Partnerships to achieve the Goals

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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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People’s Courage International Inc.

Answer Discrete Questions Around Making Mission Related Investments

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit strengthening the resilience of migrant workers in Asia by answering discrete questions related to making mission-related investments.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Founded in 2020, People’s Courage International (PCI) is a US-based nonprofit working across South and Southeast Asia to strengthen the resilience of informal and migrant workers. PCI envisions a future where every informal worker has access to effective social protections not only to manage risks at different life-cycle events but also to mitigate emerging climate risks that impact their health, livelihood and assets.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Courage International wants to branch out making mission-related investments in its areas of operations (primarily SE Asia). They are seeking assistance answering a set of discrete questions before moving forward (e.g., can they lend from the nonprofit without setting up a separate entity; what are the tax implications). The full list of questions can be provided upon request. They are incorporated in Washington, DC.

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doctHERS

Incorporate and File for 501(c)(3) Status

Summary:

Assist an organization connecting foreign healthcare workers with underserved American seniors by incorporating and filing for 501(c)(3) status.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The founders of the social enterprise doctHERS are establishing a new nonprofit entity in the United States (the “Nonprofit”). The Nonprofit will close two gaps at once: the shortage of qualified women healthcare providers in the workforce, and the exclusion of underserved American seniors from the care they need. The goal is to identify top-screened women doctors, nurses, and therapists (often from South Asian countries) and to reintegrate/integrate them into the U.S. health workforce — upskilling them on AI-enabled digital tools, telemedicine, and culturally competent care delivery. The Nonprofit will then connect them to the communities best served by exactly what they offer: people who share their language, their culture, and their lived understanding of what care should feel like. More details about their work and mission can be provided upon request.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
SDG(s):Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

The Nonprofit will be connecting top screened health care professionals with underserved American seniors.

Because these healthcare providers will be coming from abroad, it is important that the Nonprofit is set up in a way that allows it to sponsor cohorts of healthcare providers on H-1B visas.

The doctHERS team is seeking assistance incorporating this nonprofit and filing for 501(c)(3) status with these goals and considerations in mind. They anticipate working primarily in TX, GA, FL CA, NC, NY and NJ but are open to suggestions from the attorney on where best to incorporate.

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WhatFollows

Consultation on Documentation Needed to Govern Relationship

Summary:

Assist an organization building a tech solution to connect content creators with nonprofits by advising on what documentation is required to govern the platform/terms of the relationship.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: WhatFollows is a social impact organization that is building a tech solution to provide sustainable funding to NGOs through a marketplace with entertainment content creators.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
  • Visit WhatFollows
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Legal Issue(s):

WhatFollows is finalizing a beta version of their platform/marketplace. The platform will connect creators with nonprofits to promote mission-aligned content, raising much needed funding for nonprofit work.

The WhatFollows team is now seeking guidance from an attorney to discuss what documentation is needed to govern the marketplace and the relationship between the nonprofits, content creators, and WhatFollows (e.g., are Terms of Service on the marketplace sufficient). Based upon the advice given, they would also appreciate assistance drafting the documentation itself. However, this is a secondary request.

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Women’s World Banking

Set Up First Loss Guarantee Facility

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit expanding the economic assets of low income women by setting up a first-loss guarantee facility.

Referred by:

  • Friend of the Foundation
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Women’s World Banking (WWB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to expand the economic assets, participation, and power of low-income women and their households by helping them access financial services, knowledge, and markets. They partner with financial institutions and policymakers to design, develop, and implement solutions and programs that facilitate systemic change for women.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

WWB has secured charitable grant funding from the Visa Foundation to host and manage a ~$650k first-loss guarantee facility to catalyze the extension of working capital credit by VP Bank Vietnam to under-served MSMEs across a closed-loop retail supply chain using digital payments. The program seeks to build the evidence base for lending to currently under-served MSMEs by establishing a consistent transaction history and repayment track record. WWB will work with the Bank on program design, leveraging WWB’s expertise in designing financial products and solutions tailored to the needs of under-served populations, in particular under-served women MSMEs, and will collect anonymized sex-disaggregated transaction data to analyze the impact and build the case for commercial sustainability, with the first-loss progressively winding down and the Bank accepting full underwriting risk.

Given the relatively small size of the facility, they would like to make the structure as straightforward as possible, with advice from US and Vietnamese counsel. WWB is seeking US pro bono counsel to lead on the structuring and legal documentation. The Lex Mundi firm Rajah & Tann has agreed to serve as Vietnamese local counsel on a pro bono basis. WWB anticipates this project involving coordination between the US and Vietnamese firms, as well as cooperation and negotiation with VP Bank.

Their timeline is as follows:

  • Kick-off: Early August
  • Facility design completed: By Oct 2026
  • Facility established and operational: By end of Q1 2027
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Anseye Pou Ayiti

Incorporate and File for 501c3 Status

Summary:

Assist an organization transforming Haiti’s education system by helping them to incorporate in the U.S. and apply for 501c3 status.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Anseye Pou Ayiti (APA) works with local civic leaders who are transforming Haiti’s education system towards liberation, equipping generations of Haitians with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to achieve their full potential.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Anseye Pou Ayiti is a nonprofit in Haiti and has worked under a fiscal sponsor in the US for the past 13 years. They have now decided it makes sense to establish a “Friends of Anseye Pou Ayiti” nonprofit in the US to facilitate U.S. based donations. They will not have a team or any operations/programming in the US.

They are now seeking assistance incorporating and filing for 501c3 status. Although Anseye Pou Ayiti will not have permanent staff in the US, they do have some board members in the US (Maryland, DC, California). They also already work with an accounting firm and conduct annual audits with US-based firms. They are open to suggestions from the attorney on where best to incorporate.

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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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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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