Global Clearinghouse Matters:
MARIO Special Edition

NGO: PILnet

Website: https://www.pilnet.org

Project: Adapt and further develop a legal resilience assessment for minority rights nonprofits in Europe

Jurisdiction: European Union (especially Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia)

Legal Topics: Nonprofit compliance, governance, tax law, employment law, registration, GDPR

Deadline: Flexible

Language: English (possibly other local languages: Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia)

Criteria: Expertise in nonprofit compliance, governance 

Additional Information: 

PILnet is a global non-governmental organization that creates opportunities for social change by unlocking the law’s full potential. With programs in Europe & Eurasia, Asia, and at the global level, PILnet aims to reclaim and reimagine the role of law so that it works for the benefit of all.

PILnet, together with partners, is implementing an EU-funded project to support local minority rights organisations in 13 EU countries in Eastern and South Eastern Europe. The key objective of PILnet’s role in this project is to strengthen the legal resilience of the 90 minority rights NGOs. PILnet assessed that all the organizations part of this initiative would highly benefit from undergoing a structured legal resilience assessment (or legal health check), which would allow the identification of major risks and eventually address them through its Global Clearinghouse mechanism.

After developing a legal resilience assessment (or Legal Health Check) in Hong Kong, PILnet is planning to use the same framework and replicate it for this project in Europe. This assessment aims to help CSOs identify the existing and potential legal issues and operational risks in their organization and create a plan to address them. The health check enables CSOs to be better prepared to respond to a rapidly changing environment, so they can become more resilient and focus their resources on achieving their core missions of serving the community.

Topics covered in the legal resilience assessment include areas such as organizational structure, governance, financial health, fundraising, and information technology and systems.

PILnet is looking for:

• A pro bono team(s) interested in adapting the material of the Hong Kong Legal Health Check to the European context. The materials to be adapted include a screening questionnaire, a supporting issues-spotting checklists, a reference list of relevant resources, a template table of a final report, and any additional documents to support the implementation of the assessment,
• A law firm(s) to implement the legal health check and assess a number of minority rights NGOs in Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia on an ongoing basis.

This project is suitable for multi-firm collaborations and in-house collaborations.

NGO: Association Amala – Friends (Сдружение „Амала-Приятелиs”)

Website: N/A

Project: Assistance with Compilation of European Union case law on discrimination for legal reference use

Jurisdiction: Bulgaria, European Union

Legal Topics: Anti-discrimination, European Union case law

Deadline: November 1, 2025

Language(s): Bulgarian 

Criteria: Experience in legal research and familiarity with applying legal precedent in advocacy or litigation contexts

Additional Information: 

Association Amala Friends provides mobile legal aid and community-based legal empowerment for marginalized Roma communities in and around Dupnitsa and Kraynitsi, Bulgaria. Their work focuses on promoting rights awareness, social inclusion, and equitable access to justice. Through direct legal services, rights trainings, and community advocacy, they aim to combat discrimination and systemic barriers, reaching hundreds of individuals through consultations and thousands through public education efforts.

While the organization has strong expertise in anti-discrimination law within Bulgaria, they are seeking assistance compiling a reference resource of relevant European case law on discrimination. The goal is to strengthen their legal arguments by drawing on successful jurisprudence from other EU member states. Ideally, this resource would include a curated selection of case summaries and links to decisions, organized in a digestible format that can be used in their legal strategies and community advocacy work.

Fulfilling this request will strengthen the organization’s legal strategies by equipping them with comparative European case law to support anti-discrimination claims. Access to this resource will also enhance courtroom advocacy and community-based legal education directly supporting their mission to expand justice and inclusion for marginalized Roma communities.

NGO: Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) (Сдружение „Амала-Приятели”) 

Website: BFPA.bg

Project: Assistance for drafting Memorandum and Consortium Agreement 

Jurisdiction: Bulgaria, European Union

Legal Topics: MoU and consortium agreement drafting

Deadline: November 1, 2025

Language(s): English or Bulgarian 

Criteria: Legal expertise in European Union and international law and experience working with nonprofit-led projects in healthcare or social services. 

