Diara M. Holmes

Diara M. Holmes serves as co-chair of the firm's Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice. She brings 25 years of experience and a passion for mission-driven activism and philanthropy to this work.

Diara’s practice includes advising some of the most prominent public charities and social justice advocacy organizations in the country, as well as educational institutions, cultural organizations, churches and private foundations. Nonprofit boards and executives appreciate her deep knowledge on a broad range of federal tax compliance and governance issues, and they rely on her strategic counsel in challenging times. 

Diara also advises corporations on their philanthropy, employee workplace giving programs, cause marketing and corporate sponsorship agreements. Working closely with colleagues in the firm’s Entertainment, Family Office and Sports practices, she also supports high net worth and high-profile individuals and families as they design and implement their philanthropy platforms for lasting legacy and impact. 

Diara has represented numerous organizations before the IRS—navigating complex audits involving an array of issues (e.g., executive compensation, unrelated business tax and political campaign intervention); securing private letter rulings regarding proposed transactions; seeking approval of scholarship programs; and securing reinstatement of exempt status following auto-revocation.

Diara is a frequent speaker at national nonprofit sector conferences.