Amanda Reed

Ms. Reed represents private foundations, public charities, and other tax-exempt organizations across the lifecycle of their entities from formation through dissolution and the variety of governance, tax, and operational issues that can arise in between. Drawing on outside-counsel, in-house foundation, and nonprofit board experience, she helps clients navigate complex legal questions and translate regulatory requirements into practical strategies that advance their missions, including:

• advising on complex domestic and international grantmaking and programmatic initiatives;
• counseling organizations on board governance, fiduciary duties, and organizational policies;
• helping clients understand and apply IRS rules for advocacy, lobbying, and political campaign activities to their programs and communications;
• structuring affiliated entity relationships, transactions, and operational matters;
• conducting comprehensive compliance reviews and mock IRS audits to help organizations assess and strengthen internal policies and controls before issues arise; and
• providing training to boards, in-house legal counsel, program teams, and grantee organizations on a range of issues that affect tax-exempt organizations.

Ms. Reed rejoined Caplin & Drysdale in 2022 after working as in-house counsel to one of the nation’s largest and most prominent private foundations. Since returning she has received the ABA Nonprofit Outstanding Young Lawyer Award and was named a Washington, D.C. Rising Star by The National Law Journal.  While in-house, she provided legal advice on grantmaking and other large programmatic initiatives, program and mission-related investments, intellectual property matters, tax, finance, communications, and policy advocacy. Ms. Reed previously worked as an associate in the firm’s Exempt Organizations and Corporate practice groups.

Ms. Reed has also practiced tax at an international law firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in Philadelphia, she founded the Community Lawyering Clinic pro bono practice group, which partners with community legal services organizations to staff legal clinics representing senior citizens and low-income Philadelphians.

During her time in law school, Ms. Reed served as a legal intern for the Sheller Center for Social Justice, representing low-wage workers in wage theft cases against employers. She was also a Staff Editor of the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review, Member of the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society and Executive Board Member of the Black Law Students Association.

Bar & Court Admissions

• District of Columbia
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law, 2015, cum laude, Beasley Scholar, Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review, Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society

B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 2010, cum laude, Omicron Delta Kappa, Helen Faison Scholar

Honors & Recognitions

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch­, 2026-Present
• Washington, D.C. Rising Star, The National Law Journal, 2025
• ABA Nonprofit Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 2025
• Philadelphia Bar Association, Large Firm Management Committee Public Service Award, 2017
• First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Publico Award and Pro Bono Roll of Honor, 2017

Professional Activities

Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2024 

Member, Caplin & Drysdale’s Talent Strategy Committee