Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued new guidance on how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs intersect with federal anti-discrimination laws. The guidance outlines examples of potentially unlawful practices that could jeopardize an organization’s eligibility for federal grants and provides clarity for any employer to better understand what could be “Illegal …
Georgia is eliminating the subminimum wage for employees with disabilities, meaning employers will no longer be permitted to pay these workers less than the federal minimum wage. To learn more about the Dignity and Pay Act and the timeline for nonprofit employers to comply, read this article from our friends at Reed Smith.
For organizations whose missions are rooted in uplifting marginalized communities, the language of DEI isn’t just branding. It’s a reflection of their values and history. But as recent executive orders from the federal government explicitly target DEI language, some nonprofits are wondering, should we revise our messaging? Could certain language expose us to legal or …
In this two-part update on DEI practices, we first examine the recent federal requirement for recipients of federal funding to certify compliance with executive orders and anti-discrimination laws. This legal alert from our friends at Lawyers Alliance, discusses the current litigation surrounding these certification mandates and offers practical steps for nonprofits to mitigate organizational risk when considering whether …
Last year, the Supreme Court in a landmark decision ruled that most American colleges and universities are prohibited from considering race in student admissions. This summer, an appellate court provided another important decision related to race-conscious offerings in the Fearless Fund case, and this one directly impacts Georgia nonprofits. How might race-based grant-making change going …
The Fearless Fund, an organization that supports black-women entrepreneurs, recently settled a discrimination lawsuit over one of their programs. While the settlement allows Fearless Fund to continue its mission, it underscores the importance of nonprofits carefully navigating the legal landscape of race-based grant making. This article by attorneys at Moore & Van Allen provides a …
A slip and fall accident may seem like a minor concern or something that could never happen at your facility. Legal claims associated with slip and falls, generally called “premises liability”, may be more common than you realize and can lead to serious injuries, costly legal battles, and significant disruptions to your organization’s mission. In …
Nonprofits provide valuable and often essential programs to support youth in their communities. While providing such services, nonprofits must maintain practices and procedures to prevent abuse and mistreatment of children. This article from Venable outlines ten important compliance strategies for nonprofits to consider for their youth programming.
Since PBPA’s last podcast episode regarding DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion) initiatives, there have been numerous lawsuits against nonprofits not only related to DEI employment initiatives, but also nonprofit grant-making and programming. From the Supreme Court to the circuit court right here in Atlanta, nonprofits are at the heart of many of these lawsuits. Join …
Nonprofit entities frequently depend on the support of interns or volunteers to fulfill their mission. In acknowledgment of their valuable contributions, certain nonprofits may contemplate offering stipends to these volunteers or interns. While the intention behind this gesture is commendable, it introduces potential risks for your organization. This article aims to shed light on the …
Nonprofit organizations that offer housing assistance are committed to providing stable and supportive living environments for their participants. However, there are occasions when a nonprofit must make challenging decisions regarding non-compliant participants. In this webinar, our speakers will offer insights and solutions for nonprofits to navigate such situations, protect themselves from liability, and continue to …
The old saying goes “All publicity is good publicity”. But we beg to differ. Nonprofit organizations rely on their goodwill to raise funds and continue to do the good work that they do in the community. Bad publicity from a crisis has the potential to destroy such goodwill. Understanding how to anticipate, respond, and …
Running a nonprofit in the US is difficult enough, but expanding your charitable activity to a foreign county adds a new level of complexity. Join us as our speaker helps navigate the entrance to the international nonprofit landscape as she reviews: Business compliance considerations Legal options to get work done abroad, including working with local …
Your volunteers work hard to fulfill your organization’s mission and serve the community. But with many activities, there can be risks involved. Nonprofits should consider requiring volunteers to sign valid waivers of liability to protect the organization and to continue providing a structured opportunity for volunteers to serve the community. Prepare your organization and volunteers …
When an employee requests an accommodation for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), employers are required to engage in an “interactive process” with the employee to determine if there is a reasonable accommodation that would allow the employee to perform the essential functions of the job. This article from Hopkins & Carley discusses …
Can you have a “No Pets at Work” policy? What if an employee has a service dog? What if it is an emotional support dog? What if the person asking is a member of the public and not an employee at all? Nonprofits may receive requests from employees, clients, or others, to bring service or …
ChatGPT has become all the rage, inside and outside of the technology world. In fact, I even used ChatGPT to write this intro – but only after taking into consideration the guidance that Creighton Frommer, Counsel at RelX, shares in this episode of the PBPA Podcast. Join us as we talk about ChatGPT and other …
Transporting children in cars may be a necessary component of some nonprofit programming, but it also carries significant risks. While accidents can never be completely eliminated, there are steps nonprofit organizations can take to mitigate the risks to the organization, the driver, and the transported children. This article from Wagenmaker & Oberly explores some effective …
To realize the full potential of youth mentoring programs, it is critical for a nonprofit to have appropriate safeguards in place to protect the nonprofit, its volunteer mentors and its youth mentees. In the webinar, our speaker will review legal considerations for nonprofits that have volunteers who mentor youth, including: Speaker: Kristine Berry Morain, EVP, …
A cyber-attack at your nonprofit is not a question of IF, but a question of WHEN. When it does happen, it could be small, or it could be devastating. Most standard commercial general liability insurance policies do not cover liability for cybersecurity issues. From strong internal controls to cybersecurity insurance, this article outlines the many options your organization …
Nonprofits of all types are susceptible to fraud, especially those with limited resources or lacking internal controls. It could come as an imposter creating a copycat webpage and taking donations intended for your 501(c)(3), or an email phishing scam to an unsuspecting employee. Is your nonprofit taking the appropriate steps to protect itself from potential fraud? …
After two-years of staying grounded during the pandemic, you’ve organized a trip abroad and recruited a group of volunteers who are ready to fly out. But when traveling abroad, there are situations in which safety and security issues may outweigh the advantages of international experiences. What happens if something goes wrong? What happens if one …
Nonprofits rely on volunteers to help them fulfill their missions everyday. Some nonprofits rely on a volunteer base more heavily than others, but all nonprofits eventually encounter a difficult volunteer. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Elizabeth Newton will speak to us about how to effectively and legally deal with challenging volunteers. Pro Bono Partnership …
Every day, nonprofits face risk in virtually every aspect of their operations. Since risk cannot be eliminated because life itself involves risk, the goal must be to manage risk. As the word “manage” implies, when a nonprofit attempts to reduce or control, i.e., manage its risk, it takes time, effort and money, all of which …