Request for Pro Bono Legal Assistance

Pro Bono Partnership

Download a MS Word or Adobe Acrobat Request Form, or simply fill out the form below and click on "Submit".

Request for Pro Bono Legal Assistance

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, an organization must be

1) A nonprofit, community-service organization working with the poor and disadvantaged or otherwise providing important social services, as well as arts organizations, civic organizations, and environmental organizations, and

2) Unable to pay for legal services without significantly impairing resources for programs.

TO APPLY for legal assistance

Returning Clients: You do not need to fill out this form if your organization has received direct legal services from the Pro Bono Partnership previously. Call the Partnership for assistance with new matters.

Applicants for Assistance with Incorporation and/or Applying for Tax Exemption: While the Partnership generally does not charge for its services, groups we assist with incorporation and/or applying for tax exemption will be charged a $500.00 fee, and will also have to pay all filing fees required the state and federal government.

New Clients: To request legal assistance and to help the Partnership learn more about your organization and its legal needs, please

1) Download a MS Word or Adobe Acrobat Request Form, or fill out the form below and click on "Submit".

2) Fax, mail or email to the Partnership, the required documents listed at the end of the form. This information will help the Pro Bono Partnership learn more about your organization and its legal needs.

Click here for contact information to fax or email your documents

1. a. Name of your organization
b. Address

	Street/Suite

	City/StateZip Code
c. Phone Number
d. Fax Number
e. Website Address
2. a. Name of contact person
b. Title
c. Work Phone
d. E-mail Address
3. Describe the purpose and/or mission of your organization. You may email, fax or mail brochures and a one-page mission statement, if desired
4. a. For how many years has your organization existed?
b. Is your organization incorporated?		Yes No
c. Tax exempt?		Yes No
5. How many people are involved in running the organization?
6. Board Members
Staff
Volunteers
Please copy-and-paste in the box below a list of officers and directors, including titles and affiliations. Or you can fax (914-328-0538) or email the list. If you fax or email, please include your organization's name.

7. About how many people does your organization currently serve?
a. What is your organization's annual budget?
b. Is there a line for legal fees?		Yes No
If yes, how much?
8. Please describe the specific kinds of legal assistance you now need or anticipate needing in the future.
9. Please provide the name and affiliation of any lawyer that is now helping or has helped your organization, briefly describing the services provided.
10. Please provide the name, telephone number, and affiliation of any attorney(s) that sit on the organization�s board of directors.
11. Please tell us where you heard about the Pro Bono Partnership.

12. For existing organizations: please provide the following (if you can�t locate any of these documents, simply submit the completed form with the documentation you currently have): - Certificate of Incorporation - IRS tax determination letter - List of directors and officers, including titles and affiliations - Bylaws - Budget - Any other organizational information that you think might be helpful (brochures, annual reports, program description, etc.) - Other documents you would like reviewed (e.g., personnel policies, contracts, waiver forms) For groups seeking to incorporate and/or obtain 501(c)(3) tax exemption: please provide the following: - A business plan or similar document. At a minimum, this should address the following: - the mission of the organization - a detailed description of the proposed activities that will accomplish the mission - the target beneficiaries of the organization - the communities where the activities will be conducted - identification of other groups that are addressing the same issues in these communities, and a description of how your organization differs - expected sources of financial support - specific fundraising plans - proposed three year budget - proposed staffing of the organization (employees and/or volunteers) - List of prospective board members - a description of your experience, if any, working with a charitable organization - a summary of steps taken, if any, to partner with another organization to carry out your activities - Sample grant proposals (if any) - Brochures, fliers or similar materials (if any) that describe your organization Click here for contact information to fax or email your documents