Crag Law Center

Intellectual Property.

     The Crag Law Center has assisted a number of non-profits with issues related to copyrights, trademarks, confidentiality and trade secrets. While the issue of protecting intellectual property for conservation groups is different than in the business world, many groups find that trademark protection is a key protection for the marks they use for their house name, key fundraising events or slogans. A trademark can help protect against confusing use or co-optation by other organizations and it is worth considering. Our non-profit clients have also faced intellectual property issues in working with partners on Internet related agreements or with independent contractors on valuable educational materials. A well-defined contractual relationship can help ensure organizational continuity and a stable funding base.

Event Partner & Sponsorship Agreements.

     The Crag Law Center has assisted non-profits with the negotiation of sponsorship agreements with businesses. These partnerships are evolving as groups learn from past mistakes, and businesses begin to recognize where the real value lies, that being receiving recognition for policies and practices that they are actually implementing internally and promoting externally. In taking on sponsors, it is critical that for the groups to maintain control of their name. Doing so begins with an effective screen of potential sponsors, and, as necessary, custom provisions allowing termination should the sponsor change its tune or commit an egregious affront on the environment. Sponsor support is increasingly becoming a fundraising vehicle to simultaneously deliver a message, support grassroots organizing efforts and put-on an event that provides a fun way to highlight positive change.

Organizational Assistance.

     The Crag Law Center has assisted groups dedicated to effecting change on environmental, community and sustainability fronts with their initial start-up, organization and with the spin-off of a new organization from an existing non-profit organization. As part of that work, we have devoted significant time and resources to ensuring that these fledging organizations are given an education in the law, so that they can ramp up with the knowledge needed to steer clear of the most common mistakes. Crag’s goal is to assist them with building effective organizations that are sustainable for the long-term.

Fiscal Sponsorship Agreements.

The Crag Law Center has prepared a variety of fiscal sponsorship agreements that allow an existing non-profit to receive and manage foundation funding and to the operator of a key program or a specific project that resonates with the existing non-profit’s mission. In one particular case, this kind of agreement helped a client working on climate change coordinate with a Pulitzer Prize winning author to establish a speaking tour highlighting his critically acclaimed work on global warming. If done right, this can lead to the establishment of an organization that takes on a life of its own or, just as valuable, provide the administrative support to a project that otherwise would not have the critical mass to strike out on its own.