Gender Equality

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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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Farhana Huq (individual; founder of Brown Girl Surf)

Consultation on Ownership and Potential Transfer of Trademark

Summary:

Provide a consultation on trademark ownership and rights to the co-founder of a social enterprise committed to expanding surf culture, cultivating community and taking care of the planet.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: US (CA)
About the Organization: Farhana Huq founded Brown Girl Surf in 2011. The organization’s mission is to create a more diverse, environmentally reverent, and joyful women’s, girl’s and gender expansive surf culture by increasing access to surfing, cultivating community, amplifying the voices of surfers of color, and taking care of the earth. She stepped away from her role as Executive Director of Brown Girl Surf in 2016 to pursue another venture, and now acts as an advisor and volunteer.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
  • Visit Farhana Huq (individual; founder of Brown Girl Surf)
SDG(s):Climate Action, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Life Below Water (conservation and sustainability), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities
Legal Issue(s):

Farhana put a great deal of her personal money and labor into starting and growing Brown Girl Surf and has owned the organization’s trademark since inception. Since leaving Brown Girl Surf, she has licensed the trademark back to the organization for a nominal amount. The most recent licensing agreement lapsed in 2019, but Brown Girl Surf has continued using the mark. Farhana is now seeking a consultation to discuss what rights she has to the mark, and what the process would look like if she transferred all rights to the current entity.

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Filament

Advise on Becoming Registered Investment Advisor

Summary:

Advise on whether a social entrepreneur needs to become a registered investment advisor to provide new, socially-conscious, investment-related product.

Referred by:

  • Other
Jurisdictions: US (registered DE C-corp)
About the Organization: Filament is a social enterprise working to democratize access to personalized investing advice from experts. Financial advisors and planners are out of reach for many people and free resources are often highly generalized and not actionable. The team at Filament hopes to help people make smart investing decisions and, just as importantly, feel more confident and less overwhelmed.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
  • Visit Filament
SDG(s):Gender Equality, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Filament’s founder is seeking advice on: (i) whether they need to be a registered investment advisor in order to run a small pilot with about 20 investors; and (ii) whether (down the line and assuming that Filament will have users in many states) they should register as a robo-advisor with the SEC or as a traditional advisor in each state?

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Living Goods

Review Employee Handbook

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit working to ensure women and children don’t die from easily treatable diseases by providing assistance reviewing and finalizing the organization’s employee handbook.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: MD; VA; GA; NY; CA; WA; D.C.
About the Organization: Living Goods is a global organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya that’s dedicated to ensuring women and children don’t die from easily preventable and treatable diseases by providing high quality, life-saving health care at their doorsteps.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Clean Water and Sanitation, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Legal Issue(s):

Living Good is seeking assistance reviewing and finalizing their employee handbook.

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