irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $418KENGAGING THE ENTIRE LEGAL PROFESSION AS A GLOBAL NETWORK WITH OFFICES IN NEW YORK, HONG KONG, AND BUDAPEST, PILNET ENGAGES PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL PROFESSIONALS WORLDWIDE BOTH TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES AND TO COLLABORATE WITH CIVIL SOCIETY IN BROADER EFFORTS TO BUILD MORE JUST, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES. ACTING AS A STRATEGIC INTERMEDIARY, PILNET WORKS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO DEFINE THEIR LEGAL NEEDS AND OBTAIN FREE, TAILORED LEGAL ASSISTANCE FROM HIGHLY QUALIFIED LAWYERS IN ITS NETWORK. PILNET'S CLEARINGHOUSE IS A GLOBAL PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICE MATCHMAKING PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOS) WITH LAW FIRMS WILLING TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE. IN 2024, PILNET ASSISTED MORE THAN 210 ORGANIZATIONS BY ENGAGING OVER 125 LAW FIRMS AND SOLO PRACTITIONERS TO PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $8.3 MILLION. PILNET ALSO HOLDS STRATEGIC CONVENINGS TO ENGAGE AND MOBILIZE ITS NETWORKS IN SUPPORT OF CIVIL SOCIETY. AT ITS ANNUAL GLOBAL FORUM IN 2024, WHICH WAS HELD IN BANGKOK, PILNET CONVENED MORE THAN 440 CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRO BONO PROFESSIONALS FROM 70 COUNTRIES TO FORGE ALLIANCES AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR USING THE LAW TO PROTECT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.- PILNET ALSO BROUGHT LAW STUDENTS TO THE GLOBAL FORUM, TO EXPOSE THEM TO PUBLIC INTEREST LAW ON A GLOBAL SCALE. THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERING COURSE, OFFERED ONLINE, PROVIDED TRAINING AND FOSTERED COLLABORATION AMONG PARTICIPANTS INTERESTED IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW.- REGIONAL CONVENINGS, SUCH AS THE EUROPEAN CONVENING AND PRO BONO ROUNDTABLES IN HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE, ADDRESSED SPECIFIC REGIONAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.- PILNET ALSO CO-ORGANIZED EVENTS LIKE THE ARGENTINIAN PRO BONO WEEK, FURTHER AMPLIFYING ITS IMPACT.- PILNET WAS DEEPLY INVESTED IN NURTURING AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS THROUGH VARIOUS INITIATIVES. THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IN HONG KONG SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS THIRD ROUND, CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCED PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Global Forum
International convening bringing together civil society and pro bono legal professionals from around the world to develop strategies for protecting civic space
Clearinghouse Pro Bono Legal Matchmaking Platform
Global platform connecting civil society organizations with law firms and solo practitioners offering free, tailored legal assistance
Public Interest Lawyering Course
Online training program fostering collaboration among law students and professionals interested in human rights and public interest law
Regional Convenings and Pro Bono Roundtables
Events in regions such as Europe, Hong Kong, and Singapore addressing regional legal challenges and opportunities for civil society
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 5 activities
- Advancing pro bono culture and networks in new jurisdictionsSupports the creation of public interest legal networks and promotes pro bono culture globally through roundtables, workshops, and long-term engagement. Examples include launching legal clearinghouses in Hungary and Russia and supporting pro bono initiatives in Asia since 2003.
- Brokering legal assistance for refugee-serving organizationsProvides pro bono legal services specifically to organizations supporting refugees and forcibly displaced persons, launched in connection with the Global Refugee Forum Legal Community Pledge. Includes facilitating strategic partnerships and targeted legal support.
- Facilitating pro bono legal services for civil society organizationsConnects civil society organizations, including nonprofits, NGOs, and social enterprises, with pro bono lawyers from a global network based on legal expertise and organizational needs. Ensures all legal services are provided free of charge, with recent annual support reaching over 210 organizations and valued at up to $8.8 million in 2024.
