Decent Work and Economic Growth

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The Peninsula College Fund

Advise on Classifying Employees for Overtime

Summary:

Help a non-profit supporting low-income, first-generation college students by advising on employee classifications for overtime.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: California
About the Organization: The Peninsula College Fund supports low-income, first-generation students in their quest for a college degree and meaningful employment post-college.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

The Peninsula College Fund has 14 full time employees, all located in California. Currently, employees who work beyond 8 hours a day are given comp time, rather than overtime pay. They hope to change that starting at the beginning of their new fiscal year (July 1, 2023). The organization’s HR team is seeking assistance with the process of classifying exempt and non-exempt employees for overtime. Also, they would appreciate assistance understanding the consequences of this shift. For example, will they be at risk of owing backpay? How can they make this transition as clear and seamless for employees? Finally, if possible, the Peninsula College Fund team would also appreciate a review of their employee handbook. The Executive Director/HR manager is an attorney and recently had help redlining the current version from a former colleague. However, they would love a review by a qualified attorney. If a volunteer cannot assist with both pieces, assistance with either one of these projects would be very valuable.

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Led By Foundation

Review/Advise on Independent Contractor Agreement

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit supporting Indian Muslim women by reviewing an Independent Contractor agreement and advising on implications under US law.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S. (nonprofit registered in MA)
About the Organization: Led By Foundation transforms Indian Muslim Women’s education into empowerment by providing them with real-life career skills, a supportive ecosystem, and access to the right opportunities and networks.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Led By Foundation is registered as a 501c3 in the United States and is also registered as a nonprofit in India. The organization’s CEO & Founder is based out of the United States, but the remaining four team members are in India. They are treated as independent contractors, not employees, and do not receive benefits. Currently, two of the four individuals are paid out of Led By’s U.S. bank account. Led By’s CEO is now seeking assistance reviewing the Independent Contractor agreement these individuals signed, as well as a consultation to discuss any red flags/implications under U.S. law.

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Solutions Journalism Network

Advise on Fair Use

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit news organization by advising on “fair use.”

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Solutions Journalism Network is a nonprofit leading a global shift in journalism, focused on what the news misses most often: how people are trying to solve problems and what we can learn from their successes or failures.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Solutions Journalism Network has a public database with links to thousands of journalistic articles drafted by independent parties (news outlets around the world. Currently, for each piece, their staff draft a bespoke short summary explaining the content of the article for users, who then can click off to read the article from its original source. Drafting the summaries is very time consuming. Moving forward, they would like to simply include a short excerpt from each piece (perhaps the first paragraph). They do not have relationships with the authors and are seeking guidance on whether including these excerpts is permitted under fair use. The Solutions Journalism Network team has received initial guidance from an attorney but is seeking a second opinion.

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RADIKAL

Explain Provisions in Grant Agreement

Summary:

Assist a social enterprise engaged in micro-lending in Haiti by reviewing the terms of a Grant Agreement.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: RADIKAL is a social enterprise focused on creating opportunities for Haitian women living in poverty by investing in micro-enterprises.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
  • Visit RADIKAL
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

RADIKAL recently signed a Grant Agreement. They are seeking assistance walking through the agreement to ensure they understand the provisions and to identify any red flags.

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Upaya Social Ventures

Advise on Potential Board Conflicts of Interest

Summary:

Advise a social enterprise creating jobs for the extreme poor in India on potential board conflicts of interest.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Upaya Social Ventures fights extreme poverty from the ground up by building scalable businesses and dignified jobs. They are an impact first investor, operating primarily in India and investing in missing middle companies that create jobs for the extreme poor.
Legal Entity Type: Hybrid (nonprofit + for-profit affiliates)
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality
Legal Issue(s):

Upaya recently brought on two board members who are also co-investors in portfolio companies. While all interests are currently aligned, the Upaya team is aware of the risk of this changing. They are seeking guidance on best practices for handling conflicts or divergences of interests, as well as assistance implementing any recommendations.

