Natural Allies: Philanthropy, the Legal Community, and Civil Legal Aid

The struggle to break the cycle of poverty is often paved with legal potholes. For some it may be not getting access to education or disability benefits. For others it may be the impact of health problems that result from living in an uninhabitable apartment that a landlord refuses to bring up to code. The range of issues is vast, and the need for legal assistance is great.

Investing in organizations that help low-income people solve their legal problems is smart, results-oriented philanthropy. Civil Legal Aid Organizations provide direct legal advocacy to individuals, families, and communities to help address the economic, social, and health problems that keep them in poverty. In addition, the work done by Civil Legal Aid Organizations brings money back into the bank accounts of those in need and their communities. In the Bay Area, for every $1 invested in legal aid on average more than $6 goes back into the community.

Join us for this NCG event on Civil Legal Aid, where we will explore collaborations and investments of foundations, individual donors, corporations, law firms, government and bar associations in Civil Legal Aid. Hear from Martha Bergmark of Voices For Civil Justice, and your colleagues who have found using Civil Legal Aid to be one of our best, most natural allies in the fight to reduce poverty.

Keynote Speaker

Martha Bergmark of Voices For Civil Justice.

Targeted Audience

This program is open to NCG members and invited guests.

Sponsors and Members of the Legal Services Funders Network include:

Arnold & Porter, LLP
Bigglesworth Family Foundation
California Bar Foundation
East Bay Community Foundation
Girls Rights Project
Marin Community Foundation
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw & Pittman
San Francisco Mayors Office
van Löben Sels/RembeRock Foundation
Walter S. Johnson Foundation