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Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Please Treat the Information in the Digest as Confidential. Do Not Circulate Outside of the Lex Mundi Network.

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.

You can view all matter summaries on the “Digest” page(s). To view matters by legal need, select the category of interest. See details of individual matters via the “Read More” link in a matter. To view all details of all available matters, choose “View All”.

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Advocacy/Legislation (1) Consultation (12) Contracts (10) Corporate Governance (2) Data Privacy (1) Due Diligence (1) Employment/Labor (1) Finance/Fundraising (3) Intellectual Property (2) Nonprofit Formation (3) Nonprofit Governance (2) Regulatory (3) Research (2) Tax Exempt/Nonprofit (16)

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MyLÚA Health

Template Partnership Agreement for Pilot

Summary:

Support an AI-powered early pregnancy risk detection service in drafting a template partnership agreement for a pilot program, ensuring compliance with privacy and HIPAA regulations.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: MyLÚA Health is an AI-powered early risk detection service that identifies and manages the risk of pregnancy-related complications. They have prioritized detection of mental health concerns first as they account for 25% of all preventable maternal mortality in the US, and provide human-centered and culturally inclusive services.
Legal Entity Type: For-profit
SDG(s):Good Health and Well Being, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

MyLÚA Health, an AI-powered early risk detection service that identifies and manages the risk of pregnancy-related complications, is seeking assistance in drafting a template partnership agreement for a pilot program with organizations that work with Doulas. MyLUAwill offer its services to these partners and collect data from their use. The agreement must address privacy concerns and HIPAA compliance. The team has an existing MSA they believe can serve as a foundation for the agreement.

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Advance Native Political Leadership

Nonprofit Spinoff Consultation

Summary:

Provide a consultation on creating an independent entity for a nonprofit under fiscal sponsorship designed to support newly elected Native officials.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Advance Native Political Leadership (Advance) is the first and only national Native-led organization working to build a complete ecosystem of political power building in Native communities – leadership recruitment and support, civic engagement, research and data, leadership endorsements, and national and state coordination. Through their Native Leadership Institute, strategic partnerships, and research and data initiatives, they are building a powerful movement of Indigenous leadership to meet these challenges head-on.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Advance Native Political Leadership is currently under fiscal sponsorship. They have both a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) project. They are now seeking a consultation with a tax-exempt attorney to discuss the possibility of spinning out and becoming an independent non-profit. The team would like to better understand what this process would entail, and whether it makes sense to move forward at this time.

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Advance Native Political Leadership

Ethics Matrix for Politician Participation

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit designed to support newly elected Native officials by creating an ethics matrix to help them assess eligibility for participation.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: AZ, NM, MN, MT, WA, AK
About the Organization: Advance Native Political Leadership (Advance) is the first and only national Native-led organization working to build a complete ecosystem of political power building in Native communities – leadership recruitment and support, civic engagement, research and data, leadership endorsements, and national and state coordination. Through their Native Leadership Institute, strategic partnerships, and research and data initiatives, they are building a powerful movement of Indigenous leadership to meet these challenges head-on.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Life on Land (sustainability of ecosystems), Partnerships to achieve the Goals, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

The Advance Native Political Leadership team is seeking assistance developing an ethics matrix to help them assess elected officials’ eligibility for participation in their Native Elected Leaders Network. This matrix should provide a top-level ethics review of elected officials based on state and office, ensuring alignment with ethics standards for public service. This matrix will help the Advance Native Political Leadership team identify which leaders they might be able to invite to upcoming trainings, convenings or gatherings, to ensure they can cover travel, accommodation, and meals for participants and, in some instances, provide small honorariums. They are seeking assistance in the following priority states: AZ, NM, MN, MT, WA, AK.

If an attorney cannot assist with every state, the Advance Native Political Leadership team would appreciate assistance with as many states as the attorney is comfortable handling.

