David Atkin

Founder and Senior Attorney

David Atkin is the Founder and Director of Center for Nonprofit Law. He has been deeply involved in the nonprofit sector for over 40 years and has worked with thousands of nonprofit organizations.

David is a recognized expert on nonprofit law. He has helped coordinate for the Oregon State Bar’s Continuing Legal Education Seminars on Advising Nonprofit Corporations, and regularly gives specialized seminars for CPA’s and other professionals who advise or lead nonprofit organizations.

In addition to his JD in Law, David has a BA in Biological and Environmental Sciences, an MA in Environmental Management, and a certificate of specialization in Environmental and Natural Resource Law. He was an adjunct Professor at the University of Oregon Law School for ten years, where he taught Public Land Law, Indian Law, Water Law and a variety of other courses for the Environment and Natural Resource Law Department. Along with his legal work in the USA, David also works with many international nonprofit organizations in developing countries.

David was a Smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service for ten years, parachuting into remote mountainous areas to fight forest fires. He is a trained and experienced outdoors enthusiast and loves camping, scuba diving, and white-water rafting. He also loves carpentry projects and has designed and built two houses. David, his wife Lori, and their two young sons share a passion for country life, and they love to spend time working and playing on their family farm in southern Oregon.