Partnerships to achieve the Goals

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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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Advocacy/Legislation (2) Consultation (12) Contracts (4) Corporate Governance (1) Data Privacy (4) Employment/Labor (3) Finance/Fundraising (1) Intellectual Property (10) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (4) Research (3) Risk Management (2) Tax (1) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (9) Webinars/Trainings (1)

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Notehouse Collaborative

Nonprofit Governance Consultation

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit that provides capacity building services to social impact organizations by providing a consultation to address increased revenue and expanded offerings.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S. (incorporated in Massachusetts)
About the Organization: Notehouse Collaborative is a nonprofit that was initially established to serve as a fiscal sponsor to other organizations. However, the founder is now transitioning to provide consulting and capacity building services to nonprofit organizations
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
  • Visit Notehouse Collaborative
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Legal Issue(s):

Notehouse Collaborative was initially created to serve as a fiscal sponsor for other organizations. The founder filled out the 1023 EZ application, and the organization obtained 501(c)(3) status. Now, they are changing their offerings to focus on providing consulting services and other capacity building products/services to nonprofits. The founder anticipates providing both pro bono and paid offerings and believes their revenue may surpass $50,000 within the next year. They also plan to change the name of the nonprofit.

The Notehouse Collaborative team is now seeking a consultation with a tax-exempt attorney to better understand what steps they need to take to make these changes while complying with applicable law/IRS regulations (e.g., should they submit a 1023 application; do they need to update their governing documents).

Ultimately, they would appreciate assistance executing these changes. However, this is a secondary request. Notehouse Collaborative is incorporated in Massachusetts.

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Catalyst Now

Review Privacy Policy and/or Terms & Conditions

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit uniting social innovators to advance the UN Sustainable Development goals by reviewing the Privacy Policy for their website and/or drafting the Terms & Conditions for their membership application.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Catalyst Now (formerly Catalyst 2030) is a dynamic global movement of social innovators transforming systems and driving sustainable change to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals worldwide. They unite social innovators, social entrepreneurs, civic society, funders, private sector leaders, academia, and governments to create lasting systemic change through collaborative action.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
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, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Catalyst Now was a program under a Dutch nonprofit for many years and has recently become an independent 501(c)(3) in the United States.

They are now seeking assistance reviewing the Privacy Policy for their website (which also covers signing up for their newsletter) to ensure that it complies with U.S. law. While the non-profit is based in the United States, users will be from all over the world. They would also appreciate guidance/assistance on best practices for ensuring compliance for a global audience.

The website also includes a call to action for organizations to become a member of the Catalyst Now network. This leads to a multi-step application form. The Catalyst Now team is also seeking assistance drafting the Terms & Conditions associated with the member application process.

If an attorney cannot assist with both pieces, assistance with either would be greatly appreciated.

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Right to Be

IP Consultation On How to Protect Methodology

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit fighting harassment and discrimination by providing an IP consultation to discuss how best to protect their bystander intervention methodology.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Right to Be is a nonprofit working to build safe, inclusive public spaces by transforming the culture that perpetuates harassment and discrimination. They carry out this mission by building the power of everyday people to create safe and welcoming environments for all.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Right to Be has developed a bystander intervention methodology known as “The 5Ds of Bystander Intervention.” It has gained notoriety in recent years, and several organizations have used the methodology without proper credit. The Right to Be team also has several major upcoming projects based on the methodology.

The Right to Be team is now seeking a consultation with an IP attorney to discuss how best to protect their methodology going forward. They are planning to register a trademark for the name, have some underlying materials copyrighted, and have some IP protections included in their template contracts. They are seeking guidance from an attorney to confirm they’ve adequately covered all possible avenues of IP protection.

Should the attorney recommend any additional protections, the Right to Be team would appreciate assistance with the implementation/filings. However, this is a secondary request.

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Living Goods

Advise on Employee Restructuring

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit supporting community health works in Africa by advising on employee restructuring in Virginia.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: VA
About the Organization: Living Goods is a nonprofit that aims to save lives at scale by supporting digitally empowered community health workers who go door to door delivering lifesaving care to their neighbors. They work with governments and partners to leverage smart mobile technology, rigorously strengthen performance, and relentlessly innovate to deliver high-quality, impactful health services cost-effectively.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Legal Issue(s):

Living Goods primarily operates in Kenya, Uganda, and Burkina Faso, and most of their staff are in East Africa. However, there is a small team in the US dedicated to business development/fundraising. Given the changing funding landscape and for operational efficiency, Living Goods has been forced to review its Business Development structure and eliminate or redesign some of these positions. One of their employees (based in Virginia) was set to go on parental leave during the restructuring process. Before her leave began, she was sent a promissory letter for a senior manager position upon her return. Unfortunately, this position will likely be cut.

