Center for Law and Social Policy

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Center for Law and Social Policy
AbbreviationCLASP
FormationAugust 1969; 54 years ago (1969-08)
Type501(c)(3) organization
Location
  • 1310 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Websiteclasp.org

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a liberal organization, based in Washington, D.C., that engages in anti-poverty advocacy.

Overview[edit]

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) was founded in August 1969. Initially focused on doing legal work on environmental issues, media access, consumer protection, and rights for individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges, CLASP soon launched a first-of-its-kind clinical law program. This was followed by a mental health law program, which eventually became the independent David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and the establishment of the Women’s Rights Project, which in 1982 became the independent National Women’s Law Center.[1]

Alan W. Houseman joined CLASP as executive director in 1981 and began shifting its focus from general public-interest law to anti-poverty policy, particularly child and family poverty.[2] That year, CLASP began representing the National Legal Aid and Defender Association membership and the Legal Services Corporation before Congress and providing legal support to civil legal aid programs.  

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, CLASP continued to focus on policy issues that affected families, children, and youth, including establishing a workforce development initiative; helping states implement the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant; and launching a child care and early education program.  

CLASP widened its focus to youth policy issues in 2003 and helped build support for federal paid sick days legislation. The organization helped secure provisions in the Higher Education Act and pass the TANF Emergency Fund. Following the election of Donald Trump, CLASP and the National Immigration Law Center launched the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign[3].

After Houseman's retirement as executive director in 2013, Olivia Golden was chosen to lead the organization.[4] She did so until 2022[5] when Indivar "Indi" Dutta-Gupta joined the organization as its executive director.[6]

The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded by a number of foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies, and various individual donors. In 2021, it reported an income of $12 million.[7] In 2022, CLASP received a $10 million gift from MacKenzie Scott.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ National Women's Law Center. Philanthropy News Digest, March 8, 2011.
  2. ^ Alan Houseman (undated). Consortium for the National Equal Justice Library. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "[1]" Protecting Immigrant Families, retrieved May 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "CLASP Announces Olivia Golden as New Executive Director." Pennsylvania Legal Aid, April 23, 2013.
  5. ^ "Olivia Golden Stepping Down at Center for Law and Social Policy." The Imprint, July 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade, "POLITICO Playbook: Friction between Harris and Biden camps revealed in new book." POLITICO, March 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Center for Law and Social Policy 2021 Form 990 Form" (PDF). GuideStar.
  8. ^ Rojc, Philip (March 9, 2022). "Five Things to Know About MacKenzie Scott's Latest Round of Gifts". Inside Philanthropy.

External links[edit]

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