Communities Rise – Partners for Thriving Organizations



Application For Startup Organization Seeking Pro Bono Legal AssistanceEligibility Guidelines:To be eligible for free legal assistance through Communities Rise formerly Wayfind, your start-up or emerging organization must demonstrate the following:Has primarily a charitable or community-based purpose;Seeks to become a 501c3 or 501c4, or is a nonprofit organization that is incorporated in Washington;Is unable to pay for legal fees without significant impairment of program resources; andSeeks legal assistance on a business or organizational matter. Communities Rise does not provide assistance in finding an attorney for legal issues related to current or expected litigation.PLEASE NOTE: If your organization is already a Washington nonprofit with 501c3 or 501c4 status and is seeking assistance with correct filings, advice on 501c3/c4 compliance etc, please fill out our Existing Organization application found on our website.Application Instructions: There are three ways you can apply for Communities Rise services:Online (Preferred): Apply using our online application at our website: > nonprofits> start-up application. The application is still active and monitored daily.Email: You may scan and email the completed application with the supplemental materials to contact@ communities-. Post Mail: Mail the application and supplemental materials to Communities Rise at: 3642 33rd Ave S. Suite C4, Seattle, WA. 98144Application Fee:Communities Rise has a non-refundable screening/placement application fee of $100. You may pay the fee: By check made payable to “Communities Rise” and mailed to the address above; orVia electronic invoice from our online payment method (Stripe) with a credit or debit card (a 3% service charge will be added). Contact Information:Name of Organization FORMTEXT ?????Street Address FORMTEXT ?????CityZip FORMTEXT ????? FORMTEXT ?????Website FORMTEXT ?????Primary Contact Person FORMTEXT ?????Title FORMTEXT ?????Telephone FORMTEXT ?????Email FORMTEXT ?????Is your organization a current recipient of any of the following grants? Please check all that apply. FORMCHECKBOX King County Best Start for Kids FORMCHECKBOX King County Communities of Oppportunity FORMCHECKBOX Seattle Foundation Neighbor 2 NeighborWhat geographic area(s) or region(s) does your organization serve? FORMCHECKBOX Seattle/King County FORMCHECKBOX Greater Puget Sound (including Tacoma, Olympia, Everett, Kitsap Peninsula) FORMCHECKBOX South King County FORMCHECKBOX Western Washington FORMCHECKBOX Eastern Washington FORMCHECKBOX Washington State FORMCHECKBOX Pacific Northwest FORMCHECKBOX Nationwide FORMCHECKBOX International FORMCHECKBOX Olympic Peninsula FORMCHECKBOX List counties: Entity:Is your organization incorporated in WA state? If yes, what is the date of incorporation in WA state?Do you currently have a fiscal sponsor? If yes, what is the name of the fiscal sponsor?Please describe the following business plan details: (you may add your business plan in a separate attachment that includes the following:What is your organization’s mission?Who does your organization serve?A. Is your client population primarily from communities of color? Yes / NoB. Is your client population primarily from low-income communities? Yes / NoC. Describe the client population and communities (including communities of color and low income) you will serve:Is your organization already providing services? Y/ NIf so, describe the type of services and when you began providing them.If not, please provide a detailed description of the services your organization will provide or the activities you will conduct: (Please describe the “what, where, who, when, how?”What other organizations are doing the same or similar work in the community, and how does your organization differ from those other organizations?What is the unmet need your organization seeks to address?How did you determine that need exists?What is your organization’s fundraising plan? It should show:How your organization will raise the funds necessary to start its program services; and How your organization will raise the funds necessary to sustain its operations during the first three years of operations:Please describe all the technical assistance your organization has received from assistance providers, nonprofit service providers, support groups or other professionals with the creation of your organization:Please describe all classes, workshops, seminars, etc where you have gained the business skills and knowledge to operate your nonprofit organization: FORMTEXT ?????Please indicate which of the following services your organization needs (check all that apply): FORMCHECKBOX Assistance drafting or amending/changing Articles of Incorporation and filing them with the Secretary of State FORMCHECKBOX Assistance drafting or reviewing Bylaws FORMCHECKBOX Assistance completing the IRS Application for 501c3 or 501c4 status FORMCHECKBOX Guidance on compliance with federal and state laws applicable to nonprofit organizations FORMCHECKBOX Other:Is your application time sensitive? Why?Has your organization engaged an attorney in the last two years? FORMCHECKBOX Yes FORMCHECKBOX No If YES, please provide the following information:1.The attorney or law firm’s name: FORMTEXT ?????2.The general nature of legal services provided: FORMTEXT ?????3.Whether the organization paid for the attorney’s services: FORMTEXT ?????To allow your volunteer attorney to complete a review of potential conflicts-of-interest, please list any affiliates of your organization, and list any individuals or organizations with which your organization has been (in the past two years) or expects to be (in the coming year) involved in litigation, contract negotiations or other legal issues. Please include a list of all relevant creditors. FORMTEXT ?????Please describe any access needs your organization may have with the delivery of legal services. (e.g., mobility or communication access).How did you hear about Communities Rise?Please upload or include the following with your application as Communities Rise cannot screen or place your matter without each of the following documents: FORMCHECKBOX If the organization is already incorporated, a copy of the articles of incorporation & certificate of incorporation from the Secretary of State; and FORMCHECKBOX List of the names and addresses of the organization’s proposed board of directors. (Must have at least 3 board members) Addresses should be home addresses in order for our volunteer attorneys to verify that they do not represent existing organizations, companies or individuals with interests in conflict with your organization’s officers, directors, and key personnel; and FORMCHECKBOX The organization’s business plan (unless you have provided a detailed answer to question 9; and FORMCHECKBOX A three-year budget for the organization.It should detail expected expenses and revenues. If the organization is already providing services or programming, please provide a financial statement showing all income and expenses of the organization to date, along with a projected budget for at least one year in the furture; and FORMCHECKBOX Copies of legal documents related to your particular request for legal assistance (e.g., leases, contracts, correspondence, articles of incorporation, bylaws, tax notices, employment handbooks, etc).Consents And AcknowledgmentsWhile we will use our best efforts to protect the confidential nature of your organization’s legal issues, we must disclose some descriptive information provided through this Application to properly place your matter. Unless you inform us in writing otherwise, we also may disclose the name of your organization and the general nature of legal matters referred through Communities Rise in our annual reports, fundraising and outreach materials, and any success stories or articles we may publish about Communities Rise. By your signature below, please acknowledge your consent to such disclosures in any manner that we deem necessary and appropriate.If we determine that your organization is eligible for free legal assistance through Communities Rise, we will use our best efforts to find a volunteer attorney to represent you. We do not know how long it will take to find a volunteer attorney to assist you or if we will be able to do so. Communities Rise itself will not be providing you with legal representation. Communities Rise assumes no responsibility over the representation you do receive or the outcome. Legal services are provided to the organization not to any individual person. Please have this Consent and Acknowledgments Form signed by a board member or its designee. If your organization is eligible for free legal services and Communities Rise locates a volunteer attorney for your organization, a board member or its designee must sign the volunteer attorney’s engagement letter. By your signature below, please also acknowledge your understanding of the foregoing description of Communities Rise anization FORMTEXT ?????Board Member SignatureDate FORMTEXT ?????NameTyping your name on this line constitutes a signature FORMTEXT ?????Title FORMTEXT ????? ................
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