- Operating a global pro bono legal matching platformRuns a globally accessible legal brokerage platform that matches civil society organizations with volunteer legal teams based on specific legal needs. The system has facilitated over 200 pro bono partnerships and connected more than 100 organizations with free legal services.
- Organizing events and forums to strengthen civil society alliancesHosts events, including Pro Bono Fridays in Hungary, European Pro Bono Week activities across multiple countries, and pitching roundtables, to connect legal professionals with nonprofit organizations. These events aim to build alliances, develop legal strategies, and deliver direct legal consultations.
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Convening global and regional forums for pro bono collaborationOrganizes the annual Global Forum—rotating globally or held virtually—that convenes hundreds of lawyers, advocates, and civil society professionals from over 70 countries to develop legal strategies and strengthen international cooperation. Also hosts regional fellowships and convenings.
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Professional Field Knowledge Development 1 activity
- Producing educational legal resources and tools for civil societyDevelops and distributes online seminars, webinars, legal Q&As, written resources, and governance tools to help civil society organizations protect their interests, improve corporate governance, and strengthen operational resilience. Includes region-specific resources for Hong Kong and tools like the Global Employment Compass.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing newsletters on pro bono and civil society issuesProduces a global newsletter and regionally focused newsletters (including on work in Hong Kong, Hungary, and refugee-related efforts) to disseminate information about its activities and broader civil society developments.
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Legal Education and Career Pipeline Programs 1 activity
- Training law students and early-career lawyers in public interest lawOffers learning programs, fellowships, courses, competitions, and webinars to train law students and recent graduates in pro bono and public interest lawyering. Includes the International Fellowship Program and an online Public Interest Lawyering Course to build next-generation capacity.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Delivering targeted legal literacy initiatives for vulnerable populationsImplements programs such as “Dentons Next: Rights from the Start” in Romania to improve digital rights literacy among children, parents, and teachers, supported by tools like the InKlusive App for reporting online harm.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.39M
Contributions & grants$1.30M94%
Program service revenue$82K6%
Investment income$8K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.75M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$750K
Grants paid out$656K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.39M
Cash$1.69M
Investments$0
Liabilities$73K
Net assets$2.31M
Liquid reserves11.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -10.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANDREJ NOSKO | CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $123K |
| JULIA MAYERHOFER | CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $122K |
board members · 20
- ADONICA BLACK — DIRECTOR
- ALAN SCHIFFMAN — DIRECTOR
- ANTONIA GRUMBACH — DIRECTOR
- ATANAS POLITOV — DIRECTOR
- AWMAIMA AMRAYAF — DIRECTOR
- BARBARA SCHATZ — DIRECTOR
- DIANE STEWART — CHAIR
- ERIC KOENIG — CO-CHAIR, THRU JUNE 2024
- FUNMI AYENI — DIRECTOR
- GAIL SCOVELL — DIRECTOR
- JACQUELYN MACLENNAN — DIRECTOR
- JOHN HOERSTER — DIRECTOR, THRU JUNE 2024
- KIMBERLY REED — TREASURER
- LAURA TUELL — DIRECTOR
- MARTA PARDAVI — DIRECTOR
- PING KIANG — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT VANNI — SECRETARY
- SUZANNE TURNER — DIRECTOR
- TANGUY LIM — DIRECTOR
- YOO-KYEONG KUDO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- 100 other legal and refugee rights organizations Coalition — Partners with over 100 legal and refugee rights organizations through a pledge to increase access to justice for forcibly displaced people.
- Centrum Pro Bono Partner — Collaborated with Centrum Pro Bono in Poland to host a Roundtable and legal seminar that facilitated new partnerships between law firms and civil society organizations.
- Civil Society Coalition to uphold the 1951 Refugee Convention Coalition — Member of a coalition calling for renewed commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention and participating in advocacy efforts alongside civil society organizations.
- Columbia University Partner — Founded as the Public Interest Law Initiative in Transitional Societies at Columbia University in 1997.
- DLA Piper Partner — Co-authored the "This Way Report" analyzing access to justice in Hong Kong.
