Becoming a member

Our mission is to provide access to essential legal and business services to qualifying nonprofit organizations. We help organizations build organizational capacity and create and implement internal governance, accounting, and compliance policies and practices.

To join, a nonprofit must demonstrate a financial need or be referred by potential financial supporter requiring greater business maturity. Absent referral , organizations that are not (or will not be) eligible to file Form 990-N or 990-EZ due to their level of revenues and assets generally are not eligible to participate in the program.

If accepted into the program, you will be required to pay a fixed monthly fee to participate. Our Community Law relies primarily on grants and donations from individuals and community organizations to fund this program, so you will be receiving legal services at substantially below cost. But the monthly fee you pay will provide funding for program expenses not covered by grants and donations and is a key element of the “pay it forward” philosophy inherent in the program whereby all members contribute toward the creation of a more responsible and compliant nonprofit community.

Tier 1

$1500

flat fee

For new organizations

Select

Assistance with preparing and filing all nonprofit incorporation and tax-exempt application paperwork

Assistance with drafting bylaws and core governance
policies

Fiscal sponsorship during the pendency of your IRS application (subject to eligibility)

All Tier 1 members must continue as Tier 2, Tier 3, or Tier 4 members once operational to ensure continual progress toward business maturity and legal compliance

Tier 2

$250

per month

For organizations that have annual gross receipts of less than $50,000

Select

Customized business maturity needs assessment

Regularly scheduled consultations with legalprofessionals

Participationin self-created, curated discussion groups, for sharing practices and knowledge among similarly situated nonprofits

Depending on business maturity, extended fiscal sponsorship (subject to eligibility

Tier 3

$500

per month

For organizations with annual gross receipts of less than $200,000 and total assets of less than $500,000

Select

Tier 3 members receive the same legal and business services as Tier 2 members but pay a slightly higher monthly fee due to the increased need for legal support that comes from more extensive operations and a higher level of business maturity

Tier 4

$Custom

per month

For organizations with greater financial and legal demands

Select

Members that do not qualify as Tier 1, 2, or 3 members may be accepted into the program only if referred by one of our funding partner nonprofits

We also may allow an existing Tier 3 member to continue in the program if we determine that continued participation in the program is needed for the organization to reach business maturity

Rates paid by Tier 4 organizations are based on individual circumstances