Member Organizations

ADA Watch: The ADA WATCH campaign is a project of the National Coalition for Disability Rights. It is best described as a nonprofit informational online network designed to activate the disability community's grassroots in response to threats to civil rights protections for people with disabilities.

AIDS Action: A national organization dedicated to the development, analysis, cultivation, and encouragement of sound policies and programs in response to the HIV epidemic. Through the dissemination of information and the building and use of advocacy on behalf of all those living with and affected by HIV, AIDS Action has been instrumental in the development and implementation of major public health policies to improve the quality of life for the estimated 850,000 - 900,000 Americans who are HIV positive.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund: The aim of the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund is to build an informed and active Asian America that is involved in the civic life of this country. AALDEF is the first legal rights organization on the East Coast serving Asian Americans. AALDEF was founded by a group of lawyers, law students and community activists who believed that the law should be used as a tool to achieve social and economic justice for Asian Americans and all Americans.

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization based in Washington D.C. Since 1972, the Bazelon Center has successfully challenged many barriers. Their precedent-setting litigation has outlawed institutional abuse and won protections against arbitrary confinement. In the courts and in Congress, the Bazelon Center's advocacy has opened up public schools, workplaces, housing and other opportunities for community life.

Business and Professional People for the Public Interest: Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI), one of the nation's foremost public interest law and policy centers, has been at the front lines of Chicago's most pressing social justice issues for over thirty years. Dedicated to equal justice and to enhancing the quality and equity of life for all people living in the Chicago region, BPI's staff of lawyers and policy specialists uses a variety of approaches, including litigation, research, advocacy, community organizing, and collaboration.

Center for Children’s Law and Policy:  CCLP is a new public interest law and policy organization focused on reform of juvenile justice and other systems that affect troubled and at-risk children, and protection of the rights of children in such systems, through a range of activities including research, writing, public education, media advocacy, training, technical assistance, administrative and legislative advocacy, and litigation. 

Center for Constitutional Rights: CCR uses litigation proactively to advance the law in a positive direction, to empower poor communities and communities of color, to guarantee the rights of those with the fewest protections and least access to legal resources, to train the next generation of constitutional and human rights attorneys, and to strengthen the broader movement for constitutional and human rights.

Center for Digital Democracy: The Center for Digital Democracy is committed to preserving the openness and diversity of the Internet in the broadband era, and to realizing the full potential of digital communications through the development and encouragement of noncommercial, public interest programming.

Center for Law and Social Policy: CLASP is a national non-profit organization with expertise in both law and policy affecting the poor. Through education, policy research and advocacy, CLASP seeks to improve the economic security of low-income families with children and secure access for low-income persons to our civil justice system.

Center for Law in the Public Interest: After its establishment in 1971 as one of the nation's first nonprofit, public interest law firms, CLIPI went on to produce a record of achievement in a series of cases that highlight important principles of social justice, equality of opportunity, and responsible stewardship of the environment.

Center for Reproductive Rights: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and defending women's reproductive rights worldwide.

Center for Science in the Public Interest: The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is a nonprofit education and advocacy organization that focuses on improving the safety and nutritional quality of our food supply and on reducing the carnage caused by alcoholic beverages. CSPI seeks to promote health through educating the public about nutrition and alcohol; it represents citizens' interests before legislative, regulatory, and judicial bodies; and it works to ensure advances in science are used for the public good.

Childrens Defense Fund: The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick or into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown.

Comprehensive Health Education Foundation: C.H.E.F.'s mission is to help people and communities improve the quality of their lives through health education.  We've remained steadfast in this mission for more than 30 years, with a promise to provide the skills, information, and resources that are essential to living safe, healthy lives. Through a combination of clear vision, strong leadership, passionate staff, collaborative partners, and a highly committed board of directors, we've directly benefited the health and well-being of millions of people.

Conservation Campaign: The Conservation Campaign (TCC) mobilizes public support for ballot measures and legislation that create public funds to protect land and water resources.  We support a wide range land conservation strategies, from acquisition of urban parks and playgrounds, to the purchase of development rights to protect working forests and farmlands.  We are completely bipartisan and work cooperatively with elected officials, along with farmers and ranchers, the business community, developers and realtors, and many other groups. 

