We are well into 2013 and have all (hopefully) fully recovered from the end of 2012, including our holiday and year end festivities and the dangers of the fiscal cliff, with the looming debt crisis still to be addressed. Another “crisis” said to be facing our country is the enormous need for pro bono service from lawyers. It is estimated that more than 80% of the legal needs of persons in the U.S. with limited income are currently unmet. That is a crisis that the OBF, and each person who supports the OBF, directly helps to improve.
Legal Blueprint for a Successful Nonprofit
You are providing legal advice to a start-up non-profit organization or sitting on the board of such an organization. You believe strongly in the entity’s mission, and want to do all you can, as a lawyer and as a volunteer, to help it succeed. A perfect example to follow is right in front of you – the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. This non-profit charitable organization, which is the third oldest bar foundation in the U.S, has successfully raised and distributed over $10 million to provide legal services and law-related benefits and education to Oklahoma citizens, all in the name of Oklahoma lawyers. The OBF provides a valuable legal blueprint for any lawyer to follow in establishing, operating, or contributing to the success of a non-profit organization.