CENTER FOR NON PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES

What CENTER FOR NON PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES does

The Center for Non-Profit Legal Services (CNPLS), legally Center for Non-Profit Legal Services, Inc. and formerly Jackson County Legal Services, Inc., is a private non-profit law firm incorporated in 1972 and headquartered at 225 W Main St. in Medford, Oregon. It provides free civil legal representation to eligible residents of Jackson County, defined as individuals or families at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level and/or over 60 years of age, and is the only source of civil legal representation for the economically disadvantaged in the county. Since 1972 the organization has resolved over 36,000 cases at an 80% success rate and currently serves approximately 1,200 clients per year out of 3,600 applicants, constrained by a five-attorney staff.

CNPLS delivers services through four core legal units: Housing/Consumer Law, Family Law, Income Maintenance, and Individual Rights, with the Individual Rights unit encompassing the Immigration Law Project, the Protecting Our Veterans program, and the Jackson County Public Guardian and Conservator Program (managed under county contract since 1997). Its technology footprint is intentionally minimal: client access is appointment-based via phone, fax, mail, and email (no walk-ins), with online application questionnaires and a YouTube channel providing supplementary educational resources in English and Spanish. The organization is governed by a 12-member volunteer board (60% attorneys, 40% client representatives) and led by Executive Director Debra F.J. Lee.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, bar association contributions (including the Campaign for Equal Justice), private foundation grants, and government contracts, with no fees charged to clients. Since 1997, Jackson County has contracted CNPLS to operate the Public Guardian Program, and in 2004 the organization established the Jackson County CNPLS Endowment Fund with the Oregon Community Foundation. Annual fundraising is anchored by the Founders Breakfast/Gala event (held each year since 2012 in honor of the William V. Deatherage Pro Bono Award), supplemented by checkout-roundup partnerships with the Ashland Food CO+OP and Medford Food Co-op that support the Immigration Law Project.

Name

CENTER FOR NON PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES

Legal name

Center for Non-Profit Legal Services, Inc.

Website

https://cnpls.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Non-Profit Legal Services is a private non-profit law firm in Medford, Oregon, providing free civil legal representation to low-income (≤125% federal poverty level) and elderly (60+) residents of Jackson County. Founded in 1972, it is the sole source of civil legal aid in the county and operates four practice units covering housing, family, income maintenance, and individual rights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Medford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Funding comes from individual donors who contribute through checks, credit cards, stock transfers, or pledges to be fulfilled in annual, monthly, or quarterly installments.
2. Bar Associations: State and local bar associations provide funding support, including the Campaign for Equal Justice.
3. Private Foundations: Funding from private foundations supporting legal aid and access to justice initiatives.
4. Government Contracts: Some state and local government funding, including Jackson County contract for Public Guardian Program since 1997.
5. Campaign for Equal Justice: The Jackson County Bar and CNPLS are leading contributors to the Campaign for Equal Justice, which supports Oregon's legal aid programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Center for NonProfit Legal Services (CNPLS) is a private, non-profit law firm providing free civil legal representation to eligible low-income (at or below 125% of federal poverty level) and elderly (over 60) residents of Jackson County, Oregon. Services are organized into four core law units: Housing/Consumer Law, Family Law, Income Maintenance, and Individual Rights (which includes the Immigration Law Project, Jackson County Public Guardian Program, and Protecting Our Veterans).

Product overview

CNPLS offers legal services through four core law units: Housing/Consumer Law, Family Law, Income Maintenance, and Individual Rights. The Individual Rights unit includes the Immigration Law Project, Jackson County Public Guardian Program, and Protecting Our Veterans. The organization also provides educational resources including a YouTube channel with family law content, COVID-19 resources, citizenship resources, and the Oregon Family Law Litigation Knowledge Project. CNPLS operates as a non-profit law firm providing civil legal representation to low-income and elderly residents of Jackson County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Immigration Law Project: Helps immigrants and farmworkers with work authorization deal with residency, citizenship, and other related legal issues while allowing families to be safe, remain together and work legally in this country.
• Protecting Our Veterans
• Jackson County Public Guardian Program

Products and services

• Housing/Consumer Law
• Family Law
• Income Maintenance
• Immigration Law Project