Additional Information:

The Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare, sexual and reproductive rights, and social inclusion for marginalized communities in Bulgaria. Through education, advocacy, and fieldwork, BFPA supports vulnerable populations, including those without property, income, or health insurance, who face systemic barriers to medical treatment. Current initiatives include legal advocacy to amend Decree 17 of the Social Services Act, hospital reimbursement analysis, and awareness campaigns.

BFPA also works internationally with long-standing partnerships throughout the Western Balkans and Black Sea region. Their collaborations span NGOs, universities, and academic research initiatives, focused on capacity building, specialized training, and service delivery. These partnerships have traditionally been structured as temporary agreements, but BFPA is now exploring more sustainable models to support international cooperation, such as formalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and/or a consortium agreement. 

The legal inquiry includes the following questions:

• Can a cross-border consortium be registered as a distinct legal entity, and if so, what registration options exist?
• Does it make a difference, especially for EU funding purposes, where the entity is registered (i.e., in an EU Member State vs. a legitimate beneficiary country)?
• What are the tax implications of creating such an entity if it is set up by NGOs for non-profit purposes and limited to program implementation?

Fulfilling this request will enable BFPA to build more sustainable and legally sound international partnerships to enhance cross-border collaboration in healthcare and social inclusion. Clarifying the legal and tax implications of forming a consortium will strengthen BFPA’s capacity to access EU funding and scale its impact. 

NGO: Tuke TV

Website: tuketv.cz

Project:  GDPR & compliance support for a media nonprofit organization 

Jurisdiction: Czechia

Legal Topics: GDPR and European Union data protection law

Deadline: November 1, 2025

Language(s): Czech and/or English 

Criteria: Knowledge of EU data protection law (GDPR) and privacy practices, particularly for creative/media organizations. 

Additional Information:

Tuke TV  is a Czech-based multimedia production platform that collaborates with Roma and other marginalized communities across Europe. Their work centers on producing inclusive and socially conscious content that uplifts underrepresented voices. Through digital storytelling, documentary series, and community-led projects, Tuke TV fosters safe and empowering environments for creative expression. 

Tuke TV is seeking legal guidance to assess and strengthen its data protection practices under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While they have minimal internal documentation, they are unsure whether it meets current legal standards. As a media organization that works with participants (but not formal “clients”), they are unsure how GDPR applies to their activities and what types of notices, consent forms, or internal policies are required. They would also benefit from practical recommendations to improve compliance and build a foundation for future growth, especially in response to donor requirements and increased production activities.

Fulfilling this request would help Tuke TV protect the personal data of marginalized participants and ensure ethical storytelling practices. Strengthening GDPR compliance would build trust with collaborators and enhance readiness for future funding and partnerships.

NGO: The Council of Elders of the Congress of the Võro People (MTÜ Võrokõisi Kongressi Vanõmbidõ Kogo) 

Website: vorokongress.ee 

Project: Legal guidance on organizational recognition and engagement with government bodies

Jurisdiction: Estonia, European Union

Legal Topics: Nonprofit governance, minority representation, administrative law

Deadline: October 31, 2025 (flexible)

Language(s): English and/or Estonian 

Criteria: Experience in minority rights and administrative law, especially with formal recognition of indigenous or minority groups.

Additional Information:

The Congress of the Võro People (Võro Kongress) is a democratically elected non-profit association that represents the Võro indigenous community in Estonia. The organization advocates for the preservation and promotion of the Võro language, culture, and identity, and has actively engaged in dialogue with national institutions, including the Ministries of Education and Defense. As a voice for a distinct linguistic and cultural minority, the Võro Kongress plays a central role in articulating the needs of its community and raising awareness of the Võro people’s contributions and challenges.

