LEGAL ASSISTANCE for NONPROFITS and SMALL BUSINESSES

ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAM

Economic justice is necessary to build a more equitable, stable, and thriving society where all people can lead a fulfilling life.

Throughout our country's history, access to capital and other resources has been shaped by race. Discriminatory laws and policies of governmental institutions and prejudicial practices of private entities have denied or restricted access to resources and wealth-creation tools for certain racial and ethnic groups, particularly for Black Americans through 350 years of slavery and Jim Crow laws. Historic wealth disparities continue to be exacerbated through factors such as access to education, housing, healthcare, and biases in employment and wealth building which continue to perpetuate economic injustice today.

Illinois was ranked the worst state in the nation for racial economic inequality, according to a new WalletHub report for disproportionate rates of unemployment, income, poverty, homelessness, and representation in business leadership between Black and White Residents (WalletHub).

Our Economic Justice program aims to address the systemic inequalities in income, wealth, and access to economic opportunities by providing critical support to communities of color that helps spur economic development in historically disinvested communities.

Part of our Economic Justice program includes providing free legal assistance to nonprofits and small businesses that would not otherwise have access to those services. This work helps to close the racial wealth gap by:

Providing education and legal support for nonprofits to maximize their potential to provide services in historically disinvested communities of color.
Providing education and legal support for small businesses to spur economic development and wealth-building in historically disinvested communities.
Supporting investment in communities to reduce the racial wealth gap by advocating for economic development efforts and access to capital in historically disinvested communities of color.

We work closely with community-based organizations, including:

Library of Resources

Our information library can help address many of the most common legal questions for your organization.

NONPROFIT

- Understanding Not for Profit Board Composition
- 2018 Nonprofit Board of Directors Training Series
  Nonprofit Board Responsibilities
  Nonprofit Board Fiduciary Duties
  Nonprofit Director and Officer Responsibilities
  Nonprofit Board Conflicts of Interest
  Nonprofit Board and Executive Director Relations
  Nonprofit Board Recruitment and Orientation
- Director Conflicts of Interest
- Fiduciary Duties of Nonprofit Directors
- Engaging Boards in Setting an Organization’s Strategic Direction
Advocacy By The Book Training Series
Alliance for Justice has information on lobbying activities and 501(c)(3) organizations.
Arts & Business Council aids the Chicago nonprofit arts and culture community by enlisting business sector volunteers to provide arts organizations with assessment, training, consulting and board services that strengthen their management and marketing capacity.
BoardSource works to build effective boards of directors.
Charity Channel hosts online discussion groups and articles.
Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV) provides video training, equipment, facilities and channel time for Chicago residents and nonprofit groups.
Chicago Community Loan Fund provides low-cost, flexible financing and hands-on technical assistance to community development organizations for affordable housing, economic/commercial development, and community facility space.
Forefront gives workshops and resources for grants and grantwriting.
Executive Service Corps provides volunteer consultants to advise and strengthen nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the greater Chicago area in areas of governance, management and operations, leadership development, and organizational transformation.
Idealist – articles, workshops and other resources for nonprofits.
Illinois Secretary of State, Business Services – Online filing center for nonprofits and small businesses, and search to see whether an organization is in good standing (up to date on all filings and fees, etc.).
Internal Revenue Service – Tax information for Charities gives info about the “life-cycle” of a nonprofit organization, as well as IRS guidance and updates.
Illinois Attorney General, Building Better Charities maintains a database of all registered charities in Illinois – can search to see your organization’s registration status, and provides links to Filing Requirements, Registration and Annual Report Forms, Forming a Charitable Organization, etc.
SCORE Chicago serves nonprofits by providing free business/operations counseling, management consulting, and low-cost workshops.
Social Enterprise Alliance spreads knowledge and builds capacity regarding social enterprise, builds social enterprise communities and networks, gathers and disseminates information regarding the impact of social enterprise, and advocates and promotes supportive public policy for social enterprise.

SMALL BUSINESS

Allies for Community Business (A4CB) provides the capital, coaching, and collaboration entrepreneurs need to grow great businesses in their communities.
ChiBizHub connects a large network of primarily nonprofit service providers offering a wide variety of business-building services for small businesses.
City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection provides resources and information for businesses operating in the city.
SCORE Chicago serves small businesses by providing free business counseling, management consulting, and low cost workshops.
West Side Forward operates a number of business start-up, entrepreneurial training and business support services at no charge to individuals who live in and start their businesses in designated communities primarily on the West Side of the city of Chicago.
Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) delivers business services and financial assistance to empower women towards entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.

Apply for free legal services from our network of volunteer attorneys

We connect clients to volunteer attorneys with the right expertise.

HOW TO APPLY:

Read our ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA below.

1.

If you believe your nonprofit or small business is eligible for our free legal services, complete the LEGAL REQUEST INQUIRY FORM linked below our eligibility criteria.

2.

If you are eligible for our services, A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF WILL REACH OUT TO YOU to further screen your eligibility and legal need.

If you are not eligible, a member of our staff will direct you to self-help resources and/or other organizations that might provide support.

3.

Eligibility criteria for
NONPROFITS

We only support nonprofits that meet all the following criteria:

Have (or plan to apply for) 501c3, 501c4, or 501c6 status.
Advance race equity or serve a low-income or otherwise underserved population in Illinois.
Are unable to pay legal fees out of unrestricted, general operating funds.

Startup nonprofits (not yet incorporated or not yet providing services) must also provide:

A business plan
A proposed budget
A list of individuals committed to serving on the Board of Directors and an explanation of their qualifications for that position.

Eligibility criteria for
SMALL BUSINESSES

We only support small businesses that meet all the following criteria:

Have business revenue more than $5,000 peryear and less than $250,000 per year.
Are owned by individuals in households making less than 500% of (i.e., 5 times) the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Operate in a historically disinvested neighborhood
Are referredby one of our businesssupport organization partners
Have a transactional legal need (we cannot help with disputes or litigation).

READY TO START ? Fill out the LEGAL REQUEST INQUIRY FORM

STARTUP NONPROFITS:

If you’re not ready or eligible for our legal services - our BOOTCAMP can help get you into shape.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights offers a program that helps you understand all the legal and financial considerations in becoming a nonprofit organization.

We offer the Emerging Nonprofit Certificate of Training to program participants who attend our virtual bootcamp.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Creating a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Tax Exempt Organization

NONPROFIT BASICS - Legal requirements and filings for nonprofits; alternatives to becoming standalone nonprofit.
THE BOARD - Roles, responsibilities, and fiduciary duties of the founders, directors, and officers.
PLANNING - Understanding the components of a business plan.
FUNDING - Funding sources and grant opportunities for new nonprofits.
BUDGETS - Reliable estimates of revenue, expenses, and employee costs.