Helping charities and not-for-profits build strong foundations

Our pro bono and transactional teams bring together cross-border and cross-practice expertise to provide clear, practical legal advice that enables these organisations to deliver impact.

Our approach

We provide pro bono advice to charities and not-for-profits on matters such as:

• Navigating registration processes – guiding clients through the legal steps to incorporate or register as a charity or not-for-profit, and advising on jurisdiction-specific requirements.
• Strengthening governance frameworks – drafting governing documents, advising on trustee duties, and helping boards adopt best-practice standards.
• Managing risk and compliance – identifying potential conflicts of interest, ensuring legal adherence, and supporting organisations in meeting reporting obligations.

Impact in action

Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI)

Healthy Brains Global Initiative is an international non-profit whose mission is to transform mental health systems worldwide. It mobilises innovative, outcomes-based delivery models to shift spending from activities to outcomes, unlock funding, drive high performance, and catalyse sustainable system change. HBGI works with governments, funders, and service providers to create this change, ultimately improving the lives of the individuals and communities they serve.

The US-based non-profit entity sought to expand its reach and impact by registering as a UK charity. We advised on the optimal structure, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and helped design appropriate governance arrangements. This enabled HBGI to unlock new funding opportunities in the UK and strengthen its global portfolio. HBGI UK’s first major project is now underway: a review of children and young people’s mental health services in the UK, with a focus on performance and outcomes.

“The Freshfields team were outstanding in the set-up of HBGI UK, leading the process for us with commitment and enthusiasm. Establishing the operational framework alongside our US entity was no small feat. The team ensured the process was smooth, well-managed and they consistently went above and beyond. We are deeply appreciative of all their support, ultimately allowing us to rapidly progress projects to serve our beneficiaries.”

-Anna Delvig, Chief of Staff

The Society for Visually Impaired Lawyers (SOVIL)

The Society for Visually Impaired Lawyers is a UK-based organisation dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion within the legal profession for individuals with visual impairments. It provides networking opportunities, advocacy, and practical support to help visually impaired lawyers overcome barriers in education, training, and practice.

We supported SOVIL in registering as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England and Wales. This work involved drafting constitutional documents and advising on governance structures to ensure the organisation could deliver its mission of supporting visually impaired legal professionals effectively.

The Earthshot Prize 

Launched by The (then) Duke of Cambridge and The Royal Foundation in October 2020, The Earthshot Prize is the most ambitious and prestigious global environment prize in history designed to incentivise change and help repair our planet over the next 10 years. A multi-disciplinary team from across the firm led by our London Global Transactions practice helped to design the governance arrangements for, and incorporate, a new UK charity “The Earthshot Prize” and to execute the spin-out which was completed in July 2022. Our team included colleagues from our London Corporate, IP, Tax, People & Reward and Real Estate teams and the Corporate team in New York. Our work included preparing an agreement to document the transfer of people, funding contracts and other assets to the new charity and related matters.

One of the most complex features of this matter was how to formalise the ongoing relationship between The Royal Foundation and The Earthshot Prize, whilst ensuring The Earthshot Prize’s autonomy. In addition to the governance arrangements provided for in the new charity’s articles of association, the team advised on a new, ongoing relationship agreement between The Royal Foundation and The Earthshot Prize. The relationship agreement has been crafted so that it can evolve over time as the respective parties’ operations and involvement with each other change over the years. This is designed to help both parties remain coordinated in the actions taken to achieve their charitable goals and maintain closely aligned processes and yet allow autonomy and flexibility.

GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly is an international non-profit that facilitates unconditional cash transfers to individuals living in poverty. Its mission is to demonstrate a path to ending extreme poverty through direct cash transfers that allow individuals to invest in what they need, recognising they are the experts in their own lives and granting them the dignity to choose for themselves. GiveDirectly’s programmes are funded by individual donors, foundations, businesses, and institutions. Since its inception, GiveDirectly has reached over 2 million people, delivering more than $1 billion in direct aid across over a dozen countries. In connection with these efforts, the US-based non-profit entity sought strategic advice with respect to its US governance and activities abroad.

The Rule 39 Initiative: Protecting Asylum Seekers Across Europe

The Rule 39 Initiative is an award-winning pro bono collaborative project that assists asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants across Europe by filing emergency interim relief requests with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and other international bodies. Since its inception, the initiative has provided over 10,000 hours of pro bono legal support to more than 750 individuals (including 80+ children).

Freshfields has supported the Rule 39 Initiative across several key areas of intervention. Between September 2022 and April 2023, this included collaborating through a strategic partnership with the Belgian Legal Helpdesk service to assist asylum seekers left homeless and without state support during the Belgian reception crisis. Alongside providing direct volunteering and casework support, Freshfields lawyers have also advised on the governance and incorporation of Pro Iura, a Belgian non-profit organisation (ASBL) established to support the initiative’s broader mission.

“Freshfields’ guidance was invaluable in enabling us to establish the new entity and navigate the various legal and corporate aspects involved. Having such responsive, thoughtful, and high-quality support made a real difference throughout the process.”

-Daria Sartori, Director, Pro Iura ASBL

Rhythm & Relief 

Rhythm & Relief is an international non-profit dedicated to improving mental and physical wellbeing through music and creative expression. Its mission is to bring together front-line music therapy and community-based music programmes to support individuals experiencing stress, trauma, and social isolation, particularly within underserved and marginalised communities. Rhythm & Relief provides resources to help support, advance research, and promote the most impactful organisations delivering transformational change at the intersection of music and health.

The founder of the US-based Rhythm & Relief organisation approached us to support expansion into the UK, with a view to establishing a UK charity which could help deliver programmes and access funding. We advised on the establishment of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation; and designed appropriate governance arrangements. This has enabled Rhythm & Relief to operate effectively in the UK, broaden its funding base, and strengthen its global impact.

AIDS Concern

AIDS Concern is a leading; Hong Kong-based health charity which specialises in HIV/AIDS response, community health, and inclusion for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Since 1990, AIDS Concern has been dedicated to stopping the spread of HIV, and to improving the lived experience of people living with HIV. One of the biggest challenges to AIDS Concern’s mission is the social stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV. To address this challenge, AIDS Concern invests resources into providing public health education and awareness programmes to create a more inclusive society by eliminating HIV/AIDS myths and misunderstandings.

Recently, AIDS Concern has looked to expand its services to ensure that everyone has a fair opportunity to attain optimal sexual and mental health. Our Hong Kong office has supported AIDS Concern to update the organisation’s object clauses, allowing it to take a broader approach to community sexual health.