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Creating Economic Opportunities for Women (C.E.O. Women)

Advise on the Use/Ownership of IP

Summary:

Advise the founder of a nonprofit that created economic opportunities for low-income immigrant and refugee women on the use/ownership of IP.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Creating Economic Opportunities for Women (C.E.O. Women) was a non-profit organization founded and ran from 2000 – 2011, to address systemic poverty and lack of income mobility faced by low-income immigrant and refugee women in the San Francisco Bay Area. The mission of C.E.O. Women was to create economic opportunities for low-income immigrant and refugee women through teaching English, communications and entrepreneurship skills. During their tenure they provided over 2,000 women from 44 different countries with training, support and capital to start their own small businesses.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

During the life of C.E.O. Women, the team developed a program to exponentially reach more women through the use of technology and media. The program, named Grand Café, is an educational soap opera series, designed to teach English for entrepreneurship and business skills to low-income immigrant and refugee women. Six of the eighteen episodes were produced under the non-profit. When the non-profit dissolved, the IP and content of the program went to C.E.O. Women’s local community bank as collateral on a line of credit the organization still owed. The bank recently released it back to C.E.O. Women’s founder, who would now like to revive and distribute the content of the program. She is now seeking legal support to help her understand and structure how to set up and manage the IP of the program, given it was funded by grants and the original non-profit no longer exists.

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Brain Expansions Scholastic Training, Inc.

Advise Nonprofit on Impact of Selling Products (implications re: UBIT and nonprofit status)

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit preparing students from disadvantaged backgrounds for careers in the medical field by advising on implications of selling products.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: B.E.S.T. prepares students, mainly from under-represented and disadvantaged communities, for careers in the medical field to help address the national shortage of diverse healthcare professionals. Their Medical Pathway Programs provide hands-on medical instruction, mentoring, school and career guidance, as well as social safety nets for students who often face additional challenges in their lives.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

The B.E.S.T team has developed supplemental instructional programming to accompany their educational offerings. These products will be sold separately. The B.E.S.T team is seeking guidance on whether this revenue might be subject to UBIT or otherwise impact their nonprofit status. If so, they would also appreciate general advice on whether forming a hybrid entity is appropriate.

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Manodharma

Draft Memorandum of Understanding

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit that supports educators/entrepreneurs across the US and India by drafting an MOU.

Referred by:

  • Other
Jurisdictions: US
About the Organization: Manodharma is an integrating organization that enables educators and entrepreneurs in the US and India to work together to scale and sustain social good. By way of example, Manodharma partnered with another US – based nonprofit to distribute 450,000 books to children in need across India.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
  • Visit Manodharma
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

The founder of Manodharma has developed a relationship with an organization that created a mobile app to teach English, math, and job skills. They plan to work together to bring the solution to individuals across India. Manodharma’s founder is seeking assistance drafting an MOU sets forth the terms of their relationship/work.

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Alaska Fellows Program

Tax Consultation

Summary:

Provide a tax consultation to an organization that connects young Alaskans with high-impact opportunities in the state.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S. (Alaska)
About the Organization: Alaska Fellows Program (AFP) is a fall-to-spring residential program that nurtures the next generation of Alaska-based leaders by pairing them with professional mentors and connecting them with non-profit or public-sector organizations for fellowships.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Alaska Fellows Program is a fiscally sponsored organization, currently in the process of establishing a 501c3. Their program participants are paired with non-profit and public-sector organizations and paid a modest living stiped. Because the program is not tied with an academic institution and geared towards young professionals/recent graduates (rather than current students), participants are currently paid as private contractors. However, the AFP team is seeking a consultation to discuss avenues/the possibility of making the stipend tax-free. In that same consultation, if possible, they would also appreciate assistance with a few discrete questions about the tax implications of purchasing cars/properties for use in connection with the program.

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