To strengthen its ability to serve as a legitimate and recognized representative of the Võro people, the organization seeks legal support in understanding the frameworks and procedures for formal recognition by Estonian government institutions. This includes exploring avenues for obtaining consultative or participatory status, as well as reviewing comparative models across Europe where minority or indigenous organizations have secured formal roles in policymaking or governance. Guidance on relevant constitutional, administrative, or human rights-based mechanisms and the practical steps involved  would support the organization’s long-term strategy for enhancing its legal standing and advocacy capacity.

NGO: PULSE Foundation – PULSE Kardzhali Branch (Фондация П.У.Л.С – „Клон ПУЛС Кърджали“)

Website: pulsfoundation.org

Project: Legal research on good practices for addressing children in conflict with the law

Jurisdiction: European Union

Legal Topics: Child protection, juvenile justice, children in conflict with the law

Deadline: November 30, 2025 (flexible)

Language(s): Bulgarian and/or English 

Criteria: Experience with child protection law or juvenile justice and familiarity with comparative legal research at the European Union or international level.

Additional Information:

The PULSE Foundation is a Bulgarian nonprofit with over 25 years of experience supporting survivors of violence, promoting gender equality, and providing mental health and social services through a trauma-informed, rights-based approach. Building on this long-standing work, the PULSE Foundation Kardzhali Branch was officially registered in May 2024 to expand and strengthen support in the Kardzhali region, where the foundation has been active through mobile outreach for over five years. The branch focuses on serving Roma and Turkish minority communities, young mothers, and other vulnerable groups across Kardzhali, Jebel, Krumovgrad, and Ardino. Its programs include mental health counseling, mentoring through community support groups, gender equality awareness, and training initiatives tailored to local needs, all rooted in a holistic model of care, education, and collaboration.

The organization is seeking support in collecting examples of good legal practices from other European countries related to laws addressing the protection of children in conflict with the law. To support this, PILnet will share a comprehensive database of relevant case law and legal factsheets as a basis for the research with the volunteer lawyer(s).  This research will contribute to Bulgaria’s current legislative reform process, in which a staff member from the organization is actively participating as part of a national working group. The goal is to identify rights-based and compassionate approaches to prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation for children in conflict with the law. The findings will help inform policy recommendations to improve the current legal framework in line with EU standards and child-friendly justice principles.

NGO: PULSE Foundation – PULSE Kardzhali Branch (Фондация П.У.Л.С – „Клон ПУЛС Кърджали“)

Website: pulsfoundation.org

Project: Legal research on protections for child victims and witnesses of domestic violence

Jurisdiction: European Union

Legal Topics: Comparative legal research, child protection, domestic violence

Deadline: November 30, 2025 (flexible)

Language(s): Bulgarian 

Criteria: Familiarity with child protection and domestic violence legal frameworks at the EU or international level is highly desirable.

Additional Information:

The PULSE Foundation is a Bulgarian nonprofit with over 25 years of experience supporting survivors of violence, promoting gender equality, and providing mental health and social services through a trauma-informed, rights-based approach. Building on this long-standing work, the PULSE Foundation Kardzhali Branch was officially registered in May 2024 to expand and strengthen support in the Kardzhali region, where the foundation has been active through mobile outreach for over five years. The branch focuses on serving Roma and Turkish minority communities, young mothers, and other vulnerable groups across Kardzhali, Jebel, Krumovgrad, and Ardino. Its programs include mental health counseling, mentoring through community support groups, gender equality awareness, and training initiatives tailored to local needs, all rooted in a holistic model of care, education, and collaboration.

The organization requests legal research assistance to collect examples of good practices from European and international jurisdictions regarding the legal protections and support mechanisms available for child victims and/or witnesses of domestic violence. The goal is to inform advocacy and legislative reform efforts aimed at strengthening Bulgaria’s legal framework to better safeguard children’s rights, ensure their participation and protection in legal processes, and provide trauma-informed support tailored to their needs. This research will guide the organization’s work with policymakers and stakeholders to improve outcomes for children affected by domestic violence.