An application-based legal retainer for mission-driven organizations that need consistent outside counsel — priced through the RLG Access Fund, structured for the realities of nonprofit operations.
The Nonprofit Division is priced intentionally — 30–40% below our equivalent entrepreneur tiers — not as a charity discount, but as an organizational commitment. Mission-driven work deserves the same quality of legal counsel as the most well-resourced commercial entities. The RLG Access Fund is how we make that possible. The level of service, the depth of counsel, and the standards we hold ourselves to are identical across every division. What changes is the price — because the financial reality of nonprofit operations is not the same as a growth-stage company, and pretending otherwise would undermine the access we're trying to create.
Most nonprofits engage legal counsel only when a specific problem demands it. Nonprofit Counsel on Call is built for the opposite model — ongoing legal partnership embedded in how the organization operates.
Your attorney knows your bylaws, your board structure, your grant portfolio, and your program model. Legal context isn't rebuilt every time a question arises — it is already there.
Nonprofit law is not just business law with a tax exemption attached. IRS compliance, board governance requirements, restricted fund obligations, and grant contract norms require counsel who understands the sector.
RLG proactively surfaces governance gaps, compliance deadlines, and policy requirements before they become violations. Compliance is not reviewed after the fact — it is managed on an ongoing basis.
Nonprofit budgets are constrained. Unpredictable legal costs cause organizations to delay or forgo counsel they need. A fixed monthly retainer removes that friction — and the RLG Access Fund pricing makes it sustainable.
The Nonprofit Division is capped at ten members. Every enrolled organization receives substantive legal attention — not a named slot in an oversubscribed list. Enrollment is selective. Applications are reviewed after a discovery call.
The goal of Nonprofit Counsel on Call is not to answer the question presented. It is to understand the organization well enough to know what questions should be asked — and to handle both.
Nonprofit Counsel on Call is for operating organizations — past the idea or startup phase, actively managing programs, funding relationships, and governance obligations.
Operating nonprofits with active programs, staff or contractors, and ongoing regulatory and governance obligations who need consistent outside legal counsel.
Grant-making foundations navigating compliance with private foundation rules, grant agreement management, investment policy, and board governance requirements.
Mission-driven entities — including hybrid structures, fiscal sponsorships, and impact ventures — that require legal counsel aligned with both mission and operational complexity.
Nonprofits entering a growth phase — new programs, new funders, new employees — where the legal complexity is meaningfully increasing and informal legal management is no longer sufficient.
The Nonprofit Division maintains a maximum of ten members across all three tiers. This is an operational commitment — not a marketing constraint. Every enrolled organization receives substantive legal attention and an attorney who understands their structure, programs, and compliance environment.
Applications are reviewed after a 20-minute discovery call. A decision is communicated within 48 business hours of that call. If the division is at capacity, qualified applicants are added to a waitlist and notified as enrollment opens.
If you are uncertain which tier is the right fit, that is a normal part of the discovery call conversation. RLG will make a recommendation based on your organization's size, complexity, and legal needs.
Each tier is structured to match a different level of organizational complexity and legal need. All tiers are priced through the RLG Access Fund — 30–40% below our standard entrepreneur rates.
Foundational legal support for organizations that need consistent governance infrastructure, compliance oversight, and document review — without an ongoing legal budget that matches a commercial company.
For organizations managing active grant portfolios, growing staff, and governance complexity that requires consistent outside counsel — not just document review, but strategic legal partnership.
Comprehensive outside general counsel for established organizations managing significant legal complexity — enterprise grants, multi-program structures, executive transitions, and board-level legal advisory needs.
The process is designed to be direct — no ambiguity, no extended back-and-forth. You apply, we connect, and a decision is made.
Complete the Nonprofit Division application below. Share your organization's background, current legal situation, and tier interest. This is your first formal step toward membership.
After reviewing your application, the RLG team reaches out to schedule a 20-minute discovery call. This is a working conversation to understand your organization's structure, programs, and legal needs in context.
Within 48 business hours of your discovery call, RLG communicates a formal decision — acceptance, waitlist status, or a recommendation for an alternative program. No ambiguity.
Accepted organizations complete a brief onboarding to establish your legal profile, map your governance structure, and surface any immediate compliance priorities. Your retainer begins from day one.
Submit your application for the Nonprofit Division. All submissions are reviewed within 48 business hours following your discovery call. RLG Access Fund pricing applies to all Nonprofit Division tiers.
Apply for Membership →