“The work Jason did for us really helped ease the concerns of our board and has enabled us to do our job better, with less stress and less worry. He spent a substantial amount of time on this matter and we’re so grateful.” – Thea Bader, Executive Director, International Social Work Solutions, Inc.
Licensed social worker Thea Bader already had many decades of experience working in communities in the U.S. and internationally when, in 2016, she founded International Social Work Solutions (ISWS). Through ISWS, Thea, along with her volunteer board of directors, provides stipends that enable social workers to travel to different countries and partner with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are providing direct care to communities in need.
As ISWS grew and started to fund these trips, the ISWS Board of Directors became concerned about potential liability and lawsuits resulting from any issues that might occur abroad.
Thea reached out to the Clearinghouse for assistance and was connected with attorney Jason Cotton, a retired partner at Peabody & Arnold LLP and one of the Clearinghouse’s Access to Justice Fellows, who works with the Clearinghouse to assist Massachusetts nonprofits with their legal needs.
Jason developed a comprehensive document for ISWS titled “Stipend Recipients Release of Claims.” Jason also amended ISWS’s original Articles of Organization—the document nonprofits must submit to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office when incorporating—to better reflect ISWS’s expanded mission.
ISWS continues to grow and partner with more social workers and international NGOs. Thea credits Jason’s pro bono assistance for allowing ISWS to focus on its important work.
