Sustainable Cities and Communities

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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.

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Consultation (6) Contracts (9) Data Privacy (1) Employment/Labor (2) Intellectual Property (5) Nonprofit Formation (1) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (1) Tax (1) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (5) Webinars/Trainings (1)

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The Institute of Black Imagination

Consultation on IP Ownership

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit celebrating art and design by providing a consultation on IP ownership.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Institute of Black Imagination is a nonprofit that celebrates past, present, and future art and design. Their mission is to inspire, engage, and help underserved populations unleash their imagination. To this end, they are assembling a library archive, the founder hosts a podcast that incorporates Black and Brown voices around design thinking, and they are developing a post-secondary design curriculum.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Institute of Black Imagination is seeking a consultation to help them assess ownership rights in the trademark, name, and logo of the organization as some portions were registered by the founder personally, though the organization paid for the development of the logo through a grant earmarked for its creation. The organization would like to discuss the best approach so they can continue to use the IP. They would appreciate help pursuing a license or a transfer, as appropriate, and an understanding of best practices in pricing and duration should they need to pursue a license. If possible, they would appreciate assistance drafting the license itself. But this is a secondary request.

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Ahaana Ventures

Consultation on Establishing Nonprofit

Summary:

Assist a social enterprise committed to investing in women founders and other historically underrepresented entrepreneurs across South Asia by advising on establishing a U.S. non-profit.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Ahaana Ventures is committed to building a more diverse, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in South Asia. Leveraging their entrepreneurial expertise and global networks, they provide catalytic social and financial capital, strategic advisory support and leadership coaching to women founders and other historically underrepresented entrepreneurs, enabling them to drive positive social and environmental change in their communities and beyond.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Ahaana Ventures team would like to establish a U.S. non-profit that can make early-stage impact investments in South Asia (primarily India). Any returns would be re-invested in other mission-aligned ventures. They are seeking a consultation to discuss a handful of discrete questions, including whether a 501(c)(3) structure is appropriate, and any major requirements and/or implications to consider when setting up a nonprofit for the purpose of impact investing. After the consultation, Ahaana Ventures would appreciate assistance incorporating and filing for tax exempt status. However, this is a secondary request.

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Avol, Inc.

Review/Revise Contract Setting Forth Terms of Investment in Exchange for Services

Summary:

Urgent – Assist a startup building autonomous electric aircraft by reviewing a contract setting forth terms of an investment in exchange for using a specified service provider.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Avol builds hyper efficient autonomous electric aircraft for use by logistics carriers, both reducing costs and harmful emissions.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Avol plans to enter into an agreement, whereby they receive an investment in exchange for agreeing to contract with a specified service provider. They are seeking assistance reviewing the terms of the agreement and building it out if necessary. This is a time sensitive request, and the Avol team would like to complete the project by 6/9 at the latest.

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Gravity Water

Trademark Registration

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit providing last-mile communities with resilient water infrastructure by registering trademarks for its name and logo.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Gravity Water provides schools in last-mile communities with resilient water infrastructure they can rely on throughout the future. Each of their systems is built by local community members using locally accessible materials, creating a local empowerment model that is resilient to failure over time.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Gravity Water is seeking assistance registering trademarks for their name and logo.

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Gravity Water

Patent Filing

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit providing last-mile communities with resilient water infrastructure by filing a patent application.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Gravity Water provides schools in last-mile communities with resilient water infrastructure they can rely on throughout the future. Each of their systems is built by local community members using locally accessible materials, creating a local empowerment model that is resilient to failure over time.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Gravity Water developed technology that allows residential and industrial buildings to operate off both rain and freshwater through an automated process. They are seeking assistance filing a patent for their design. This technology has and will continue to be used to benefit schools and low-income communities across the APAC region. However, the Gravity Water team is considering creating a hybrid entity and developing an earned income model in the U.S. private sector. Proceeds would be used to scale impact through their non-profit. At this time, the Gravity Water team has not decided whether the patent should be owned by the founder, non-profit, or prospective for-profit entity. Any guidance on this issue would be greatly appreciated, but it is a secondary request.