The Living Goods team understands the complication this brings and that they will need to consider the implications of this change in direction. They have no intention of making any changes during the employee’s leave and expect her to return in December. That said, they will likely finalize their restructuring plan in late September. They are trying to identify another position for this employee, but aren’t sure if it’s feasible.

The Living Goods team is seeking a consultation with an employment attorney to discuss their options. They would like to understand the legal implications, risks, and how to eliminate the position (and potentially lay off the employee if they cannot identify another role) in a legally compliant manner.

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Sozo Impact Inc.

Employment/Labor Law Consultation Involving Independent Contractors

Summary:

Assist an international contemporary arts agency and incubator by providing a consultation on their employment practices and treatment of artists as independent contractors.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: CA
About the Organization: Sozo Impact Inc. (SOZO) is an international contemporary arts agency and incubator at the intersection of social impact, innovation, and culture. Their portfolio of trailblazing artistic productions, experiences, and educational initiatives implements holistic approaches that cultivate equitable and liberatory creative ecosystems.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

SOZO is registered as a nonprofit in California and works with artists both in the state and around the world. In many instances, they are serving as general managers for artists, and other times, as creative producers for artists to develop new work across mediums including music, dance, mixed reality technologies and installations. They treat many of these artists as independent contractors. The SOZO team is seeking a consultation with an employment/labor law attorney familiar with performing arts industry to: (i) review their current practices; (ii) help identify any risks (particularly under CA Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5)); (iii) and provide guidance on when they need workers compensation and other insurance coverages that covers these artists.

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Platform for Labour Action International

Draft Affiliation Agreement

Summary:

Assist an organization working to provide legal aid to marginalized workers in Uganda by drafting an affiliation agreement between their U.S. and Ugandan entities.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: United States (Ugandan review will be addressed separately)
About the Organization: Platform for Labor Action (PLA) is a well-established Ugandan organization dedicated to providing legal aid to marginalized workers earning under $160/month and stopping child labour. In 2023, Platform for Labour Action International was established in the United States to support PLA’s mission through research, future fundraising, and expanded operations.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education
Legal Issue(s):

Platform for Labor Action (PLA) is a well-established Ugandan organization dedicated to providing legal aid to marginalized workers earning under $160/month and stopping child labor. In 2023, PLA International was established in the United States to support PLA’s mission through research, future fundraising, and expanded operations, specifically as a U.S. 501(c)(3) entity.

The PLA team is seeking assistance drafting an affiliation agreement between the U.S. and Ugandan entities to formalize the relationship, clarify roles, and establish proper governance and funding protocols. This agreement is crucial for ensuring PLA International maintains its 501(c)(3) status, particularly regarding IRS compliance, fundraising regulations, international grantmaking protocols, and organizational governance, including proper documentation of fund transfers, OFAC compliance, and intellectual property provisions.

 

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8B Education Investments

CRA Credit Strategy Memo

Summary:

Draft a legal memo for a fintech serving globally mobile African students analyzing the viability of using CRA credits to support college towns through student lending programs.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: 8B is a social impact fintech enabling African brilliance to have a global impact. ​​They are the first company focused exclusively on providing end-to-end value to global Africans and envision a world where the frictions restricting African talent are eliminated and the continent’s immense well of imagination goes global.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

8B Education Investments, a social impact fintech focused on serving globally mobile African students through fair student loans, is seeking assistance exploring how Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credits can be utilized by financial institutions to support local college towns facing economic decline due to decreased student enrollment. The focus would be on enabling local lending to foreign students, with the proceeds going directly to colleges and universities with an aim to clarify that CRA credit should be based on the use of funds—supporting local institutions and economies—rather than the nationality of the borrower. They would greatly appreciate a memo that provides legal analysis, policy background, and strategic guidance that can be shared with CRA officers at banks to encourage adoption of this approach.

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