For Nonprofits

The Clearinghouse provides pro bono legal services to nonprofit organizations through two programs:

• The Community Legal Referral Program (CLRP) matches volunteer lawyers with nonprofit groups that develop or sponsor affordable housing, promote economic development, or operate as homeless shelters, tenant organizations, and housing and homeless advocacy groups.
• The BBA Business Law Pro Bono Project (BLP) created in 2001 as a project BBA Business Law Section, matches volunteer lawyers with nonprofit organizations in need of assistance with corporate or business related legal needs.

The Clearinghouse provides an array of legal workshops for nonprofits and also collaborates with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts on a bi-monthly seminar geared towards nonprofit representatives seeking assistance with incorporating in Massachusetts and/or filing for federal tax-exempt status.

For more information about these legal referral or educational programs, contact Machiko Sano Hewitt at (617) 778-1954.

Helpful resources for nonprofits:

NONPROFIT BASICS

• Legal Checklist for Nonprofits
• Life Cycle of 501c3 Charity

FEDERAL TAX EXEMPT STATUS

• IRS Tax Information for Charitable Organizations
• IRS E-Filing for Charitable Organizations
• IRS Virtual Workshop and Web-Based Mini-Courses on Tax Basics

MASSACHUSETTS NONPROFITS

• Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division
• Attorney General Nonprofits and Charities

LAW FIRM RESOURCES

• Casner & Edwards – Nonprofit Organizations Regulatory Compliance
• DLA Piper – Nonprofit Alert
• Foley Hoag LLP – Nonprofit Publications
• Holland and Knight – Newsletters & Alerts
• Nixon Peabody – Developments in Nonprofit Law
• Ropes & Gray – Nonprofit News and Publications

AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES

• MHP – Tax-Exempt Bonds
• MHP – Financing for Tax credits
• MHP – E-Bulletins
• MPH News