This June, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic released the latest episode of the Courting Justice podcast, Brackets For Good & Fundraising Madness. We also enjoyed two Give Back nights, thanks to Handel’s Ice Cream & Yogurt Carmel and Fishers and Byrne's Grilled Pizza and all of our amazing supporters!

According to Brackets For Good co-founder, Matt Duncan, fundraising should be fun! How has the Indianapolis-based charitable organization helped to transform the landscape of nonprofit fundraising? What role does innovation play in the future of fundraising?

This May, Executive Director Chris Purnell shared some of his thoughts on the concept of peace. We also celebrated Mother's Day by learning the stories of three different Clinic clients who are fighting to give the best possible life to their children.

March Madness Brackets-for-Good style was full tilt this year! #TeamJustice made it to the Supported Sixteen for the first time thanks to your generous support! During the Clinic's 3-week run, we raised more than ever to provide free legal services to our low-income neighbors: $35,004! If you missed a chance to support us during this competitive-giving tournament, you can still donate to the Clinic here. And don't forget to check out our Brackets-for-Good playlist to watch the videos we released each week!

Members of the same church, Nick and Chris began to meet regularly for Bible study and coffee back in 2009. Through that close relationship, Nick’s eyes were opened to the great need in our city. “I never really was aware of the legal inequities that our society heaps on the poor, and how difficult it is for many people to navigate a complex legal system that should be protecting them,” he says. “Through getting to know Chris, praying with him, and seeing his passion for serving this community, it began to resonate with me.”

As we move out of February, the Clinic is again taking part in Brackets For Good, a competitive-giving March-Madness-style tournament. For Round 1, the Clinic is up against FACE Low Cost Animal Clinic. The match-up has one of our attorneys particularly nervous in a brand-new video.

Staff Attorney Chase Haller is feeling pretty nervous about the cuteness factor of going against FACE Low Cost Animal Clinic in Round 1 of Brackets For Good 2017, so he seeks some advice from an expert, Tommy the Cat. Support #TeamJustice in Round 1 of #BFG17, which ends at 7:59PM on Friday, March 3rd!

Due to recent events, the Clinic hopes to clarify and provide information to the public and our supporters regarding refugees. In the upcoming days, we’ll be sharing stories of just a few of the clients we have come to know and appreciate on social media, so be sure to like us on Facebook. We’ll also be sharing more information about why the Clinic serves refugees and why we believe this work is an important part of our mission.

Happy New Year! Above is a look back at the Clinic’s photo highlights from 2016–an abundant year filled with abundant life! In partnership with Outreach, Inc., we launched our Homeless Youth Justice Program this year, which allows us to provide free legal services to one of Indianapolis’ most vulnerable, and often-underserved populations. We also expanded our Victim Justice Program thanks to a VOCA grant through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, helping us to better meet the great need in our community.

One regular donor, Malcolm Gately, first became acquainted with the work of the Clinic through his membership at Grace Church. As a Christian, he was particularly drawn to its mission. He says, “I think the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic exemplifies living out those [Christian] values about as well as any organization I’ve ever seen, as well as practically serving the most vulnerable and challenged people in our area.”

March was an extremely busy for the Clinic! We were blessed with the chance to compete in Brackets For Good again, and because of our amazing supporters, we were able to raise nearly $20,000 in just two weeks for free legal services for our low-income neighbors! Additionally, we learned more about the importance of donations and how the Clinic seeks and utilizes these very necessary funds.

A recent shift in donors has been especially encouraging to the Engagement Team. Maggie says, "2014 was the first year that we really had a surge in first-time donors who used to be clients … Now that they're not clients anymore, they want to give back to people who are in their positions, which has been incredibly moving for us. We have clients sending in one dollar or five dollars—just whatever they can spare."

We've got some exciting things coming up for the rest of Brackets for Good and for the month of March. Be sure to check in with the blog next week when we release the first episode of the Clinic's new podcast, Courting Justice! If you have legal questions or thoughts on things you'd like to learn more about, please follow us on Twitter @NCLegalClinic and use the hashtag #CourtingJustice to send us your comments and questions!

Isaac and Ashley get pumped up for #BFG16 by shooting some Justice Hoops! For Round 1, we're matched up against Fight For Life Foundation. This round ends at 8PM on Friday, March 4th. Please help us advance to Round 2 by donating now: https://indianapolis.bfg.org/matches/615 For all the latest tourney updates, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @NCLegalClinic