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Sustainable Cities and Communities

Please Treat the Information in the Digest as Confidential. Do Not Circulate Outside of the Lex Mundi Network.

If you are interested in a matter, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Isis Bous and Allison Laubach through the “Ask About This Matter” button on the details page or directly (ibous@lexmundiprobono.org; alaubach@lexmundiprobono.org) and let us know which project(s) interests you. We will place matches with Lex Mundi member firms on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can view all matter summaries on the “Digest” page(s). To view matters by legal need, select the category of interest. See details of individual matters via the “Read More” link in a matter. To view all details of all available matters, choose “View All”.

View by Legal Need
Advocacy/Legislation (1) Consultation (6) Contracts (6) Corporate Governance (2) Employment/Labor (2) Finance/Fundraising (4) Nonprofit Formation (2) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (4) Research (2) Risk Management (1) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (9)

Digest |  View All

WeRobotics, Inc.

Subgrant and Microgrant Agreement Review

Summary:

Assist a global nonprofit in reviewing and updating its subgrant and microgrant agreements to ensure legal compliance and protection.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: WeRobotics is a social impact organization that brings together local experts, communities and activists across the globe to equitably and inclusively apply emerging technologies to achieve global aspirations, including the Sustainable Development Goals. They are committed to offering a practical alternative to systems dominated by foreign-led and top-down interventions.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Gender Equality, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

WeRobotics, through its Flying Labs Network, supports over 40 independent knowledge hubs worldwide, providing funding and technology transfers for social good projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As part of this effort, WeRobotics awards:

    Microgrants – providing funding and in-kind support for impactful projects.

    Subgrants – financial assistance awarded under a grant received by WeRobotics.

Both types of grants are governed by U.S. (Delaware) law, and agreements for each were originally developed by legal counsel several years ago. However, these templates have not been reviewed or updated in recent years. Given the evolving regulatory landscape and WeRobotics‘ global operations, the organization seeks legal assistance to review, amend, or, if necessary, redraft these agreements to ensure compliance and adequate protections.

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Yayasan Sungai Watch Indonesia

Nonprofit Operations Consultation

Summary:

Support a nonprofit dedicated to stopping plastic pollution in the ocean by cleaning Indonesian rivers with guidance on board development and general best practices for nonprofit operations in the U.S.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Sungai Watch is a non-profit organization on a mission to stop plastic from going into the ocean by cleaning our rivers.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Yayasan Sungai Watch Indonesia operates a nonprofit equivalent in Indonesia and a 501(c)(3) in the United States, registered in New York. The U.S. entity primarily serves as a fundraising arm for the Indonesian organization. As fundraising activities in the U.S. grow, the team seeks legal consultation on best practices for operating a nonprofit and considerations for structuring and expanding the Board of Directors.

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Yayasan Sungai Watch Indonesia

Nonprofit Name Change

Summary:

Support a nonprofit focused on stopping plastic pollution in the ocean by cleaning Indonesian rivers with updating the name of their U.S. 501(c)(3) to strengthen alignment with their Indonesian affiliate.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Sungai Watch is a non-profit organization on a mission to stop plastic from going into the ocean by cleaning our rivers.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Yayasan Sungai Watch Indonesia operates a nonprofit equivalent in Indonesia and a 501(c)(3) organization in the United States. The U.S. entity, registered in New York, is currently named Make A Change World Inc. They are seeking a legal consultation to discuss the process and implications of changing the organization’s name to better align with their Indonesian affiliate. If a name change is determined to be the best course of action, they would also need assistance in formally executing the change.

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Riffle Ventures

Establish 501(c)(3)

Summary:

Assist an organization enhancing economic and community resilience to climate change by establishing a 501(c)(3).

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Riffle Ventures’ mission is to enhance economic and community resilience to climate change. They are building a community platform and eco-system of overlooked diverse founders of innovative organizations; developing and sharing content and resources with this community; and providing technical support and training to the community.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Riffle Ventures team has already established a for-profit entity for their work. They are now seeking assistance establishing a new 501(c)(3) (both incorporating and filing for 501(c)(3) status). This non-profit will operate at arms-length from their existing for-profit entity. The Riffle Ventures team is open to where this non-profit is established. But the organization’s founders are located in DC, NJ, and CA.

