Letter from the Executive Director

Hello , 

I am excited to share Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta’s 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the incredible achievements and progress we made together last year. Our amazing donors, volunteers, and staff enabled us to serve 316 nonprofit organizations through our direct legal services (and many more through our free legal education and resources), empowering them to make an even greater impact in our community. These organizations support millions of people across Georgia with critical programs and services, ranging from refugee assistance to youth education and support for people experiencing homelessness. 

I also want to honor the legacy of Tom Rawls, a long-time PBPA supporter and cherished member of our community, who passed away in June. Tom's dedication and generosity were instrumental in our success, and his contributions have left a lasting impact on many nonprofit organizations. Tom was passionate about making legal services available to all, and we remember him as we continue our work providing free legal services to nonprofits. 

As we look to the future -- PBPA will turn 20 next year! -- we ask you to consider supporting PBPA’s work as a monthly or one-time donor or as a legal volunteer. Volunteers and donors are what power our work serving the nonprofit community.  
 
Best regards, 

Rachel Spears
Executive Director

Bootcamp Applications Now Open!

Advance your nonprofit leadership skills and connect with other nonprofit leaders by applying to PBPA’s Legal Bootcamp for Diverse Nonprofit Leaders. Applications close 8/23 so apply now!

This FREE program is open to diverse executive directors committed to a career in the nonprofit field who are new to their position and/or are currently running an emerging nonprofit that assists low-income or disadvantaged communities in metro-Atlanta.

Participants are selected through a competitive application process. Space is limited.

Shoutouts to our Volunteers

Thank you to the more than 600 volunteers who have signed up for a pro bono project in 2024! We could not do this work without you. Click here for a list of individuals who have volunteered so far this year.

From: North Fulton Community Charities
To: Michelle Johnson (Nelson Mullins)
Thank you so much for your expertise and guidance related to the new DOL rules. Your responsiveness and willingness to help us gain a better understanding of the impact the new rules would have on our business was critical. It enabled us to ensure that NFCC had the proper liability protections in place as well as the appropriate fiscal resources to comply with the new rules.

From: The Rutledge Center
To: Kerri Braun (Cisco)
Thank you for taking the time to meet with the Rutledge Center last week. Your attention to detail is greatly appreciated. With volunteers like you, Rutledge can strengthen our organization and provide quality services to more people with disabilities. Looking forward to meeting with you about our website/copyright issues.

From: Fayette FACTOR
To: Susanna Post (Truist) Garland Reid (Delta)
Edwin Garrison (Kilpatrick) and
Monique Mead (Kilpatrick) 
I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Fayette FACTOR, Inc. board of directors and staff to the entire legal team for the exceptional consultation you provided us yesterday. The valuable information and insights you shared in that short period of time significantly impacted our understanding and approach to processes and procedures and we left the meeting feeling more informed and confident about our next steps and immediate internal changes that we can make, thanks to your guidance.  

Client Profile:
Trees Atlanta

Atlanta has been affectionately nicknamed a “city in a forest” for the amazing tree canopy that surrounds it. Recognizing the importance of this greenspace, Marcia Bansley, in partnership with other community groups and concerned citizens, founded Trees Atlanta in 1985 as a way to preserve and protect Atlanta’s urban forest. Since the first 46 trees were planted on Carnegie Way in 1986, Trees Atlanta has planted 170,000 trees and expanded into a widely recognized organization dedicated to the preservation of our urban environment. 

Trees Atlanta participated in a Legal Check Up (LCU) with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta earlier this year. Business Development Director Mike Vinciquerra said the LCU was a “great launching point” for helping Trees Atlanta identify potential legal challenges. “It’s time intensive but necessary, and [PBPA] made it much easier on us than we anticipated to identify areas we needed to address.”

Click here to read more about Trees Atlanta!

New Clients

Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
The Single Parent Alliance & Resource Center
Community Friendship Housing Services
Coweta Force
Scraplanta
Here's To Life
Mountain Circuit Court Appointed Special Advocates 
Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter
Atlanta Community Tennis Foundation