Since the Great Recession, it has been a challenging time for nonprofits. In addition to struggling with dwindling financial resources, they have had to comply with new federal and state regulations regarding transparency, accountability and governance. Some have sought strategic alliances or merged with others in order to survive.
Fortunately, many nonprofits in the greater New York metro region and beyond have been able to become more viable in fulfilling their missions, thanks to the services of a very unique resource. It is the Pro Bono Partnership, a dedicated staff of 18 professionals including nine lawyers who supervise hundreds of volunteer attorneys in providing pro bono services to qualified nonprofits that serve the disadvantaged or enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods. Among the legal issues addressed are corporate structure and governance, real estate, employment law, environmental law, compliance with state and federal regulations, fundraising, lobbying, intellectual property among others.
Those are the kinds of legal matters often associated with the corporate world. “The truth of the matter is that the non-profits are like any other businesses that confront legal issues on a daily basis,” said Richard S. Hobish, the partnership”™s co-founder and executive director/CEO. He added: “We screen nonprofits”™ requests for legal help and form teams of some of the best talent ”“ both inside and outside counsel ”“ in order to fully meet those needs.”
Since its founding, the partnership ”“ which has emerged as a national model for pro bono programs ”“ has assisted more than 1,700 nonprofit organizations on thousands of legal matters, enabling them to more effectively feed the hungry, house the homeless, protect the environment and provide essential programs to children, immigrants, the elderly, the disabled and the unemployed. Currently, a corps of about 900 attorneys are volunteering their time and talent to solving complex issues.
One of the early clients, YMCA of Tarrytown, turned out to be the case that Hobish is most proud of in terms of the scope and complexity of the project ”“ the renovation of a 48-unit, affordable income housing complex that entailed $3 million in financing and a host of low-income house tax credits. “It was an amazing blending of legal talent and demonstrated how effective we are as an organization in leveraging limited resources to solve a devilishly complicated matter.”
Hobish also takes pride in the meaningful difference the partnership has made. That is borne out in the findings of a market research firm, Metis Associates, which undertook an evaluation a few years ago of the impact the partnership was making on its nonprofit clients, volunteers and the volunteers”™ employers. Many clients noted that their organizations improved the level of function since they began working with the partnership. Key areas of improvement included a strengthening in their boards of directors and financial management and accountability procedures. They also felt that without the partnership”™s support, they might have gone out of business or suffered other harm. Seventy-five percent reported that they were more effective in delivering services either to their clients or to the community.
The origins of the partnership arguably date back to when Hobish attended Oberlin College and served as a ”˜big brother”™ to an abused boy. “That experience had a tremendous impact on shaping my career,” he said.
It continued after he graduated from NYU Law School where he met his wife, who also influenced him by her desire to follow a public-interest legal path. He worked for the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn, then joined the Lawyers Alliance for New York where he served as deputy director. While at the alliance, “I learned my trade and developed a level of expertise in understanding the complex IRS tax-exempt status of non-profits.”
The partnership came into existence soon after Robert E. Healing, corporate counsel for GE Electric, invited him to join a committee of the Westchester Fairfield Corporate Counsel Association to explore the most effective ways of matching in-house corporate counsels with qualifying nonprofits. As a result of his demonstrated leadership, Hobish was named the first executive director of the newly formed partnership which emerged as a leader in its field.
“What makes us unique is that we are the only organization in the country that is focused primarily with corporate in-house counsels and the only one that is doing so in several states.In addition to serving the nonprofit communities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the partnership recently started an affiliate in Atlanta and is in the process of establishing another in Cincinnati.
“I am the luckiest person in this profession ”“ blessed with an extraordinarily committed board of directors, volunteers who represent some of the nation”™s best legal minds, an incredibly bright and dedicated staff, each of whom is here because they love doing what they do. The quality of their work is a testament to their commitment and integrity.”
Thanks for featuring Pro Bono Partnership in the current issue. This is such an important resource to nonprofits in Westchester and other areas it serves. Here at The Volunteer Center of United Way, we never hesitate to direct agencies to PBP, and we utilize the expertise of their volunteers ourselves in areas of human resources, governance, and other legal matters. The staff is outstanding and the pro bono volunteers are first-class.
So pleased to see this article about Rick Hobish and the work ProBono Partnership does. I have volunteered there and have had wonderful experiences each time. PBO is such a wonderful resource for nonprofits (as in the Volunteer Center!) It is often difficult for “one off” organizations (organizations like PBP, the Volunteer Center and Westchester Community Foundation that provide services TO the nonprofits that provide the direct service to the public) to get the word out. Kudos to Frank Pagani for helping with this wonderful article.