Pro Bono for a Sustainable Future
Addressing climate change and fostering sustainable initiatives require unwavering commitment – and sometimes, expert legal guidance. Climate Streamers Foundation, a women-led nonprofit advocating for climate justice and sustainable change, found itself in need of specialised legal support to strengthen its foundation. Financial constraints, however, made professional services challenging to access.
Through Pro Publico’s matchmaking service, the Climate Streamers connected with the Amsterdam team of a major international law firm, who offered critical pro bono assistance. This report covers the foundation’s journey, from securing necessary compliance and tax advice to achieving ANBI status, highlighting the powerful impact of pro bono legal support on climate-focused initiatives.
Advancing Climate Advocacy with Pro Bono Legal Support
Climate Streamers Foundation’s mission is clear: to inspire climate awareness and action across sectors and communities. Founded by Alexandra Jahnke and Isabella Forchini, the organisation aims to unite individuals and organisations for sustainable development and climate justice. However, starting and structuring a nonprofit presents specific legal and administrative challenges that can be difficult for small organisations to tackle alone. To address these needs, Climate Streamers sought pro bono legal support to ensure a solid foundation for their activities.
Lawyers Step Up as Pro Bono Partners
Climate Streamers was connected with the Amsterdam office of a top-tier law firm, which put together an amazing team of lawyers with a deep commitment to social impact who offered compliance, tax and employment law that equipped the Climate Streamers to move forward confidently.
The collaboration included critical steps:
- Compliance and Structural Organization: The team at DLA Piper assisted in refining Climate Streamers’ organisational documents to enhance structural integrity and transparency.
- Tax and Financial Guidance: Guidance through the ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status application process in the Netherlands was a key focus, helping the foundation achieve a significant milestone for nonprofit operations.
- Employment Law: DLA Piper provided essential advice regarding employment regulations, ensuring that Climate Streamers was prepared for future team expansions.
Pro Bono Legal Support for Nonprofits:
With ANBI status secured, Climate Streamers now benefit from greater legitimacy, enabling more effective fundraising and donor relations. This legal milestone positions the organisation to expand its efforts, helping amplify its mission to inspire and implement climate-conscious initiatives.
Reflecting on the value of the collaboration, Isabella shared, “Our collaboration with the lawyers exceeded our expectations. While financial limitations initially made it challenging to establish a solid foundation, this pro bono partnership has allowed us to overcome obstacles and advance our mission.”
A Path to Growth and Impact
The lawyers too found fulfilment in this collaboration. They acknowledged how contributing their expertise toward a sustainable future aligns with their commitment to meaningful social impact. The team’s active engagement allowed Climate Streamers to feel supported and valued, just like any paying client would.
In the words of cofounder Isabella “the counsellors’ expertise and dedication perfectly met our needs, and their lawyers and staff offered invaluable support whenever we sought clarification.”
Impactful Result
This support facilitated a productive partnership, enabling Climate Streamers to access specialised guidance they could not otherwise afford. As once again Isabella commented, “The matchmaking process was efficient, and the support we received has given us the tools to advance our work. We hope more organisations can benefit from these valuable connections.”
Pro bono legal support is transformative for nonprofits tackling critical issues like climate change. To learn more about how Pro Publico connects organisations with professional assistance, subscribe to our newsletter or reach out to explore how we can support your organisation’s mission.
Thanks to @Alexandra Jahnke @Isabella Forchini @ClimateStreamers @Francesco Zatelli @ProPublico
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