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The Mifos Initiative

Draft Template Agreement With Service Providers

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit democratizing financial services worldwide by drafting a template agreement with service providers.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Mifos Initiative is a global 501(c)3 fintech non-profit leveraging the cloud, mobile & open source community to democratize financial services worldwide and digitally transform the world’s 3 billion poor and underbanked. Its mission is to scale the development and impact of inclusive fintech through an open source community and ecosystem that builds and maintains its digital public goods for core banking and payment orchestration.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Mifos is seeking assistance drafting a template agreement between the organization and service providers they are collaborating with to deliver shared infrastructure. They have a template independent consultant agreement (which was drafted by a Lex Mundi member firm) that can be used as a baseline. Importantly, they would like the new agreement to include provisions addressing: (i) revenue sharing of subscription fees; (ii) non-compete/anti-poaching; (iii) sharing of private/confidential data; (iv) risk/liability; and (v) responsibilities of each party.

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The Mifos Initiative

Consultation on UBIT

Summary:

Assist a non-profit democratizing financial services worldwide by providing a consultation on UBIT.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: The Mifos Initiative is a global 501(c)3 fintech non-profit leveraging the cloud, mobile & open source community to democratize financial services worldwide and digitally transform the world’s 3 billion poor and underbanked. Its mission is to scale the development and impact of inclusive fintech through an open source community and ecosystem that builds and maintains its digital public goods for core banking and payment orchestration.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Decent Work and Economic Growth, End Poverty, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Mifos is considering implementing a shared infrastructure initiative to provide their open source core banking and payment orchestration software to non-bank financial institutions (e.g., microfinance institutions) on a Software As a Service (SaaS) subscription fee basis. They are now seeking a consultation with a tax-exempt attorney to discuss whether this new activity raises any UBIT issues or could otherwise jeopardize their 501(c)(3) status. Ultimately, they would like to better understand if this new SaaS offering can be housed under their current non-profit, or if they should consider setting up a hybrid entity.

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Vital Voices

IP Consultation to Discuss Protecting Work/Licensing Options

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit investing in women leaders tackling the world’s greatest challenges by providing an IP consultation to discuss how to protect their work and to explore potential licensing options.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Vital Voices is a non-profit founded on the idea that nations and communities cannot move forward without women’s voices in leadership positions. They invest in women leaders who are taking on the world’s great challenges – from extreme forms of violence against women and girls to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. The organization impacts three million people each year through their investment in women leaders around the world.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Vital Voice’s leadership published two books and recently developed corresponding curriculum that has significant revenue-generating potential through licensing and corporate partnerships. The Vital Voices Leadership Journey (VVLJ) is a 7-week leadership development program designed to equip changemakers with the tools and strategies needed to drive transformational change.

To maximize this opportunity, Vital Voices is seeking a pro bono legal consultation to develop an intellectual property protection strategy to safeguard their work and explore licensing options that align with their mission and revenue goals.

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Vital Voices

Consultation on Potential 501(c)(3) Status Revocation

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit investing in women leaders tackling the world’s greatest challenges by providing a consultation on proactive steps they can take in the event their 501(c)(3) status is revoked.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Vital Voices is a non-profit founded on the idea that nations and communities cannot move forward without women’s voices in leadership positions. They invest in women leaders who are taking on the world’s great challenges – from extreme forms of violence against women and girls to the climate crisis, economic inequities, and more. The organization impacts three million people each year through their investment in women leaders around the world.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Gender Equality, Good Health and Well Being, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Vital Voices’ mission centers around investing in female leadership and they have received significant backing from Hillary Clinton. As a result, they are concerned about government scrutiny in the current environment. They are seeking a consultation to discuss what steps they can proactively take to protect their organization/work in the event their 501(c)(3) status is revoked. They would like to have a conversation around whether it makes sense to restructure the organization and/or set up a new entity (e.g., a separate 501(c)(3), a 501(c)(4), or a for-profit entity).

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Consultation Corral

Provide Consultation on FOIA Requests

Summary:

Assist a team that has developed an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time by providing a consultation on FOIA requests.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Corral is an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time. Their process automates the work of tribal governments and Native-led advocacy organizations to pull together Tribal Consultation opportunities. Corral is an open-government project geared at making Tribal Consultation communication and existing data work for tribal communities. Corral is available to staff and elected officials of Tribal Nations at no cost.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
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, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

Unfortunately, many federal agencies do not proactively publish information about Tribal Consultations. The Consultation Corral team is now seeking a consultation with an attorney with FOIA experience to discuss how best to obtain this information. Importantly, they’d like to better understand if it is possible to create a standing FOIA request with federal agencies, and whether this is the best path forward. Ideally, the federal agencies would publish reports on Tribal Consultations within a certain time frame after each Tribal Consultation is held.

