Schiff Hardin attorneys perform pro bono work for a variety of community and nonprofit organizations.

Sikh Temple of Wisconsin

Schiff Hardin attorneys are providing legal services to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in the tragic aftermath of a violent hate crime in August 2012 that left five worshippers dead. In light of Schiff Hardin’s pro bono reputation and our firm's presence in the Indian‐American community, the Temple's trustees asked for our counsel on several issues, including how to distribute money raised by various fundraising groups throughout the United States in the wake of the shooting incident.

Harlem School of the Arts

We represented this prominent New York City cultural institution in a highly contentious dispute with a former senior executive.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

We represented the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, a 501(c)(3) organization focusing on education, training and economic development, as "general counsel" for a number of years. Projects included an agreement to transition its alternative high school program to independent control and an agreement to sponsor a new photography-training program.

Schiff Hardin partner Mark C. Zaander currently serves as chairman of the organization's board of directors.

For more information on the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, visit their Web site: http://www.jane-addams.org/.

Housing Choice Partners

We have long provided pro bono services to Housing Choice Partners, a non-profit that counsels Section 8 certificate holders on how to find housing in areas of opportunity, (portions of the Chicago area that are not subject to high concentrations of poverty or high levels of segregation in housing).

For more information on Housing Choice Partners, please visit their Web site: http://www.state.il.us/dhr/Housenet/Private/HCP/Index.htm.

Childcare Network of Evanston

We provided general representation to the Childcare Network of Evanston, an umbrella organization involved in development of childcare resources, training of caregivers, and placement of children with providers.

For more information on the Childcare Network of Evanston, please visit their Web site: http://www.childcarenetworkofevanston.org/.

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits, Inc.

We successfully arbitrated a contract dispute with a consultant organization in connection with claims for service-related fees.

For more information on The Georgia Center for Nonprofits, please visit their Web site: http://www.gcn.org/.

The UIC Athletic Alumni Club

We represented the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Athletic Alumni Club, a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit corporation whose members are former athletes at UIC. These alumni raise money for scholarships and other purposes for the UIC Athletic Department.

For more information on The UIC Athletic Alumni Club, visit their Web site: http://uicflames.cstv.com/boosters/uicaac.html.

Chicago Metropolitan Development Association

We represent the Chicago Metropolitan Development Association, a nonprofit organization formed by a number of the largest church- and faith-based entities in the Chicago metropolitan area — Chicago Archdiocese, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Jewish Federation, Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Council of Islamic Organizations, and a consortium of independent African-American congregations — as several unions. They plan to construct 100 homes in the Lawndale community for sale to low- and moderate-income families under the New Homes for Chicago program, and they intend to construct many more over the next several years. We helped form the organization and obtained its 501(c)(3) status on a pro bono basis.

Lawyers for the Creative Arts

We handle a variety of matters for this organization.

For more information on Lawyers for the Creative Arts, please visit their Web site: http://www.law-arts.org/.

The Delta Redevelopment Institute (Delta REDI)

We represented The Delta Redevelopment Institute (Delta REDI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, in creating a syndication program that used the recently enacted federal new markets tax credit to attract corporate equity investment for environmental brownfields redevelopment, mainly in low-income communities throughout the Great Lakes region.

For more information on The Delta Redevelopment Institute (Delta REDI) visit their Web site: http://www.deltaredi.org/.

Center for Conflict Resolution

We are providing volunteer mediation services for pro se, eviction, and juvenile courts clients through the Center for Conflict Resolution.

For more information on the Center for Conflict Resolution, visit their Web site: http://www.ccrchicago.org/.

EduSeed

Schiff Hardin is pleased to offer our support to EduSeed — an organization dedicated to promoting education, particularly among historically disadvantaged and under-served communities. EduSeed furthers the pursuit of higher education and life-long learning by using models of peer-mentorship and self-empowerment.

Our firm has assisted EduSeed by hosting, promoting and providing funding for the 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser for SisterMentors, an EduSeed project. Additionally we provide office space and other office resources to the staff of EduSeed.

Schiff Hardin counsel Montina M. Cole serves on the organization's board of directors.

More information on EduSeed can be found on the organization's Web site: http://www.eduseed.org/.

SisterMentors

Schiff Hardin is pleased to support SisterMentors — an organization that helps women of color to complete their dissertations and get their doctorates. The women in turn, while in the program, give back by mentoring disadvantaged girls of color in middle and high schools in the Washington, D.C. area, inspiring them to go to college. The women and girls are African-American, Latina, Asian-American and women and girls who are immigrants of color. In ten years, SisterMentors has helped 27 women of color to get doctorates, mentored more than 75 girls of color, and sent their first group of girls off to college in the fall of 2007.

SisterMentors is an EduSeed project. More information on SisterMentors can be found on their Web site: http://www.sistermentors.org/.

Dr. Marija Veljaca Foundation

Dr. Marija Veljaca Foundation was established on March 11, 2005 in memory of Dr. Marija Veljaca, a medical doctor and a research scientist in the field of gastroenterology.

The purpose of the Foundation is to raise funding and provide assistance to individuals who are pursuing a career in medicine or research science and whose primary goal is to help others, by providing such individuals with:

• Scholarships to assist with medical school tuition
• Funds for books, publications, magazines and lab fees while attending medical school
• Funds for living expenses while attending medical school
• Other similar sources of support

Attorneys from Schiff Hardin helped form the foundation and obtained its 501(c)(3) status on a pro bono basis.

First Star

Schiff Hardin provides free facilities to the staff of First Star, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of America's abused and neglected children. First Star works to change the child welfare system from one of abuse and neglect to one of protection and support, though a nonpartisan, multidisciplinary approach to foster collaborative action to benefit children.

Schiff Hardin partner Sherry A. Quirk is vice-chair of First Star's board of directors and a co-founder of the organization.

For more information, visit First Star's Web site: http://www.firststar.org/.

Other Community Organizations and Nonprofits

In fall 2008, we sponsored a student's internship at the Chicago Legal Clinic.

We represent Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, as well as the Episcopal Church (nationally) and the Anglican Communion in a variety of pro bono matters.

We assisted the organizers of a proposed film and theater production company with the initial steps of organization as an Illinois nonprofit corporation. The production company proposed to create only plays and films to be shown at schools and other community facilities on the topic of promoting racial, ethnic and religious understanding and acceptance.

Schiff Hardin assisted in establishing the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. That organization has now become the premier educational resource and community in the Midwest for forward-looking, ecologically-minded landscape professionals, including designers, contractors, suppliers and nurseries committed to best practices for environmentally responsible landscaping and horticulture.

We helped form a church-based nonprofit obtain its 501(c)(3) status and then provided counseling with respect to a New Homes for Chicago development of 52 flats in the North-Kenwood/Oakland area of Chicago.

We helped a local community beautification group organize as an Illinois nonprofit corporation and apply for nonprofit status with the IRS.

Our attorneys provide ongoing legal advice regarding compliance with FCC broadcasting rules and regulations, tax-exempt organization requirements, corporate structure and operations, and day-to-day business activities.