Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and LegalCORPS partner to launch free legal services program for nonprofit organizations
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) announced a new partnership with LegalCORPS to provide no-cost legal services to all Minnesota nonprofits. This collaboration comes in response to the growing need for legal support as nonprofit organizations navigate increasingly complex policy changes at both the state and federal levels.
“From the sudden termination of federal grants to confusion over IRS communications and compliance concerns, nonprofits in Minnesota and across the nation are facing mounting legal pressures, often with limited resources,” said Nonoko Sato, president and CEO of MCN. “In this time of heightened scrutiny and rapid policy shifts, access to trusted legal support is more important than ever. We are grateful to LegalCORPS for partnering with us to ensure these critical services are accessible to all nonprofits in Minnesota and MCN members, regardless of budget or size.”
Recognizing that the cost of legal assistance can present a significant barrier for nonprofits, particularly organizations with smaller human and financial resources, MCN and LegalCORPS are offering a variety of free legal services to all Minnesota nonprofits, including:
Legal help desk
Real-time legal support for nonprofits, with referrals to vetted resources and counsel.Legal resource library
Guidelines on evergreen and emerging legal considerations, to ensure compliance and protection of nonprofits’ legal rights.Responsive compliance support
Step-by-step guidance to complete a nonprofit compliance assessment, with legal standards and best practices.Compliance clinics
Regular clinics, information and programming to help nonprofits assess their current compliance with state and federal registration, annual reporting requirements, and executive orders.
Minnesota nonprofits with cash budgets under $1.5 million will also be eligible to access intensive, non-litigation one-on-one legal counsel, including:
Legal needs assessment
Individual legal needs assessments for nonprofits who are potentially at higher risk in consideration of executive orders and federal actions.Compliance audit and thorough legal support
Individual audits for nonprofits and connection to attorneys for additional, one-on-one counsel.
Minnesota’s nonprofit sector is diverse and varied, ranging from large urban museums and arts organizations to small community-based organizations providing health services in rural areas. These organizations play a critical role in supporting the state’s economy while serving millions of Minnesotans every day with programs like child care, public safety, environmental protection, health care, food distribution, housing and more. The state is home to over 10,000 nonprofit employers that collectively employ over 380,000 people – 13% of Minnesota’s workforce – and generate more than $100 billion for the state’s economy every year.
“LegalCORPS is pleased to partner with MCN in supporting Minnesota’s dedicated, hardworking nonprofits,” said Nicole Deters, executive director of LegalCORPS. “Just as nonprofits support communities across the state, they too deserve to be supported with trusted legal advice to navigate these challenging legal times, ensuring the continued delivery of quality, efficient services to all Minnesotans.”