Consumers Union: Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization serving only consumers. We are a comprehensive source for unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund: Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights and Education Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.

Drug Policy Alliance: Drug Policy Alliance is the leading organization working to broaden the public debate on drug policy and to promote realistic alternatives to the war on drugs based on science, compassion, public health and human rights. The guiding principle of the Alliance is harm reduction, an alternative approach to drug policy and treatment that focuses on minimizing the adverse effects of both drug use and drug prohibition.

Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund: Earthjustice is the nonprofit law firm for the environment, representing without charge hundreds of public interest clients, large and small. Earthjustice works through the courts to safeguard public lands, national forests, parks, and wilderness areas; to reduce air and water pollution; to prevent toxic contamination; to preserve endangered species and wildlife habitat; and to achieve environmental justice.

Education Law Center: The Education Law Center-PA (ELC-PA) is a non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to insuring that all of Pennsylvania's children have access to a quality public education.

Equal Rights Advocates: Equal Rights Advocates' mission is to protect and secure equal rights and economic opportunities for women and girls through litigation and advocacy.

Food Research & Action Center: The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is a leading national organization working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States. Founded in 1970 as a public interest law firm, FRAC is a nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center that serves as the hub of an anti-hunger network of thousands of individuals and agencies across the country.

Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg: Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP specializes in providing legal advice to nonprofit organizations and individuals in the areas of nonprofit organization tax law, election law, employment law, and environmental law. The firm is dedicated to helping clients use the legal system to enhance the effectiveness of citizen advocacy, vindicate civil rights, and promote environmental protection.

Human Rights Campaign Foundation: As America's largest gay and lesbian organization, the Human Rights Campaign provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues. The Human Rights Campaign effectively lobbies Congress; mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities; invests strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress; and increases public understanding through innovative education and communication strategies.

Institute for Public Representation: The Institute for Public Representation is a public interest law firm and clinical education program established at Georgetown University Law Center in 1971. Since the Institute's founding, its attorneys and law students have acted as counsel for groups and individuals who are unable to obtain effective legal representation on matters that have a significant impact on issues of broad public importance. Currently, the Institute staff works in three project areas: civil rights, communications law, and environmental law.

Justice Policy Institute: The Justice Policy Institute is a non-profit research and public policy organization dedicated to ending society's reliance on incarceration and promoting effective and just solutions to social problems. Since 1996, JPI has evolved into one of the nation's most thoughtful and progressive voices for crafting workable solutions to age-old problems plaguing our juvenile and criminal justice systems.

Juvenile Law Center: Founded in 1975 as a non-profit legal service, Juvenile Law Center (JLC) is one of the oldest children's rights organizations in the United States. We work on behalf of children who have come within the purview of public agencies- for example, abused or neglected children placed in foster homes, delinquent youth sent to residential treatment facilities or adult prisons, or children in placement with specialized services needs. Although JLC primarily serves the children of Pennsylvania, we are also asked to lend our expertise to national child advocacy efforts.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.: Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers' Committee is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice under law.

League of Conservation Voters Education Fund: The League of Conservation Voters Education Fund was founded in 1985 to promote active and responsible citizenship in addressing our nation's environmental challenges.

Legal Aid Society of New York: The Legal Aid Society is the country's oldest and largest law firm for poor people. We not only provide free, quality legal services to poor New Yorkers, but also function as the City's watchdog, keeping government accountable to taxpayers.

Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center: The Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center promotes the stability of low income and disadvantaged workers and their families by addressing issues that affect their ability to achieve self-sufficiency. Using the law as a tool, the LAS-ELC helps workers attain financial security by preserving employment opportunities. We believe that stable working conditions and adequate income strengthen families and build communities. By protecting the legitimate employment status of wage earners, we provide families the means to pull through adverse times, avoid the downward spiral caused by job loss, and be fully contributing members of society.

