To New York Charities:
The Charities Bureau is pleased to announce Charity Corps, an exciting joint initiative of the Attorney General's office and the New York State Bar Association that will assist nonprofits by matching them with volunteer attorneys. Those attorneys will provide advice on corporate law and fiduciary duties; compliance with the tax exemption, governmental filing requirements and fundraising laws; and good practices in setting executive compensation and self-evaluation of nonprofits' programs. Charity Corps will also provide access to training for boards and managers of nonprofits.
Charity Corps' goal is to serve hundreds of needy and worthy New York nonprofits annually. It will begin with a pilot program that will match up to 50 nonprofits with pro bono counsel during the first year.
Nonprofits that have 501(c)(3) tax-exemption and do not have, and cannot afford, legal counsel are welcome to apply to be matched with volunteer attorneys. Applications should be submitted by December 31, 2011.
A full description of Charity Corps' program and applications for charities seeking assistance and attorneys offering to volunteer are posted at www.nysba.org/CharityCorps.
Questions concerning the program should be addressed to charitycorps@nysba.org.
Jason Lilien,
Bureau Chief, Charities Bureau