Kendis Key Muscheid, a partner at Ballard Spahr and a nonprofit attorney in the southwest, will be presented with the Arizona Foundation for Women’s (AFW’s) Marilyn R. Seymann Award on April 14 at its 20th Anniversary Awards Luncheon.
The event will be held at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale.
The Awards Luncheon is AFW’s primary fundraising event to support its mission to mobilize the community’s power and resources to meet the unmet needs of women and children and enable long-term solutions by focusing on safety, health and economic (SHE) empowerment to benefit every Arizona woman and child.
“I am so honored to be named a recipient of an award from the Arizona Foundation for Women, particularly with an award named for Marilyn—a passionate, community-minded, generous woman who is always dreaming up new ways to help Arizona’s women and children,” Muscheid said.
“I’m truly blessed to work within the nonprofit community,” she added. “The people and organizations with which I work are all striving to make the world a better place and I am privileged to play a part in their success. I love what I do and it is an added bonus to now be part of a law firm committed to communities across the country through both monetary contributions to nonprofits, and the provision of thousands of pro bono hours and hands-on service hours.”
Other honorees this year include award-winning journalist Maria Shriver, who will receive the Sandra Day O’Connor Lifetime Achievement Award, and Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Bruce Arians, who will be honored with the Voice of Women Award. They join the ranks of past honorees such as Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund Marian Wright Edelman; former United States Secretary of Homeland Security and University of California president Janet Napolitano; former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; and tennis legend Billie Jean King.
Muscheid joined Ballard Spahr last October, bringing with her an extensive practice in tax-exempt and organizations that expanded the capabilities of the Phoenix office and the entire firm.
“Kendis has a long history of community involvement, particularly with agencies that are focused on helping women,” said John G. Kerkorian, managing partner of Ballard Spahr’s Phoenix office. “There’s no mistaking her passion for helping nonprofits improve the lives of others. She truly is focused on giving back to the community.”
The Arizona Foundation for Women was founded in 1995 to create a better life for Arizona’s women and children. Through its AFW Angels it raised and donated nearly $3 million to Arizona nonprofits.
“We are so grateful for the community support we receive that helps thousands of women and their children—victims of domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness and sex trafficking,” said Linda Lyman, interim executive director. “It’s a privilege to honor leaders in our community like Kendis who provide leadership in community service.”
Muscheid focuses on the representation of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, charitable trusts, and on issues involving Arizona taxation. Her clients include a wide variety of 501(c)(3) and other tax-exempt organizations, such as private foundations, schools and research institutions, religious and social welfare organizations, trade associations and groups dedicated to the arts.
She also advises on the qualification for tax exemption, conversions to and from tax-exempt status, obtaining and maintaining favorable tax treatment, reporting and government filings and the creation and operation of supporting organizations.
At Ballard Spahr, she counsels on nonprofit governance, advocacy issues, unrelated business income tax matters, endowment management, tax-exempt bond financing, and issues involving charitable solicitations, mergers and acquisitions.
She has been included in Best Lawyers in America, Nonprofit/Charities Law and Tax Law, from 2005-2016, and was named Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year for Non-Profit/Charities in 2014, among other professional accolades.
