Nonprofit organizations face a long list of regulatory and other legal burdens, making it a challenge to assess their governance and compliance procedures while also doing the day-to-day work to meet their mission. To support our nonprofit clients and community partners, the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is providing a pro bono legal assessment focused on corporate governance.
At the clinic, pro bono attorneys will meet with you virtually and walk through a series of questions aimed at identifying legal areas that your organization may need to address to move toward full compliance, follow best practices, and improve operations. Volunteer attorneys walk through a checklist with you to review articles and bylaws, general nonprofit compliance issues, and answer your governance questions. After the clinic, participating nonprofits may request assistance to follow up on legal issues identified during the consultation, such as revising bylaws, applying for sales tax exemption, or reviewing a lease. Such assistance would be a separate matter and may involve different pro bono counsel from the actual clinic.
DATE: Consultations to be held on July 18 and July 19, 2023
TIME: Approximately 90 minutes; participating organizations should hold time on July 18 and 19 for consultations
LOCATION: Volunteer attorneys will provide virtual meeting room (Zoom, WebEx, etc.)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Board members, officers, and executive directors of BIPOC-led organizations working to strengthen their communities. Participating organizations must have at least their Executive Director and one Board member in attendance. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) public charity status, at least one paid employee (for example, a paid Executive Director), and already be in operations and currently conducting activities or providing services. Please note that at least one person from your organization must be using a digital screen during the consultation, since the volunteer attorneys will be using a screen sharing feature in the virtual meeting room, although cameras need not be on. Please contact Angela Dear (adear@clccrul.org) with questions about this requirement or for accommodation requests.
To apply, complete this online application. We will follow up with additional instructions and information in a subsequent e-mail, which will include a full list of documents (board list, 990, articles, bylaws, etc.) we must collect for the attorneys prior to the Check-up. Space is limited—sign up soon!