempt status, and focus their resources on furtherance of their mission. She is a frequent speaker on issues related to nonprofit governance, tax exemption, Board fiduciary duties, tax and regulatory developments, and social enterprise.

Clients value Catie’s practical advice, her understanding of the business implications of legal issues, and her investment in getting to know their business and providing legal advice specifically tailored to each client’s industry, strategic plan, and goals.

Prior to practicing law, Catie worked as a tax consultant at Deloitte and taught courses in literature, business, and music in Belize. 

Experience

• Structures and advises on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and collaborative relationships for nonprofits, governmental entities, and health care providers
• Advises domestic and foreign nonprofits on international operations and grantmaking, international fundraising, and international transfers of charitable funds and supplies, including through partnerships with foreign local counsel
• Counsels private foundations on formation, grantmaking, program-related investments (including equity PRIs), compliance, international grantmaking, and reporting matters
• Counsels family foundations on succession planning involving the next generation, transition to donor-advised funds, governance “well checks,” unique self-dealing issues, and compliance with private foundation rules
• Structures organizational relationships and collaborations between 501(c)(3)’s and for-profit organizations
• Establishes new social enterprises and advises on legal structure and tax implications
• Incorporates and obtains tax-exempt status for new organizations
• Assists health care providers with contracting strategies related to affiliations with other hospitals, clinics, physician groups, and others
• Advises health care providers on bond financing, licensing, governance, tax exemption, health care foundations, and other federal and state regulatory matters

• Co-presenter, "There’s No Easy Button: Scope of Practice & Telehealth," Lathrop GPM Health Law Seminar, September 22, 2022
• Co-presenter, "MCF Workshop: Legal 101,” Minnesota Council on Foundations, September 21, 2022
• Co-presenter, "Family Foundation Management," Lathrop GPM Zoom Webinar, May 24, 2022
• Co-presenter, "Tax-Exemption 101," 2022 Nonprofit Law Conference, Minnesota CLE, March 8, 2022
• Co-presenter, “MCF Workshop: Governance 101,” Minnesota Council on Foundations, November 3, 2021
• Co-presenter, “MCF Workshop: Legal 101,” Minnesota Council on Foundations, October 6, 2021
• Co-presenter, “Governance Best Practices for Minnesota Cemeteries and Cemetery Foundations,” MN Association of Cemeteries Annual Conference, September 23, 2021
• Facilitator & Co-host, “Future Forward for Nonprofits: A Discussion about the Future of the Workplace, Technology and Talent,” September 22, 2021
• Co-presenter, "Getting Into Business: Diversifying Revenue Through Social Enterprise," MN Council of Nonprofits 2021 Nonprofit Finance & Sustainability Conference, April 20, 2021
• Co-presenter, "Legal Compliance 101 for Social Impact Businesses in Minnesota," Initiative Foundation Initiators Fellowship Training, April 14, 2021
• Presenter, "MN Department of Human Services MinnCAP Community Action Partnership Training on Structuring Social Enterprises," Nov. 24, 2020
• Presenter, “Current Developments in Nonprofit Board Governance and Best Practices,” United University Board Training, United Way of Central Minnesota, Nov. 17, 2020
• Presenter, “Rethinking Business: Nonprofits Engaging in Social Enterprise,” Propel Nonprofits, July 14, 2020
• Co-presenter, “Beyond Data: Harnessing the Power of Data Analytics in Evaluating Impact,” For-Profit Thinking in the Nonprofit World Seminar, Sept. 25, 2019
• Presenter, “Legal 101 for Foundations and Grantmakers,” Minnesota Council on Foundations, Nov. 15, 2019
• Presenter, "Key Legal Issues in Nonprofit Board Service," United University Board Training, United Way of Central Minnesota, May 21, 2019
• Co-presenter, "Employment and Benefits Update: The Impact of the MeToo Movement, Rollbacks, and Executive Compensation Changes," Gray Plant Mooty 22nd Annual Health Law Conference, July 19, 2018
• Presenter, “Innovation Dialogue: Panel on Social Enterprise and Business Risk,” Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities, January 17, 2018
• Presenter, “Legal Options and Issues for Nonprofits Structuring Social Enterprises,” Propel Nonprofits, January 10, 2018
• Presenter, “Getting it Right Up Front: Legal Options and Issues for Nonprofits Structuring Social Enterprises,” Financial Resiliency Through Social Enterprise Program, Northland Foundation, January 10, 2017
• Presenter, “HIPAA-theticals,” Gray Plant Mooty Health Law Conference, July 12, 2016
• Presenter, “Serving on a Nonprofit Hospital Board of Directors: Tips, Traps, and Best Practices,” Minnesota Hospital Association Trustee Conference, January 9, 2016
• Presenter, “Legal Issues in eHealth Care Delivery,” co-presenter, MN Medical Group Management Association Summer Conference, July 30, 2015
• Presenter, “Lightning Round: Data Breaches, HIPAA Audits, and Overpayments and Self-Disclosures,” co-presenter, Gray Plant Mooty 18th Annual Health Law Conference, July 14, 2015
• Presenter, "Serving on a Nonprofit Board of Directors: Tips, Traps, and Best Practices,” MN CLE Business Law Institute, May 5, 2015
• Presenter, “Getting it Right Up Front: Legal Options and Issues for Nonprofits Structuring Social Enterprises,” Financial Resiliency Through Social Enterprise Program, Initiative Foundation, April 4, 2015
• Co-presenter, “Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave: Legal Issues in eHealth Care Delivery,” Gray Plant Mooty 18th Annual Health Law Conference, July 17, 2014
• Presenter, “Serving on a Hospital Board of Directors: Duties, Do’s and Don’ts,” Minnesota Hospital Association Trustee Conference, July 12, 2014
• Presenter, “Legal Overview of Social Enterprises for Nonprofit and For-Profit Organizations,” University of Minnesota Leadership Program, April 22, 2014
• Presenter, “How to Serve on a Nonprofit Board of Directors,” Minnesota CLE Live Webcast, August 12, 2013
• Co-presenter, “A Fresh Take on Compliance Programs: A Practical Guide to Compliance,” Gray Plant Mooty 17th Annual Health Law Conference, July 11, 2013
• Presenter, “Fiduciary Duties and Best Practices in Serving on a Nonprofit Board,” miscellaneous private trainings of Boards of Directors of 501(c)(3) organizations, January 1, 2013
• Presenter, “Tax-Exempt Organizations From Start to Finish,” National Business Institute, June 27, 2012
• Co-presenter, “Minnesota Exemptions,” Minnesota CLE, Minnesota Nonprofit Deskbook Seminars, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 5, 2011

• American Health Lawyers Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association, Nonprofit Subcommittee of MSBA Business Law section, member; Health Law section, member
• American Bar Association, Health Law and Tax Law sections
• Multilaw International, GPM Delegate, 2019
• LegalCorps Nonprofit Committee, 2018

• Lathrop GPM Foundation, Board Chair, 2019-present; Trustee, 2013-present
• Minnesota Council on Foundations, Board Member, 2021-present; Governance Committee, 2022-present; Membership Committee, 2015-2021
• Mama Hellen Lotara School in South Sudan, U.S. Advisory Board Member, 2018-present
• Quiet Oaks Hospice House, Volunteer; past Board Member and Secretary
• Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Young Lawyers Group Committee, 2012-2015

• Minnesota State Bar Association, "North Star Lawyers," 2012-2023
• Minnesota Lawyer, "Up & Coming Attorney," 2018