Regulatory Licensing for Nonprofits

At Yazdanyar Law Offices, we help nonprofits, NGOs, and humanitarian actors operate legally and effectively in sanctioned environments. Whether you need guidance on general license use, help with a specific OFAC license, or support with frozen funds and bank flags, we ensure your mission stays compliant—and on track.

General License Guidance & Compliance 

OFAC issues general licenses that allow certain types of transactions without needing individualized approval. However, these licenses can be narrowly defined and are often misapplied. We help clients:

• Determine if your planned activity qualifies under a general license (e.g. for medical aid, educational services)
   
• Structure and document transactions to fit within authorized parameters
   
• Communicate compliance to financial institutions and regulators
   
• Navigate ambiguous or changing OFAC guidance
   

Proper use of general licenses can save time and avoid unnecessary scrutiny—but misuse can lead to serious consequences. We help you get it right.

Specific License Application & Compliance for Humanitarian Work  

When a general license doesn’t apply—or you need a tailored solution—we prepare and submit specific license applications on your behalf. Common cases include:

• Transferring funds to sanctioned jurisdictions
   
• Shipping food, medicine, or humanitarian supplies
   
• Engaging local partners in embargoed regions
   
• Facilitating payments for legal, medical, or family needs
   

We also handle license amendments, renewals, and direct follow-up with OFAC to reduce delays and secure timely approvals.

Risk Mitigation & Document Retention Strategy

We help organizations minimize legal risk while maintaining operational flexibility. Our team provides:

• Due diligence frameworks to document your good faith compliance
   
• Internal compliance protocols for working in high-risk jurisdictions
   
• Guidance on OFAC reporting and recordkeeping obligations
   

Bank Flag Resolution & Account Support

Sanctions complications often arise during financial transactions. If your bank freezes funds, delays transfers, or flags your nonprofit’s name, we step in to resolve it. We:

• Communicate directly with banks to resolve sanctions-related issues
   
• Challenge false positives and name matches on OFAC’s SDN List
   
• Restore access to frozen or closed accounts following license approval
   

Schedule a consultation to learn how U.S. sanctions impact your organization and how we can help you move forward—lawfully and confidently.