End Poverty

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Consultation (4) Contracts (8) Corporate Governance (1) Data Privacy (1) Employment/Labor (1) Intellectual Property (6) Nonprofit Governance (4) Tax (1) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (6)

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MoringaConnect/True Foundry

Consultation on Operating a Hybrid Entity

Summary:

Help a social enterprise supporting farmers in Ghana by providing a consultation on operating a hybrid entity.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: MoringaConnect is a social enterprise that creates transformational wealth for women and farming communities in Ghana. They provide a dedicated agricultural extension officer, training, organic seeds and fertilizer, and financing as needed to enable over 5000 small farmers throughout Ghana to kickstart their moringa farms. Most importantly, they provide a guaranteed market for the leaves and seeds they produce. These seeds are then turned into oil, tea, and powder that is sold around the world. MoringaConnect has two subdisiaries in Ghana, and recently established two nonprofits in Ghana and a 501c3 in the United States. The 501c3, True Foundry, is helping African founders build sustainable companies and flourishing communities.
Legal Entity Type: Hybrid (nonprofit + for-profit affiliates)
SDG(s):Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

MoringaConnect has two subsidiaries, and also recently established a 501c3 in the United States, as well as two nonprofits in Ghana. They are seeking a comprehensive consultation to discuss best practices for operating their hybrid entity. Down the line, they will also need assistance drafting an Operating Agreement. However, this is a secondary request.

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Kumbatia Seafood

Trademark Registration

Summary:

Assist a social enterprise working to conserve East Africa’s marine ecosystems while mobilizing fishing communities out of poverty by registering a trademark.

Referred by:

  • Friend of the Foundation
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Kumbatia Seafood is a world-class seafood wholesaler with a mission to conserve East Africa’s marine ecosystems while mobilizing its artisanal fishing communities out of poverty.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):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), Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Kumbatia has entered into a formal alliance agreement with Simple Life processors in Kenya in order to be able to process and export high-end seafood sourced from Kenya’s artisanal fishing communities to international markets. They have established a jointly owned Delaware corporation, and are seeking assistance registering a trademark for the new entity.

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The Community Grocer

Advise on Relationship Between Entities/Draft Operating Agreement

Summary:

Assist a social enterprise combatting nutritional inequalities by advising on its relationship with another nonprofit and drafting an Operating Agreement.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Community Grocer (TCG) is a nonprofit working to combat nutritional inequalities. Their mission is to reinvent the corner store by creating innovative community-driven retail access points to nutrition. Currently, the language of the Farm Bill (which governs SNAP) does not allow for the sale of hot and prepared foods in exchange for SNAP benefits and prohibits a cooking model where retailers can sell eligible raw foods and swap them for cooked food on premises. This leaves many people without access to fresh, healthy, meals. To solve this problem, the TCG team is working in concert with an independent non-profit, Resident Action Committee II (RAC2). TCG has purchased and is retrofitting a building for their pilot program in Philadelphia. TCG will offer an all-day menu of meal items sold as raw ingredient recipe kits eligible with SNAP benefits. RAC2 will operate a kitchen separately in the rear half of the building. TCG customers will thus find themselves spatially able to easily transform their SNAP-eligible ingredients sold at TCG into delicious, healthy, and empowering meals.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):End Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

The Community Grocer (TCG) team would appreciate guidance as they think through how best to structure the relationship between TCG and Resident Action Committee II (RAC2), as well as assistance drafting an Operating Agreement between the non-profits. Although they are working in concert, they are independent entities. Among the issues to address are how best to grant money to RAC2 to operate the kitchen and pay their staff, as well as terms for subletting space in their building for the kitchen.

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Solid as Gold Consulting

Review Template Management and Distribution Contracts

Summary:

Assist a startup music and film production company that offers opportunities to minorities and refugees by reviewing their template Management and Distribution contracts.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Solid as Gold Consulting is a music and film production company with its own distribution technology. Importantly, they work across 60 countries and provide opportunities for minority and refugees groups to develop professional careers.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Solid as Gold Consulting is seeking assistance reviewing their template Management and Distribution agreements for use with artists. Both were drafted by the Harvard Law Clinic, and the Solid as Gold Consulting team is seeking a second set of eyes to ensure the contracts adequately cover their needs.

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Solutions Journalism Network

Draft Template Partnership Agreement

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit news organization by drafting a template Partnership Agreement.

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, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being
Legal Issue(s):

The team at Solutions Journalism Network is seeking assistance building out their template Partnership Agreement. Solutions Journalism Network typically uses this agreement with organizations they work with to manage subgrants. For context, they sometimes pay these partner organizations for their assistance.

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TechLit Africa

Advise on Best Way to Structure Relationship Between Two Entities

Summary:

Advise a non-profit providing tech education in Kenya on the best way to structure the relationship between two entities.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: TechLit Africa is a non-profit organization that aims to end inter-generational poverty in Kenya by leveraging the digital economy. They repurpose old computers to build computer labs in rural primary schools, giving kids the opportunity to gain technical skills that will position them for family-sustaining jobs and brighter futures.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Quality Education
Legal Issue(s):

TechLit Africa has two separate entities, a 501c3 registered in Illinois and a Community Based Organization in Kenya. They fundraise and receive computer donations through the U.S. nonprofit. Then, the U.S. entity provides financial assistance and gives the computers to the Kenyan CBO. This entity carries out all of the operations on the ground in Kenya. Currently, the 501c3 and CBO are wholly independent of each other. The Tech Lit Africa team is seeking assistance determining how best to structure the relationship between these entities given their joint mission/work.

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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):Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Gender Equality, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Responsible Consumption and Production, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

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

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