Legal Momentum: Since 1970, Legal Momentum continues to be at the center of every major social and economic justice concern on the women's rights agenda, defining the issues and bringing them to public attention. Legal Momentum pursues equality for women and girls in the workplace, the schools, the family and the courts, through litigation, education, and public information programs.

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund: MALDEF's mission is to foster sound public policies, laws and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 35 million Latinos living in the United States and to empower the Latino community to full participate in our society.

National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) Pro-Choice America: The NARAL Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1977, performs in-depth research and legal work, publishes substantive policy reports, mounts public education campaigns, and provides leadership training for grassroots activists across the nation.

National Abortion Federation: NAF is the professional association of abortion providers in North America. Its members include over 400 nonprofit and private clinics, women's health centers, hospitals and private physicians' offices in 47 states. NAF's members care for over half of the women who choose abortion each year in the United States.

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preeminent organization in the United States advancing the mission of the nation's criminal defense lawyers to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or other misconduct.

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture: The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture is an alliance of hundreds of grassroots, state, regional and national organizations working together to shape and promote federal agriculture policies that:
   • Support sound environmental stewardship and agriculture based economic development that is good for farm and ranch families and their communities
   • Give consumers real choice about how their food is produced

National Center for Law and Economic Justice: The mission of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice is to advance the cause of economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities across the country.Because the Center believes that this nation should strive to ensure that no one lives in poverty, it subscribes to the following values: income security, access to employment, fair treatment,
public accountability, access to justice, fair and safe workplace, community action, and civic participation.

National Center for Lesbian Rights: NCLR is a national legal resource center with a primary commitment to advancing the rights and safety of lesbians and their families through a program of litigation, public policy advocacy, free legal advice and counseling, and public education.

National Center for Youth Law: The National Center for Youth Law uses the law to protect children from the harms caused by poverty, and to improve the lives of children living in poverty.

National Center on Poverty Law: The National Center on Poverty Law (NCPL) is a legal and policy research, communications, and advocacy organization that provides national leadership in identifying, developing, and supporting creative and collaborative approaches to achieve social and economic justice for low-income people. Established in 1967 by R. Sargent Shriver as part of the War on Poverty, NCPL is now a nonprofit organization that facilitates creative and collaborative approaches for representing low-income people in social policy and poverty law.

National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform: NCCNHR provides information and leadership on federal and state regulatory and legislative policy development and models and strategies to improve care and life for residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy:  Since its inception in 1976, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has worked on behalf of people and communities with the least wealth and opportunity.  Through research and advocacy programs it urges the philanthropic community to provide nonprofit organizations with essential resources and opportunities to effectively serve disadvantaged and disenfranchised populations and communities.  Additionally, NCRP strives to ensure that all philanthropy is held accountable to the highest standards of integrity and openness.  

National Council of Nonprofit Associations: The NCNA helps state associations of nonprofits to increase the impact, influence, and effectiveness of local nonprofits by providing information, training and leadership. It also advocates for state associations and the nonprofit sector by providing information toýand negotiating withýnational policymakers and the business community. And, increases public awareness and understanding of the vital role nonprofits play at the local, state and national level by working closely with the media, legislators and community leaders.

National Council for Research on Women: The National Council for Research on Women is a network of more than 100 leading U.S. research, advocacy, and policy centers with a growing global reach. The Council harnesses the resources of its network to ensure fully informed debate, policies, and practices to build a more inclusive and equitable world for women and girls.

National Education Association: NEA is America's oldest and largest organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 in Philadelphia and now headquartered in Washington, D.C., NEA proudly claims more than 2.7 million members who work at every level of education, from pre-school to university graduate programs.

National Employment Lawyers Association: The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) was founded in 1985 to provide assistance and support to lawyers in protecting the rights of employees against the greater resources of their employers and the defense bar.

National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association : A national non-profit membership organization, NFPRHA has worked to assure access to voluntary family planning and reproductive health care services and to support reproductive freedom for all.

National Immigration Forum: The purpose of the National Immigration Forum is to embrace and uphold America's tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and that are fair and supportive to newcomers in our country.