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Designing Justice + Designing Spaces

Guidance on Transitioning Program

Summary:

Provide guidance to a non-profit architecture and real estate development firm as they transition one of their programs to a separate non-profit.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S. (CA-based nonprofit)
About the Organization: Designing Justice + Designing Spaces is a non-profit architecture and real estate development firm with a mission to end mass incarceration. Their work seeks to counter the societal inequities evident in the dominant architectural models of courthouses and prisons, and they do so through the creation of new prototypes such as peacemaking centers, transitional housing, and mobile villages.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The Designing Justice + Designing Spaces team developed a program called Pop-Up Village, which brings together curated programming, offered out of customized buses, vans, pop-up shops, and other types of mobile architecture, to curate a one stop shop of community resources, for community by community on formerly blighted locations. Because Designing Justice focuses on design and development rather than event production, and due to the growth and operational needs of Pop-Up Village, they are now transitioning the program to Compass & Keys. Compass & Keys is a newly formed 501(c)(3) with limited cash flow, and Pop-Up Village is their first and only initiative. Designing Justice has provided a variety of supports to Compass & Keys, to ensure the continued success of Pop-Up Village. As the more established entity, they currently serve as the lead when applying for grants and managing the financials and cash flow of the program and pay Compass & Keys for their services. Eventually, they’d like Compass & Keys to become fully self-sufficient. However, in the interim, they are seeking a comprehensive consultation to: (i) determine how best to structure their relationship with Pop-Up Village (they envision a fiscal sponsor-like arrangement); and (ii) discuss whether they can structure the relationship so that they are only supporting the Pop-Up Village program – with design services, rather than Compass & Keys as a whole (which will be particularly important if they expand their offerings). After the consultation, the Designing Justice team would greatly appreciate assistance drafting the contract(s) governing the parties’ relationship. However, this is a secondary request.

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Climate Resilient Communities

Review MOU

Summary:

Assist a non-profit empowering community voices to implement equitable climate solutions by reviewing a template MOU for use with partners that will provide educational programming.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) is a California community-based organization empowering community voices to implement equitable climate solutions for unity, resilience, and justice. Their outreach cultivates environmental awareness while giving local residents in under-resourced communities a voice in proactive resilience planning and adaptation.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Climate Resilient Communities launched their new Youth Climate Collective on April 29th. This program provides opportunities for underserved youth in East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Belle Haven to explore and experience firsthand the benefits of implementing climate adaptation strategies. They are partnering with other community-based organizations that will provide educational resources and programming through a series of 12 hands-on workshops and field trips. The Climate Resilient Communities team has drafted an MOU for use with these organizations and is seeking assistance reviewing the terms.

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RE-Assist

Respond to Discrete Questions About Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Rules

Summary:

Assist a health-tech startup working to improve patient experiences and outcomes by answering discrete questions about two Centers for Medicare and Medicaid rules.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: RE-Assist is a social enterprise working to improve the lives of patients in transitions of care while improving productivity, utilization between providers, and reducing the burden of care. The RE-Assist team partners with healthcare institutions to greatly reduce patient readmissions, length of stay, and expedite the referral process to connect patients with resources and service providers suited for their unique needs.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

The RE-Assist team is seeking guidance on two new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid rules: (i) The Impact Act 2019; and the (ii) Interoperability and Patient Access Rule 2020. With respect to The Impact Act, they’d like to better understand the discharge process from the hospital and to clarify whether it is the hospital’s responsibility to make sure patients are informed of post-acute services. If so, they’d like to know what details are required. With respect to the Interoperability and Patient Access Rule 2020, they’d like to understand whether skilled nursing facilities are required to make patient information accessible digitally.

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Mirza

Tax Advice – Consider Ways to Make Caregiving Funds Tax-Free

Summary:

Help a social enterprise working to remove care affordability as a barrier for women and people of color in the workplace by advising on ways to make caregiving funds tax free.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Mirza is a social enterprise working to remove care affordability as a barrier for women and people of color in the workplace. They build, distribute and track caregiving subsidies to help employers support their working parents.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Mirza is currently operating with a model that is entirely employer self-funded, so they work with DCAP and state/federal employer tax credit limitations. They are seeking assistance thinking through whether there is a way for employers and employees to pay into a product that offers non-taxable coverage for caregiving, without burdensome limitations on use. The Mirza team would primarily like to consider whether these payments can fall under pre-existing healthcare or education/tuition buckets.

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