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Reparations Club

Consultation on Potential Name Change

Summary:

Assist an indie bookshop and creative sanctuary by providing a consultation on a potential name change.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Reparations Club (aka Rep Club) is a visionary indie bookshop and creative sanctuary. Opened in 2019, Rep Club has quickly become one of the most important and empowering literary spaces in Los Angeles, recognized by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, O Magazine, Issa Rae, and more. Beyond literature, Rep Club hosts in-person events like artist conversations, karaoke nights, and queer game nights, serving as a cultural hub celebrating diversity and embracing authenticity.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Reparations Club team is often referred to by their colloquial name, “Rep Club.” The Reparations Club team is now considering a formal name change. They are seeking a consultation to discuss what pursuing a formal name change would entail (e.g., what steps they would need to take/paperwork they would need to file) or if it makes more sense to keep their name and operate under a DBA. If it’s the latter, they would love to understand what steps they should take to pursue that path.

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Consultation Corral

Provide Consultation on FOIA Requests

Summary:

Assist a team that has developed an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time by providing a consultation on FOIA requests.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Corral is an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time. Their process automates the work of tribal governments and Native-led advocacy organizations to pull together Tribal Consultation opportunities. Corral is an open-government project geared at making Tribal Consultation communication and existing data work for tribal communities. Corral is available to staff and elected officials of Tribal Nations at no cost.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Unfortunately, many federal agencies do not proactively publish information about Tribal Consultations. The Consultation Corral team is now seeking a consultation with an attorney with FOIA experience to discuss how best to obtain this information. Importantly, they’d like to better understand if it is possible to create a standing FOIA request with federal agencies, and whether this is the best path forward. Ideally, the federal agencies would publish reports on Tribal Consultations within a certain time frame after each Tribal Consultation is held.

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Consultation Corral

Draft Template MOU for Volunteers

Summary:

Assist a team that has developed an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time by drafting a template MOU for use with volunteers.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Corral is an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time. Their process automates the work of tribal governments and Native-led advocacy organizations to pull together Tribal Consultation opportunities. Corral is an open-government project geared at making Tribal Consultation communication and existing data work for tribal communities. Corral is available to staff and elected officials of Tribal Nations at no cost.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

The Consultation Corral team works with volunteers and advisors to develop the Corral platform. They are seeking assistance drafting a template MOU to use with future volunteers that set forth the terms of the relationship. Importantly, they’d like the agreement to address IP/data ownership and privacy concerns (e.g., certain information the volunteers access is confidential).

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SXD Inc.

Consultation on Fundraising Round

Summary:

Assist a social impact organization reducing waste in the fashion industry by providing a consultation on their next fundraising round.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: SXD is a New York design-tech startup charting a radical new standard: eliminate material waste with great design and bleeding-edge technology. The fashion and apparel industry wastes 92 million tons of fabric material every year. SXD’s mission is to bring such material waste down to zero while reducing CO2 emissions, preserving water, reducing material consumption, and empowering workers.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The SXD team plans to engage in a fundraising round for the first time since 2022. They are seeking a comprehensive consultation with an attorney to discuss what steps they need to take/what documentation they need to have in place before engaging in this fundraising round.

They still have the contracts/documentation from the last fundraising round (including the SAFE agreement) and plan to pull the information together themselves. Afterwards, they would greatly appreciate assistance reviewing the contracts/documentation to ensure that it complies with applicable law and covers their needs. However, this is a secondary request.

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Land Use Atlas, Inc.

Research on Zoning Laws

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit democratizing information hidden within zoning codes by conducting research on zoning laws.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: All States Except (CT, GA, HI, ME, NH, PA, RI)
About the Organization: Land Use Atlas is a nonprofit working to digitize, demystify, and democratize information currently hidden within zoning codes. Their flagship project, the National Zoning Atlas (NZA), is a multi-institutional research collaboration centralizing data about zoning – the most important power of American local government, and the little-understood force shaping our lives. Their online interactive map exposes how thousands of communities use zoning – long a tool for racial and economic segregation – to shape housing choices, health outcomes, transportation patterns, environmental degradation, and climate response, among other things.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Land Use Atlas team is seeking volunteers to research/contribute information about whether jurisdictions have zoning. The volunteers will review jurisdictions’ websites and ordinances, contact jurisdictions when needed (including submitting public information requests), identify the existence of zoning codes, and extract zoning codes. The President of Land Use Atlas is an attorney and a professor at Cornell Law School. The Land Use Atlas team will provide detailed written instructions and guidance. They are also available to facilitate webinar trainings for groups of volunteers.

 

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