National Immigration Law Center: The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a national support center whose mission is to protect and promote the rights and opportunities of low income immigrants and their family members.  NILC staff specialize in immigration law, and the employment and public benefits rights of immigrants. The Center conducts policy analysis and impact litigation and provides publications, technical advice, and trainings to a broad constituency of legal aid agencies, community groups, and pro bono attorneys.

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty: The mission of the NCLHP is to alleviate, ameliorate and end homelessness by serving as the legal arm of the nationwide movement to end homelessness.

National Lawyers Guild: The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Through its members--lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers and legal workers united in chapters and committees--the Guild works locally, nationally and internationally as an effective political and social force in the service of the people.

National Legal Aid & Defender Association: NLADA is the nation's leading advocate for front-line attorneys and other equal justice professionals - those who make a difference in the lives of low-income clients and their families and communities. Representing legal aid and defender programs, as well as individual advocates, NLADA is proud to be the oldest and largest national, nonprofit membership association devoting 100 percent of its resources to serving the broad equal justice community.

National Low Income Housing Coalition: The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. The primary policy objective of NLIHC is passage of legislation that provides major new funding for the production of rental housing for extremely low income people.

National Mental Health Association: The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million individuals with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service.

National Partnership for Women and Families: The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that uses public education and advocacy to promote fairness in the workplace, quality health care, and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family.

National Senior Citizens Law Center: The National Senior Citizens Law Center advocates nationwide to promote the independence and well-being of low-income elderly individuals, as well as persons with disabilities, with particular emphasis on women and racial and ethnic minorities. As a national support center, NSCLC advocates through litigation, legislative and agency representation and assistance to attorneys and paralegals in field programs. NSCLC's functions vary with the needs of our clients. NSCLC maintains a national reputation for professional quality and successful advocacy.

National Veterans Legal Services Program: For more than 25 years, the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) has been helping veterans who-because of the effects of military service-have been unable to share in opportunities available to most Americans. We serve these forgotten veterans through advocacy, education, litigation, training, and publications.

National Women's Law Center: The Mission of the NWLC is to protect and advance the progress of women and girls at work, in school, and in virtually every aspect of their lives.

National Youth Advocacy Coalition: The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is a social justice organization that advocates for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being.

Native American Rights Fund: The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a non-profit organization that provides legal representation and technical assistance to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.

Natural Resources Defense Council: The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends. We work to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life -- air, land and water -- and to defend endangered natural places. We seek to establish sustainability and good stewardship of the Earth as central ethical imperatives of human society. NRDC affirms the integral place of human beings in the environment. We strive to protect nature in ways that advance the long-term welfare of present and future generations. We work to foster the fundamental right of all people to have a voice in decisions that affect their environment. We seek to break down the pattern of disproportionate environmental burdens borne by people of color and others who face social or economic inequities. Ultimately, NRDC strives to help create a new way of life for humankind, one that can be sustained indefinitely without fouling or depleting the resources that support all life on Earth.

New York Lawyers for the Public Interest: New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) is a not-for-profit legal office. NYLPI finds unique ways to tackle the problems facing low-income and underrepresented people throughout New York City.

One Connecticut: One Connecticut is a statewide coalition of over 100 human service, labor, interfaith, and advocacy organizations that began collaborating in 2000 to fight poverty and build economic security. One Connecticut's mission is to narrow Connecticut's divides in health care, education, income, and housing through sufficient public investment, equitable taxes, and a vibrant democracy.

Physicians for Human Rights: Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) promotes health by protecting human rights. We believe that human rights are essential preconditions for the health and well-being of all people. Using medical and scientific methods, we investigate and expose violations of human rights worldwide and we work to stop them. We support institutions that hold perpetrators of human rights abuses, including health professionals, accountable for their actions. We educate health professionals and medical, public health and nursing students and organize them to become active in supporting a movement for human rights and creating a culture of human rights in the medical and scientific professions.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America: Planned Parenthood believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence. We believe that respect and value for diversity in all aspects of our organization are essential to our well-being. We believe that reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and preserve the individual's right to privacy. We further believe that such self-determination will contribute to an enhancement of the quality of life, strong family relationships, and population stability.