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% success rate for legal cases
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Medford Food Co-opminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2021Medford Food Co-op selected CNPLS as their 'Positive Change Program partner' in September 2021 and again in January 2023. Shoppers round up purchases at checkout with proceeds supporting CNPLS Immigration Law Project. Raised $3,261.70 in September 2021. The Co-op exists to sustain a vibrant, healthy community and local food economy.
• Ashland Food CO+OPminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 August 2021Ashland Food Co-op selected CNPLS as their 'Change for Good Partner' in September 2021. At checkout, shoppers round up purchases with proceeds donated to support CNPLS Immigration Law Project. The Co-op is a certified Organic Grocer, community owned since 1972.
• Jackson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Since 1997, Jackson County has contracted with CNPLS to manage the County's Office of Public Guardian and Conservator Program, which concentrates on protecting individuals and families with special needs. This is a last resort program with limited clients taken.
• ACCESS (CAP agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCESS is a key community partner providing referrals and collaborative services. CNPLS works with ACCESS and the City of Ashland to provide low-income Jackson County residents with legal knowledge for housing retention. ACCESS provides COVID rental relief information through CNPLS.
• Campaign for Equal Justice (CEJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon lawyers established CEJ in 1991 to make equal access to justice a reality for all Oregonians. CEJ is the support organization for Oregon's legal aid programs. CNPLS and Jackson County Bar are leading contributors.
• International Refugee Center of Oregon (Portland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNPLS worked with this Portland-based organization to help 90-year-old Amelia receive a special naturalization interview that accommodated her age, limited English, and disability.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oregon State Bar: The professional regulatory body for Oregon lawyers. CNPLS relies on bar certification under Section 13.2 bylaws to claim Pro Bono status; the bar also funnels state IOLTA and CEJ funds to CNPLS, making it both a regulator and a primary funding channel.
• National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA): The national membership association for civil legal aid and public defense organizations. Comparable because both NLADA's members and CNPLS deliver legal services to low-income clients, share funding advocacy priorities, and rely on similar federal IOLTA/LSC and foundation streams.
• Legal Services Corporation (LSC): The federal funder of civil legal aid in the United States. Although CNPLS itself is not a direct LSC grantee, LSC sets the funding and compliance framework that defines comparable Oregon legal aid programs operating with similar missions and clients.

Regional players

• International Refugee Center of Oregon (IRCO): A Portland-based refugee and immigrant services organization that collaborated with CNPLS on the Amelia naturalization case. Operates in Oregon with overlapping immigrant and farmworker clientele and shared legal-services mission.
• Catholic Charities of Oregon: A faith-based non-profit offering social, immigration, and case-management services across Oregon. Comparable because both organizations provide immigration legal assistance and safety-net services to low-income Oregonians, often through overlapping ACCESS/CAP referral networks.
• Southern Oregon Public Defender, Inc. A Southern Oregon public defender organization whose board member (Colin M. Murphy) is shared with CNPLS. Both organizations provide legal representation to underserved clients in the same Jackson County footprint, with overlapping referral pipelines.

Others

• ACCESS (Community Action Program of Jackson County): A core community partner providing client referrals and joint COVID rental relief programs with CNPLS. Functions as a feeder source for CNPLS cases and shares the same low-income Jackson County clientele.
• Oregon Community Foundation: Co-manager of the CNPLS Jackson County Endowment Fund established in 2004. Comparable because OCF is the long-term capital partner providing endowment administration and grant funding that underwrites CNPLS's financial sustainability.

Direct peers

• Campaign for Equal Justice: Oregon's unified fundraising and support vehicle for civil legal aid programs. CNPLS and Jackson County Bar are leading CEJ contributors and joint Justice and Equity Cup winners; CEJ's role is structurally aligned with CNPLS's funding pipeline.
• Legal Aid Services of Oregon: Oregon's statewide legal aid organization providing civil legal services to low-income Oregonians. Comparable because both CNPLS and LASO deliver state-funded civil legal aid, depend on IOLTA and foundation support, and serve overlapping client populations with similar practice areas (housing, family, public benefits).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CNPLSMedford
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-non-profit-legal-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CENTER FOR NON PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES