On 1 March 2024, DLA Piper, ECNL and PILnet launched the updated Global Nonprofits Guide. The user-friendly platform on nonprofit laws globally aims to support civil society organisations (CSOs) that need to relocate abroad or want to extend operation to other countries. It currently covers 50 jurisdictions with 20 additional jurisdictions being developed.
With the updated Guide, users can now:
- review nonprofit laws in a location of their choice;
- compare nonprofit laws across different locations; and
- find options for countries to set up or relocate their nonprofit operations based on their search criteria.
The new website is linked with potential pro bono support by lawyers as well as resource materials to help organisations gain deeper understanding of the legal aspects covered in the Guide. The website and the updated interface were created with support from the JPMorgan Chase Force for Good programme.
Online launch
We launched the Global Nonprofits Guide at an online event, with the participation of civil society representatives, Clément Voule, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly, and Waltraud Heller, who leads the work on civic space and human rights defenders for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Clément Voule welcomed the Guide as it contributes to the promotion of freedom of association. Waltraud Heller underlined the complexity of civic space, as setting up a nonprofit organisation is impacted by many laws, including laws on counterterrorism, anti-money laundering and transparency. She pointed out that the Guide could also be used for advocacy on how nonprofits can be regulated in a better way. Both acknowledged that the practice can be different from the legislation and highlighted the need to follow the practical implementation of laws, too.
CSOs shared that they find the Guide to be a great example that responds to the actual, practical needs of civil society. It can help them assess risks and avoid legal restrictions when they need to relocate to foreign jurisdictions.
“This Guide supports the protection of human right defenders, because it helps them understand the laws and legal environment where they will operate so they know how to navigate, and if necessary, where to relocate.” Clement Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly.
Get involved
The Guide is constantly expanding. Many organisations, including pro bono lawyers, are already adding to and updating information in the Guide. DLA Piper, ECNL and PILnet warmly invite you to become involved, too. If you are a lawyer, we would greatly appreciate your support to expand the jurisdictions that are included and keep the information updated. Providing feedback to the Guide or sharing your experiences with relocation as a CSO is also very useful to keep developing the Guide in line with CSOs’ needs. Please go to https://www.globalnonprofitsguide.org/get-involved to learn more about ways to get involved to make sure that together we can navigate the global nonprofit landscape more effectively.
The Guide feeds into ECNL’s work aiming to support CSOs and human rights defenders in need of relocation. It builds on previous Handbooks on registration of nonprofits produced and published by ECNL, DLA Piper, and partners, and was developed based on assessing the needs and responding to the requests of civil society for such information.
Visit the Global Nonprofits Guide: www.globalnonprofitsguide.org