- DLA Piper Partner — Hosts Dr. Awmaima Amrayaf, a Senior Impact Adviser and member of PILnet’s Global Board, indicating institutional collaboration through shared leadership.
- DLA Piper Partner — Partnered with DLA Piper in Czechia and the Netherlands to host pro bono sessions on parental leave and introductory workshops for lawyers new to pro bono work.
- Dentons Partner — Collaborated with Dentons to host pro bono events in Slovakia and Romania, including a roundtable on a national pro bono platform and the launch of a legal literacy initiative for children.
- European Commission Government — Engaged with the European Commission during the Brussels Pro Bono Roundtable, contributing to dialogue around the formal recognition of pro bono in the EU Civil Society Strategy.
- Fundación Pro Bono España Partner — Partnered with Fundación Pro Bono España to convene 125 attendees for discussions on legal challenges in pediatric palliative care, childhood cancer, rare diseases, and HIV.
- Global Employment Compass Partner — Resource developed by PILnet to support nonprofits in global employment compliance.
- Global network of lawyers Network — Network of legal professionals providing pro bono services to support civil society organizations.
- Hogan Lovells Italy Partner — Hosted the 9th Italy Pro Bono Day in Rome with Hogan Lovells Italy, bringing together 50 participants to advance pro bono culture and collaboration.
- PILA (Public Interest Law Alliance) Partner — Coordinated Pro Bono Week Ireland with PILA, the Law Society of Ireland, and multiple law firms, including hosting a session on strengthening pro bono ecosystems and launching the Pro Bono Pledge Ireland Impact Report 2025.
- PILNET Hong Kong Network — Related nonprofit organization collaborating with PILNET through shared global network and programs
- PILNET Hungary Network — Related nonprofit organization collaborating with PILNET through shared global network and programs
- PILnet Network — Hosts a pro bono legal services platform connecting civil society organizations with volunteer legal professionals.
- PILnet Global Forum Network — Annual flagship event convening pro bono practitioners and public interest lawyers for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Psychoanalytical Association Partner — Collaborated with PILnet to obtain legal research and analysis to support legal challenges defending the rights of persons with cognitive disabilities in Kazakhstan.
- UN Refugee Agency Partner — Collaborates with UNHCR on dialogues related to the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention and joint engagement in the Global Refugee Forum.
- UPJ Pro Bono Rechtsberatung Partner — Collaborated with UPJ Pro Bono Rechtsberatung in Germany to host multi-day events focused on leadership and organizational development for nonprofits.
- network of pro bono lawyers and anti-trafficking organizations Partner — Collaborates with a network of pro bono lawyers and anti-trafficking organizations to protect trafficked persons in Asia.
- pro bono lawyers Partner — Legal professionals in PILnet’s global network who provide pro bono legal services to civil society organizations.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Civil Society Empowerment for Systemic Justicemethodology: civil-society-empowermentBy strengthening civil society organizations through legal and capacity support, expands access to justice for marginalized communities and enhances civic space resilience, because resilient civil society acts as a multiplier for rights protection and systemic change.
- Integrated Legal and Organizational Development Supportmethodology: integrated_legal_and_organizational_supportBy combining legal assistance with organizational development guidance, addresses both immediate legal risks and long-term institutional sustainability, because legal vulnerabilities are often symptoms of deeper structural weaknesses in civil society organizations.
- Lived-Experience Co-Design in Legal Advocacymethodology: lived-experience co-designBy treating refugees and people on the move as expert partners in designing legal solutions, improves the relevance and effectiveness of legal advocacy, because integrating lived experience into program design leads to more responsive, dignified, and systemic legal interventions.
- Pro Bono Legal Intermediary Modelmethodology: pro_bono_clearinghouseBy connecting civil society organizations with pro bono legal professionals through a coordinated matching platform, increases access to high-quality legal services and strengthens organizational resilience, because centralized matchmaking overcomes information asymmetries and aligns specialized corporate legal expertise with public interest needs.