Partnerships to achieve the Goals

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Consultation (10) Contracts (3) Corporate Governance (1) Employment/Labor (4) Finance/Fundraising (1) Intellectual Property (4) Nonprofit Formation (1) Nonprofit Governance (1) Regulatory (3) Research (1) Risk Management (1) Tax (4) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (3)

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SoScience

Advise on Whether Prize Money is Subject to Taxation

Summary:

Advise a social enterprise committed to ethical research and innovation on whether prize money is subject to taxation.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: SoScience specializes in responsible research and innovation. They support scientists in both public research institutions and private R&D laboratories in orienting their research collaborations to make sure that (1) they answer social and environmental challenges and (2) they collaborate with civil society organizations on the ground in doing so.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Legal Issue(s):

In 2018, SoScience and its founder received the prestigious Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize. Unfortunately, SoScience’s founder made a mistake when filling out the tax forms and a 30% tax was applied to the prize. Due to a bilateral agreement between France and the United States, she believes the money was not subject to taxation. In 2019, with the assistance of a French attorney, she submitted a letter to the IRS. The IRS sent a check for half the amount, which SoScience’s founder has not yet cashed. She is seeking assistance from an attorney in the US to: (i) determine whether the prize money was subject to a US tax; and (ii) if not, assistance contacting the IRS or guidance on next steps she can take. She has tried contacting the IRS on her own, but has not received a response.

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RE-Assist

IP Consultation

Summary:

Provide an IP consultation to a health-tech startup working to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

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. They 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):Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

The RE-Assist team is seeking an IP consultation to discuss ways to protect their platform, as well as some discrete questions around registering a service mark.

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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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Manodharma

Transfer IP Between Two Entities

Summary:

Assist a non-profit working to connect social entrepreneurs/educators across India and the US by transferring IP between two entities.

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):Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

During the pandemic, Manodharma’s founder: (i) established a separate entity called Smart Testing LLC devoted to implementing highly effective group testing strategies for control and management of infectious agents like SARS-CoV-2 in community settings; and (ii) was granted a utility patent for this rapid group testing strategy. Now, he is seeking assistance transferring all rights IP rights help by Smart Testing to Manodharma. Ultimately, he would like any revenue generated from the patent to benefit Manadharma.

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Red de Impacto LATAM

Provide Strategy Consultation on Entity Formation

Summary:

Advise the largest network of Impact Entrepreneurial Support Organizations in Latin America on potential entity structures in the US.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: US
About the Organization: Red de Impacto LATAM is Latin America’s largest network of Impact Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs). Today, they have over 150 member organizations (incubators, accelerators, investors, ecosystem builders, etc.) that have joined forced to advance and support social and environmental causes throughout the region.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Legal Issue(s):

RED de Impacto LATAM is currently under fiscal sponsorship and would like to become an independent entity. They are considering becoming a non-profit membership organization but are seeking a strategy consultation to discuss what structure best meets their needs.

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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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The Education Trust

Consultation on Employee Unionization

Summary:

Advise nonprofit working to improve education opportunities for low income students on considerations in the event employees unionize.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Education Trust (Ed Trust) advocates for the high academic achievement of all students, particularly those of color or living in poverty. They work with educators, policymakers, parents, and community leaders across the country to transform schools into institutions that serve all students well.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Ed Trust is seeking a consultation to discuss factors to consider if their employees decide to unionize.

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The Education Trust

Review FMLA and Parental Leave Approval Processes

Summary:

Review FMLA and parental leave approval processes on behalf of a nonprofit advocating for high academic achievement for all students.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: US
About the Organization: The Education Trust (Ed Trust) advocates for the high academic achievement of all students, particularly those of color or living in poverty. They work with educators, policymakers, parents, and community leaders across the country to transform schools into institutions that serve all students well.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):End Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Ed Trust is seeking assistance reviewing their FMLA and parental leave approval processes, related communications, and documentation practices.

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Found in Translation

Advise on Liability and Mitigating Risk

Summary:

Help a nonprofit training woman as medical interpreters minimize liability when providing childcare for program participants.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Found in Translation trains low-income bilingual women to become medical interpreters, helping them achieve economic security while advancing equality in healthcare access and improving patient outcomes.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Pre-pandemic, Found in Translation offered free, on-site, childcare assistance for students enrolled in their program. Care was provided by university students and volunteers, under the supervision of Found in Translation staff. In special circumstances, offsite childcare was supported as well. Students were asked to find and pay the caretakers directly and Found in Translation reimbursed students for the costs. Due to Covid, Found in Translation’s programming is now largely virtual and the need for off-site childcare has increased substantially. Some students have had problems: (i) finding childcare providers on their own; and (ii) paying for the costs upfront. Found in Translation is now considering a model where they recommend or provide membership to childcare search providers and potentially pay the care providers directly, but they are concerned about liability. They are seeking a consultation to better understand how one or both of these changes might impact their liability and would like to discuss strategies for limiting/minimizing any risks. If possible, they would also appreciate guidance on potential liabilities, should they return to the on-site model.

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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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SolarBuddy

Advise on Prospective Carbon Offsetting Initiative

Summary:

Assist a social enterprise working to end extreme energy poverty by answering discrete questions about a prospective carbon offsetting initiative.

Referred by:

  • Other
Jurisdictions: US
About the Organization: SolarBuddy is a nonprofit committed to gifting millions of solar lights to children living in extreme energy poverty, while simultaneously educating and inspiring people around the world to be agents of change and end extreme energy poverty by 2030.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Quality Education
Legal Issue(s):

SolarBuddy plans to provide a tax-deductible giving platform to employees via their employer to offset their carbon production both during their working days and personal life. This process/program will include involvement from SolarBuddy’s carbon trading partner, as well as a social enterprise dedicated to innovative carbon reduction programs. SolarBuddy is now seeking a consultation to discuss whether SolarBuddy can offer the employers mentioned above certain carbon credits as an incentive to participate in the payroll giving programs. They have some discrete questions ranging from whether employee benefits laws are implicated to possible effects on tax deductions for charitable donations. The SolarBuddy team would appreciate assistance by August 31st if possible.

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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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