Public Advocates: Public Advocates, Inc. is one of the oldest public interest law firms in the nation. It was founded in 1971 to challenge the persistent, underlying causes and effects of poverty and discrimination and to work for the empowerment of the poor and people of color by raising a voice for social justice in government, corporate and other institutions. Public Advocates uses a variety of litigative and non-litigative strategies, including judicial and administrative actions, policy advocacy projects, multi-cultural coalition building, and community economic development. Its past accomplishments include work ranging from consumer rights and corporate social responsibility to health and homelessness. Today, its current efforts focus on education, health care, telecommunications, employment and insurance redlining. As in its last three decades, Public Advocates is committed to working on issues that are relevant to poor, underrepresented communities.

Service Employees International Union:  The Service Employees International Union is 1.8 million working people and 50,000 retirees united to improve services and our communities throughout North America. SEIU members are winning better wages, health care, and more secure jobs at home, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers, not just corporations and CEOs, benefit from today’s global economy. 

Seton Hall Law School Center for Social Justice: The Seton Hall Law School Center for Social Justice is both a "for-credit" and pro-bono clinical program that seeks to allow students to engage in a legal apprenticeship, representing real-life clients in cases with real-life outcomes. It serves law students in much the same way that a residency program helps develop medical students into physicians. Under the supervision of professors, students have the opportunity to practice in all facets of actual litigation.

Sierra Club Foundation: The Sierra Club Foundation is a public charity whose mission is to provide financial support to the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations for tax deductible work. We fund a range of environmental projects which fall into the three general categories of public education, litigation, and training. Since 1960, The Sierra Club Foundation has funded tens of millions of dollars worth of important work, from small local projects costing a couple of hundred dollars, to large, multi-year campaigns which require millions of dollars to support. Our work reflects the core values of people everywhere. That we all have a right to a safe and healthy environment, clean air, clean water, open space, wild lands and a healthy and diverse ecosystem. We join the American people, and citizens of every nation, in the effort to protect our precious environment. For our families, for our future.

States United to Prevent Gun Violence: States United to Prevent Gun Violence Research and Education Fund is an independent association of state-wide, single issue, multi-project gun violence prevention organizations. The purpose of States United is to support, enhance and maximize the ability of our member organizations to work effectively with each other and the citizens of their states to prevent gun deaths and injuries.

Tides Center: Tides Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people working for social change. For more than 20 years, we have been helping committed individuals concentrate their time and energy on their programs and goals.

University of Pennsylvania Law School Public Service Program: Our nationally renowned Public Service Program leads the way in the field of pro bono. It enriches the law school experience while providing a meaningful contribution to the public interest legal community on a full spectrum of issues including: bankruptcy, civil rights and constitutional law, environmental justice, family law, government practice, health law, immigration, international human rights law, labor law, women's issues and youth law.

USAction: USAction is a progressive grassroots organization, dedicated to winning liberty and justice for all. It represents over three million members in 34 affiliates, with statewide organizations in 24 states. USAction campaigns to strengthen social, economic and health security for all Americans. The work of USAction gets Americans involved in the political process and promotes policies that hold corporate influence in check.

Violence Policy Center: The Violence Policy Center (VPC) is at the forefront of those working to stem the tide of firearms violence engulfing our nation. The VPC is a national 501(c)(3) educational organization working to move beyond the popular but narrow perception of firearms violence as solely a crime issue to place it in its proper perspective: a widespread public health problem of which crime is merely the most recognized aspect.

The Wilderness Society: Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society works to protect America's wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy. Our goal is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air and water, wildlife, beauty and opportunities for recreation and renewal that pristine forests, rivers, deserts and mountains provide.

Women's Law Project: The Women's Law Project renews its commitment to work to abolish discrimination and injustice and to secure dignity and freedom for women. The Law Project is proud to be a unique resource for the women of Pennsylvania and a national leader in the field of women's rights.