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Duane L. Tarnacki

Member
fax +1 313.309.6864

Duane L. Tarnacki advises tax-exempt organizations with organization, incorporation and qualification matters, tax regulation, and preparing and administering retirement plans and welfare benefit plans.

Duane provides a full range of services, including incorporation and qualification of new nonprofit organizations, advice about regulation by the Internal Revenue Service and state authorities, representation relating to general corporate matters and tax issues, including unrelated business taxable income, the preparation and administration of retirement plans and welfare benefit plans, and all aspects of organization and operations. In his planned giving work, Duane serves as legal counsel to the development offices of a number of large charitable institutions.

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1980
M.B.A., with Honors, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1980
B.A., with high distinction, University of Michigan, Michigan, 1976

Recognitions

Named Top Lawyer by DBusiness (2024, 2025)

Named a Leading Lawyer in Detroit by Leading Lawyers℠ (2014-2024)

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Corporate Law; Nonprofit/Charities Law (2007-2025)

Named Detroit, Michigan’s Non-Profit/Charities Law “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2012 and 2017 editions of The Best Lawyers in America®

Outstanding Nonprofit Attorney Award, the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association (2003)

Crain’s Detroit Business Top Attorneys in Michigan

Who’s Who in American Law

Selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers list for Nonprofit Organizations (2021, 2024)

Memberships

College for Creative Studies, Officer and Trustee

Corporate Work Study Program, Detroit Cristo Rey High School, Board Member

Council on Foundations (Washington D.C.)

Council of Michigan Foundations, Business Contributions Council

Detroit Athletic Club Foundation

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Board Member

Detroit Historical Society, Officer and Member of the Governing Board

Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, Trustee and Vice Chairman

Internal Revenue Service, Tax Exempt and Governmental Entities Council for the Great Lakes Area

Irma Giddey Charitable Fund, Trustee and President

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Board of Directors

Michigan Cancer Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Council

Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow

Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, Founding Director, Director and Secretary (1988-1996)

Michigan Manufacturers Association, Secretary

Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan, Founding Member and Former Executive Committee Member

State Bar of Michigan

The Futures Foundation, Director and Vice Chair

Thompson Foundation, Board of Trustees

State Bar Licenses

Michigan