Cara Howe Santoro

Cara Howe Santoro advises charitable and other nonprofit organizations, donors, families and family businesses on the tax, governance and operational issues that drive effective philanthropy. Based in Boston and Stamford, Cara helps clients advance their charitable missions and personal objectives through thoughtful, tax-efficient planning and practical legal counsel.

Cara represents both emerging and established public charities and private foundations on a wide range of tax-exempt organization matters. She guides newly formed charities through entity formation, governance development, and the process of obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status. She also advises established organizations on tax compliance, governance best practices, fundraising activities, grantmaking programs and the structuring of complex charitable gifts.

Working closely with private foundations and public charities, Cara counsels clients on the federal tax rules governing exempt organizations, including self-dealing, private benefit, taxable expenditures, excess business holdings and minimum distribution requirements. She also advises on the management and investment of charitable assets, helping organizations remain compliant while effectively pursuing their missions and strategic objectives.

On the donor side, Cara works with individuals, families and closely held businesses to develop and implement philanthropic strategies that align with their charitable goals while maximizing tax efficiency. Her experience includes advising on charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, private foundations, donor-advised funds and other charitable giving vehicles.

By advising both nonprofit organizations and the donors who support them, Cara brings a comprehensive perspective that helps clients transform charitable intent into effective and sustainable tax, governance and philanthropic strategies.