An Introduction to the Low-Profit Limited Liability Company

1. L3Cs are Creatures of State Law. Like corporations, limited liability companies, business trusts, and limited partnerships, the L3C exists because states have started passing laws formally approving the L3C structure. Vermont was the first state to adopt an L3C law in 2008. Illinois, Michigan, Utah, and Wyoming followed suit in 2009, and other states have introduced legislation that would recognize L3Cs as a new form of business entity. Such legislation was introduced in Virginia in January 2010. The bill stalled in committee, but perhaps will be reintroduced in 2011. Regardless, an L3C legally formed in Vermont or another state can do business in Virginia or other states by simply following the process in a given state for qualifying to do business as a foreign limited liability company.

2. L3Cs are NOT Tax-Exempt Organizations. While L3Cs must be formed for the purpose of pursuing a charitable or educational purpose within the meaning of Section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, they are not tax-exempt organizations. They are business entities subject to income tax just like LLCs. Contributions to L3Cs are not considered tax deductible gifts.

3. L3Cs are Similar to LLCs. The L3C offers the limited liability protection of an LLC or corporation and the flexibility of LLCs and partnerships. The statutory nomenclature and framework for L3Cs is similar to that which applies to LLCs. In fact, expect to see states incorporate the L3C concept into their existing LLC statutes; thus, the L3C will be able to effectively piggy back on the 15-20 years of legislative and judicial history of LLCs. But unlike LLCs, an L3C is expressly formed to pursue a socially beneficial purpose.

4. L3Cs Should Be Eligible for Private Foundation Grants. L3C laws are specifically drafted to comply with IRS regulations concerning what are known as Program Related Investments (“PRIs”). A PRI is a special type of permissible investment made by a private foundation to support a charitable activity consistent with the foundation’s mission, and also one that is made to a for-profit business venture and may involve a positive return on capital. It is permissible for a PRI to be profitable, but profit cannot be the primary motivation for the investment. PRIs count toward a foundation’s five percent annual payout requirement.

More definitive guidance has been requested from the IRS to bolster everyone’s comfort level that foundations may invest with L3Cs without violating the PRI rules, but foundations should be able to independently manage any discomfort through proper due diligence and
assistance from legal counsel. A foundation could also apply to the IRS for a private letter ruling regarding a specific transaction, although the time and expense involved with that process might not be feasible depending upon the circumstances of the underlying transaction.

5. An Endless List of Potential Applications and Uses. The possibilities for the L3C concept are limited only by one’s imagination. In light of the current financial condition of our federal government and many states, could there be a better opportunity for these hybrid entities
to step in and fill the void to provide the socially beneficial products and services that no one else is willing or able to provide? Here are a few examples of projects that could be pursued through the L3C structure:

• Auto manufacturing facilities
• Community tennis centers
• Museums
• Performing arts centers
• Recycling plants
• Metropolitan newspapers
• Biotechnology facilities
• Transportation businesses
• Health care facilities
• Low-interest lending to needy families facing foreclosure, distressed small business owners or commercial property owners

The L3C offers charitable foundations a powerful mechanism to further their charitable objectives while at the same time providing for-profit businesses, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs a new vehicle through which to pursue socially responsible investment opportunities. At a time when investment capital remains relatively scarce, the L3C could be a catalyst for a new era of economic growth.