Funding the Cause: How Public Interest Law Organizations Fund Their Activities and Why It Matters for Social Change

• DOI: 10.1111/lsi.12013
• Publication Date: 2013-02-28T18:41:05Z
• Authors: Catherine R. Albi...; Laura Beth Nielsen
• Keywords: Self-interest

Most of the work public interest law organizations does not make money. How do these survive, given economic realities practice? Drawing on survey data from a national random sample firms, we investigate how funding models vary across and sources affect organizations’ activities. We find structures have, over time, shifted away foundation support toward government grants. Compared to other organizations, however, conservative draw significantly less their budget federal state grants, more private contributions. Conservative are likely than rely that prohibits engaging in class actions, receiving attorney's fees, or lobbying. Respondents reported restrictions hamper ability negotiate favorable settlements, bring about systemic change, represent vulnerable client communities. close with comparative institutional analysis different models.