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Consultation Corral

Draft Template MOU for Volunteers

Summary:

Assist a team that has developed an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time by drafting a template MOU for use with volunteers.

Referred by:

Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Corral is an online platform where tribal leaders and Native advocates can access Tribal Consultation opportunity information in real time. Their process automates the work of tribal governments and Native-led advocacy organizations to pull together Tribal Consultation opportunities. Corral is an open-government project geared at making Tribal Consultation communication and existing data work for tribal communities. Corral is available to staff and elected officials of Tribal Nations at no cost.
Legal Entity Type: Unregistered
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, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Zero Hunger
Legal Issue(s):

The Consultation Corral team works with volunteers and advisors to develop the Corral platform. They are seeking assistance drafting a template MOU to use with future volunteers that set forth the terms of the relationship. Importantly, they’d like the agreement to address IP/data ownership and privacy concerns (e.g., certain information the volunteers access is confidential).

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Anseye Pou Ayiti

Consultation on Non-Profit Engaging in Revenue Generating Activities

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit transforming Haiti’s education system by providing a consultation on implications of engaging in profit-generating activities.

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 registered as a non-profit in Haiti. The organization is also under fiscal sponsorship in the United States. They are currently exploring the possibility of integrating for-profit revenue streams into their mission-oriented work. While most of this work will be in Haiti, some may be in the United States. For example, they have received some outreach from the U.S.  requesting information/tools/training(s) on their educator leadership programming, which could potentially become a paid service.

The Anseye Pou Ayiti team is now requesting a consultation with an attorney to discuss the implications under U.S. law of engaging in these types of profit-generating activities. Importantly, they would like to better understand any major considerations they should take into account (e.g., are there any UBIT concerns). They understand that the attorney would only be speaking to U.S. law.

 

 

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Edovo Foundation

Consultation on Patent Enforcement

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit providing a free digital learning platform to incarcerated individuals by providing a consultation on patent enforcement.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Edovo is a tech nonprofit that delivers a free digital learning platform to over 1 million incarcerated people each day. With educational, vocational, legal, and treatment/wellness resources they ensure that opportunity is available to all, not just the 18% that traditionally had access to programming inside.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Edovo has a patent for their “learn to earn” method for educational programming. Learners can earn points for time spent on free, substantive, programming that can be spent on other forms of entertainment. The Edovo team has become aware of organizations that are violating this patent. Some are bad actors that do not actually provide quality educational content. The Edovo team is now seeking a comprehensive consultation with an IP attorney to discuss: (i) a strategy for exerting rights to their patent; (ii) whether it makes sense to pursue enforcement at this time; and (iii) best next steps. They do not want to engage in any patent litigation. However, they would like limit violations and exert some pressure on the market to increase access to quality educational materials.

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Edovo Foundation

Review/Update Two Template Contracts with Content Partners

Summary:

Assist a nonprofit providing a free digital learning platform to incarcerated individuals by reviewing/updating two template contracts with content partners.

Referred by:

  • Anonymous Collaborator
Jurisdictions: U.S.
About the Organization: Edovo is a tech nonprofit that delivers a free digital learning platform to over 1 million incarcerated people each day. With educational, vocational, legal, and treatment/wellness resources they ensure that opportunity is available to all, not just the 18% that traditionally had access to programming inside.
Legal Entity Type: Nonprofit/Charity
SDG(s):Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities
Legal Issue(s):

Edovo works with content partners that provide the underlying curriculum and content library for the Edovo platform. The Edovo team is seeking assistance reviewing/updating the two template contracts used with these partners (which cover IP ownership, payment methods, etc.). These template contracts were initially drafted by an attorney. Since then, Edovo has scaled their work and updated certain practices (e.g., billing practices). They would appreciate help refreshing the contracts to reflect these changes. They would also love to clean up/streamline the terms and combine the two contracts into a single agreement (if possible). Importantly, they have a very positive relationship with the providers and want to ensure the terms are balanced.

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