Legal Partnership for Today’s Nonprofits
Collaboration for Nonprofit Leaders and In-House Counsel
Your first call for all things legal, and a trusted sounding board behind the organizational decisions that fuel meaningful change
Personal Mentions:
Meet the Founder
Ann Porter
I didn’t build my practice to be a traditional law firm.
Before starting it, I served as General Counsel of a major international nonprofit, where legal decisions were never theoretical—they were part of the daily responsibility of leading an organization and moving a mission forward.
My current work with nonprofits reflects that experience: you can expect practical advice from a trusted partner who understands how decisions actually get made in real life.
That’s how legal support should work.
Ways to Work Together
Outside General Counsel
Ongoing Legal Partnership for Nonprofit Organizations
Ongoing legal partnership for nonprofit leaders and in-house counsel who want a trusted advisor for nearly all of the issues nonprofits face.
Project-Based Legal Advice
Focused Legal Support for a Specific Issue or Decision
Targeted legal support for a specific issue, decision, or project—so your organization can get thoughtful guidance exactly where you need it.
Board & Leadership Trainings
Practical Governance & Legal Sessions for Nonprofit Leaders
Practical (and engaging!) trainings and intensive working sessions for nonprofit boards and leadership teams that address legal responsibilities, strengthen governance, and help everyone understand where the guardrails are.
Interim General Counsel Support
Experienced Legal Leadership During Transitions
Temporary legal coverage for organizations whose in-house counsel is on leave or that are between hires, ensuring leadership still has a trusted legal partner at the table–because the work doesn’t just pause.
How It Works
Get the Annual Legal Framework Designed for Nonprofit Leaders.
Legal compliance isn’t a one-time project, it’s an ongoing practice.
Most nonprofits find that the structures and processes they built early on start to drift as their organization grows and evolves.
The Nonprofit Legal Year is a practical annual framework designed to help nonprofit leaders and in-house counsel stay legally sound year after year. It’s organized by cadence: monthly checkpoints, quarterly reviews, an annual deep dive, and event-based triggers—so you always know what to revisit and when.
This resource is educational and doesn’t constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. By signing up, you’ll also receive occasional emails from Porter Legal PLLC.
Inside the guide:
Monthly Legal Touchpoints
Quarterly Reviews Across Governance, Fundraising, People, and Risk
An Annual Compliance Deep Dive
Targeted Guidance for Leadership Transitions, New Programs, and More
This resource is educational and doesn’t constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. By signing up, you’ll also receive occasional emails from Porter Legal PLLC.
Client Reviews
Trusted by Nonprofit Leaders
“As our outside general counsel, Ann brought the best of in-house experience to our nonprofit—accessible, thoughtful, and always mission-first. Ann is responsive and pragmatic, helping us navigate everything from employment law to board governance with confidence. Ann’s professional experience and understanding of nonprofit dynamics made her an indispensable partner.”
- Nonprofit Client
“Ann never ceases to impress me with her legal acumen. She has a tremendous wealth of subject matter knowledge, but she also has the skill to ensure that her knowledge is accessible to those she supports. Despite being an expert in the most complex of topics, her work is approachable. She is easy to work with, and she is an expert at balancing legal analysis with strategic priority. Ann is consistent and thorough and her mind is incredibly sharp.”
- Nonprofit Client
Notable Stats
About Ann
I’m an attorney exclusively serving nonprofits, because I believe that legal support should be genuinely useful to mission-driven teams. After more than a decade of practice spanning global law firms, the U.S. Department of Justice, and serving as General Counsel of an international nonprofit, I built my firm to offer something different: modern, practical guidance nonprofits can actually use in real-time, informed by my own in-house experience.
I’ve advised organizations of all sizes, as well as philanthropic leaders and social innovators. I really prioritize simplifying complex requirements and providing partnership that is supportive, not academic or overwhelming.
Having served on the senior leadership team and led the legal function of a major organization, I have an inside-out view of the operational and regulatory challenges that nonprofits face, and that perspective shapes the counsel that I provide to my clients.
Outside of practicing law, I enjoy vegan cooking, reading the Wall Street Journal, and, most of all, spending time with my husband and our three young kids. I’m also proud to serve on the advisory council to The Wilberforce Institute, a pro-animal, pro-liberty think tank.
Education
J.D., cum laude, The George Washington University Law School
B.A., University of Pennsylvania
Professional Affiliations
Women’s General Counsel Network
TEGE Exempt Organizations Council
Bar Admissions
New York State
District of Columbia
Let’s connect
Nonprofit leaders make decisions every day that carry legal implications. Having a trusted legal partner to think through those moments can make all the difference.
If you’d like to explore whether working together makes sense for your organization, let’s talk. Fill out the contact form and you’ll receive an email to schedule an initial conversation.