Your Nonprofit Is Making an Impact.
Let's make sure your legal foundation is strong enough to support what's next.
I help nonprofits navigate governance, compliance, and legal challenges with guidance that protects their missions and supports sustainable growth.
Your Nonprofit Is Doing Important Work.
Let's make sure nothing gets in the way of it.
I help nonprofits get their legal house in order so they can amplify their impact and revenue.
Your Nonprofit Is Doing Important Work.
Let's make sure nothing gets in the way of it.
I help nonprofits get their legal house in order so they can amplify their impact and revenue.
Personal Mentions:
I'm Ann Porter—an attorney and former nonprofit leader.
The strongest nonprofits don’t just have inspiring missions; they have the governance and legal infrastructure to support them.
From major funders to board members, confidence isn’t built overnight. It’s built through thoughtful governance, sound legal practices, and the systems that allow an organization to grow with integrity.
The good news is that you don’t have to build that legal foundation alone.
My practice is dedicated to helping nonprofits and the people who support them, including board members, funders, consultants, and collaborative partners, build strong legal and governance practices that support their mission and future growth.
Whether you’re looking for an ongoing legal partner or practical, self-guided legal resources, you’re in the right place.
I work with established nonprofits to strengthen governance, reduce legal risk, and position their organizations for sustainable growth—so they’re prepared when major funding opportunities, strategic partnerships, and moments of expansion arise.
I’ve had the privilege of helping nonprofits navigate these challenges, and I’d be honored to help you build a legal foundation that supports your mission for years to come.
Ann
Your Path to a Stronger Nonprofit.
How to Get Started.
Full-Stack Legal Partnership
Support for Nonprofits & Collaborators
Strategic legal counsel from an attorney who understands the unique needs of nonprofits.
501(c)onfident™ Resources
Coming soon!
Attorney-created templates and resources designed to help your organization build stronger legal and governance practices.
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.
Position your nonprofit for larger funding opportunities.
Learn what funders really are looking for before they give.
Winning funding starts long before your nonprofit submits an application. The Funder-Ready Nonprofit walks you through what funders often are evaluating behind the scenes and how to strengthen the foundation of your organization before your next opportunity.
This resource is educational and doesn’t constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. By signing up, you’ll also receive my email newsletter, The Nonprofit Legal Minute.
Insights you’ll access inside the guide:
What funders really are evaluating
The legal and governance foundations every nonprofit should have in place
Common readiness gaps that can hold organizations back
Practical steps to strengthen your nonprofit before the next funding opportunity
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 and its affiliates.
Client Perspectives.
“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.”
- Sr. Associate GC, 20M+ International Organization
“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.”
- Associate GC, Nationally Recognized Nonprofit
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.