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ELC Clients - Social Entrepreneurs & Non-Profits Individuals or groups who wish to build a non-profit business or charitable services organization, as well as those pursuing social entrepreneurship objectives, fit into this category. Most of these ventures will be generally eligible for ELC services. Well established non-profits with substantial endowments, as well as private foundations, will likely not be eligible for ELC services. Because of the emerging trend in social entrepreneurship for new ventures to demonstrate both low cost access strategies and profitable market strategies, ELC will consider providing services to founders who are not exclusively committed to forming a non-profit. In fact, ELC can help such founders think through the pros and cons of establishing non-profit vs. for profit organizations. Accepted clients will be assigned a team tailored to the needs of the proposed venture. In some cases this will be a full team consisting of different students and attorneys for review of: business planning, structure, and governance; intellectual property, particularly trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, and, if applicable, patents; employment law; business licensing; and tax planning and compliance. In other cases, a non-profit or social entrepreneurship venture will be assigned a team with a single student and supervising attorney. For example, a small co-op that needs to focus solely on governance and co-op organization law, or obtaining tax exempt status can benefit from the efficiencies of a single business and tax law trained student and supervising attorney team. The initial confidential legal and business audit report will assess the following areas, as applicable; additional legal services in these areas may also be offered upon mutual written agreement of the venture and ELC: * Business planning * Entity selection and registration * Differences between non-profit governance (including co-ops) and for profit governanc

Venturesource is a free open-content community resource center to help social entrepreneurs plan, start, manage, and grow successful social enterprises.

"Social Venture Planning and Legal Guidance for a Better World"

"FrontlineSMS:Legal helps our partners bridge the distance between communities and the legal services they need most, using low-cost mobile tools. FrontlineSMS:Legal develops and implements technologies that improve the delivery, reach, and efficiency of legal services by connecting formal systems with community based dispute resolution mechanisms. Our partners, including government agencies, not-for profit organizations, university law clinics, and other legal institutions, provide critical legal and dispute resolution services to marginalized communities. By bridging these systems, FrontlineSMS:Legal helps our partners reduce costs, reach new clients, and manage workflows, increasing access to justice."

"An overview of the many types of enterprises, from social businesses to nonprofits, now producing social goods. Also looks at implications for financing these enterprises. "