Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Consultation (3) Contracts (5) Corporate Governance (1) Data Privacy (1) Finance/Fundraising (2) Intellectual Property (2) Nonprofit Formation (2) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (3) Research (2) Tax (2) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (4)

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Climate Democracy Initiative

Draft Asset Purchase Agreement

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit working at the intersection of climate and democracy by drafting an asset transfer agreement.

Referred by:

  • Friend of the Foundation
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) was founded on a simple but urgent truth: climate change is not just an environmental crisis, it is also a governance crisis. CDI works at the intersection of climate and democracy to help communities reclaim decision-making power, shape fair outcomes, and build the civic muscle needed for long-term resilience.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) is seeking assistance drafting/reviewing asset transfer documentation with two separate entities (one nonprofit and one for-profit).

A nonprofit organization that CDI has worked closely with for years is winding down some of their programming. They reached out and expressed interest in transferring some of their proprietary curriculum and training materials to CDI. The CDI team is now seeking assistance drafting the asset transfer agreement. Ideally, they’d love to have this drafted by end of September. But this is not a hard deadline.

The CDI team also has a close personal relationship with the founder of a for-profit company that provides negotiation trainings (primarily for federal employees). The founder is planning to retire in the next three to five years and would like to transfer the company’s curriculum and client list to CDI. This transfer will likely happen in pieces over the coming years. The relationship is very amicable, and they are planning to co-draft the MOU over the next week. The CDI team is seeking assistance reviewing the MOU to ensure it reflects best practices and is legally sound. CDI understands that this is a very short timeline and would be grateful for review at any time given the slow transfer process.

If the attorney cannot assist with both projects, assistance with either would be greatly appreciated. The first asset transfer agreement with the non-profit is the higher priority.

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A Global Firm

Protect Certification Program

Summary:

Assist a mission driven advisory firm working at the intersection of AI, data center, and energy infrastructure and the rural communities affected by its buildout by providing a consultation on how best to protect their certification program (beyond trademarking) and implementing any recommendations.

Referred by:

  • Friend of the Foundation
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: A Global Firm (AGF) is a mission-driven advisory firm led by Principal A. Toni Young that works at the intersection of AI, data center, and energy infrastructure and the rural communities affected by its buildout. AGF advises corporations and investors on entering these communities as trusted partners rather than extractive ones, structuring capital partnerships that place investors at the table alongside communities. The work of AGF is to bridge capital and the communities it depends on, and build the independent standard that turns the development into their lasting benefit, worldwide.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Climate Action, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A Global Firm (AGF) has created a project called AIRES (AI and Responsible Energy Standards). AIRES is being stood up as an independently governed global standards body, with GRIDS as its certification. GRIDS is modeled on the USGBC/LEED and B Lab/B Corp precedents. The framework is intended to govern the operator-community relationship around infrastructure buildout and to ensure large organizations operate more responsibly in rural communities.

The AGF team is seeking a consultation with an IP attorney to discuss how best to protect the GRIDS certification (beyond trademarking the name). They would also appreciate assistance implementing any recommendations or registering any IP based upon the advice given during the consultation.

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A Global Firm

Trademark Registration

Summary:

Assist a mission driven advisory firm working at the intersection of AI, data center, and energy infrastructure and the rural communities affected by its buildout by registering two trademarks.

Referred by:

  • Friend of the Foundation
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: A Global Firm (AGF) is a mission-driven advisory firm led by Principal A. Toni Young that works at the intersection of AI, data center, and energy infrastructure and the rural communities affected by its buildout. AGF advises corporations and investors on entering these communities as trusted partners rather than extractive ones, structuring capital partnerships that place investors at the table alongside communities. The work of AGF is to bridge capital and the communities it depends on, and build the independent standard that turns the development into their lasting benefit, worldwide.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Climate Action, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

A Global Firm (AGF) has created a project called AIRES (AI and Responsible Energy Standards). AIRES is being stood up as an independently governed global standards body, with GRIDS as its certification. GRIDS is modeled on the USGBC/LEED and B Lab/B Corp precedents. The framework is intended to govern the operator-community relationship around infrastructure buildout and to ensure large organizations operate more responsibly in rural communities.

The AGF team is seeking assistance registering trademarks for the AIRES and GRIDS names. If, after a search, it is determined that either name is not available, the AGF team has a narrow list of alternative names. While they are working in the U.S. now, they do plan to expand into several countries internationally. So, they would also appreciate guidance on how best to register the trademarks (e.g., should they register using the Madrid Protocol).

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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: Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey (official maps only), Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington State, and Wisconsin.
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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