THE SCHOOL FOR MORAL AMBITION

Establishing a Belgian Legal Entity

Pro Publico matched the fast-growing The School for Moral Ambition with the global law firm Dentons to establish a Belgian legal entity (ASBL/VZW) to directly  oversee their Brussels-operations.

Why This Cause Matters

The School for Moral Ambition is dedicated to empowering the next generation of changemakers. Through its fellowship programme, it places talented professionals inside nonprofit organisations where they work on pressing global issues such as alternative food systems, tobacco control and fair taxation.

Being a strategic hub of European decision-making, Brussels offers the possibility to influence change well beyond the continent. With many new fellows arriving into town to contribute to this mission, the organisation committed to establishing a Belgian nonprofit capable of directly employing them and supporting the programme’s rapid expansion.

Why Pro Bono Legal Support Was Needed

To successfully establish a Belgian entity, the School for Moral Ambition requested pro bono legal guidance on:

  • confirming the most suitable legal form,

  • reviewing and adapting statutes from their Dutch entity,

  • advising on the incorporation process and required documentation,

  • clarifying governance and compliance obligations,

  • supporting the setup of employment, social security and tax registration.

High-Quality Assistance for the Public Good

Partner Laurens Engelen at Dentons Brussels offered pro bono support with his colleague Martijn Segers: together they offered their renewed expertise to guide the School for Moral Ambition through Belgium’s legal framework for nonprofits and employers.

They reviewed statutes, advised on governance structures and provided practical guidance on registration, compliance and employment setup. Their complete availability for the beneficiary ensured the process advanced quickly and smoothly. As Co-founder Ruben Timmerman shared: “Dentons helped us quickly and even went out of their way with some practical help by being on the ground in Brussels. I definitely recommend working with them and Pro Publico.”

A Belgian ASBL/VZW Ready to Change the World

Thanks to this pro bono legal support, the School for Moral Ambition now has:

  • a Belgian ASBL/VZW as counterpart to its Dutch foundation

  • clarity on its governance and compliance obligations

  • a pathway to employ fellows directly in Brussels

With this structure in place, the organisation can sustainably grow its fellowship programme in Belgium, providing dozens of young changemakers with the opportunity to drive societal impact out of Brussels – and possibly even beyond.

As Francesco Zatelli of Pro Publico reflected:

“Offering our free matchmaking service to the School for Moral Ambition has been an honour. Their fellows redirect extraordinary talent towards building a better world – an effort which resonates perfectly with our mission to equip such civil society actors with the very best legal and public affairs resources.”

Why This Matters for Civil Society

This collaboration shows how pro bono legal support can unlock growth for nonprofits expanding internationally. With the help of Dentons Brussels, The School for Moral Ambition can now channel more exceptional talent into morally ambitious missions for people, animals and the planet.

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@Laurens Engelen, @Martijn Segers, @Dentons @Ruben Timmerman, @Catarina Araujo, @SchoolforMoralAmbition, @Francesco Zatelli, @ProPublico

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