Legal Advisor (Pushpa)

Pushpa

Pushpa is a diaspora fund that mobilises monthly contributions from people with Bangladeshi roots to collectively vote on and fund sustainable development projects back home.

We address poverty and climate vulnerability in Bangladesh, where communities face frequent natural disasters, limited economic opportunities, and lack of access to sustainable livelihoods. Our projects focus on empowering underserved populations - particularly women, marginalised and rural communities by creating a route to financial independence and building resilience against environmental challenges.

We operate as a diaspora fund that connects people with Bangladeshi roots to meaningful impact back home. Our community contributes monthly to a collective fund, then votes democratically on which locally-led projects to support in Bangladesh. We prioritise transparency through public financial tracking and focus on sustainable, long-term solutions over traditional charity models. By funding grassroots initiatives in areas like agriculture, women's empowerment, and climate resilience, we create economic opportunities that help communities become self-sufficient rather than dependent on aid.

We're building something the South Asian diaspora has never seen before - a fund that actually works how it should. Most diaspora giving is broken with money disappearing and communities staying dependent, but we're fixing that through full transparency, democratic voting, and focusing on economic independence over charity handouts. This is just the beginning - by 2030 we're building a holding company that creates new businesses furthering development for both Bangladesh and diaspora communities, turning funding into sustainable enterprise. We need people who can help us scale without losing what makes us different - community building, content that doesn't sound like every other charity, operations that keep us transparent, partnerships that make sense. The diaspora has money, skills, and connections, and we're proving it can create real change when done right.

Ready to help build it?

Legal Advisor - Corporate Structure

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

About Pushpa Pushpa is a diaspora fund that invests in the economic growth of our people back home. We're currently a limited by guarantee company considering conversion to CIC status as we expand into remittance services and direct investment in Bangladeshi social enterprises.

This role will provide the legal foundation we need to make informed decisions about our corporate structure before proceeding with subsidiary creation or investment processes. The successful volunteer will help us understand the implications of each structure and choose the optimal path for our community-focused growth.

Current Scale:

123 community members across UK, North America and Europe £1,273 per month in contributions 2 projects launched, 3rd being voted on this week 132 lives improved First corporate partner secured Team grown to 8 incredible volunteers

Responsibilities;

Analyse corporate structure options: Compare CIC vs Ltd by guarantee implications for Pushpa's growth plans, including operational differences, compliance requirements, and strategic impact

Assess subsidiary structures: Evaluate how each parent entity type (CIC vs Ltd) affects our ability to own and control subsidiaries (Investment and remittence entity) whilst maintaining mission alignment.

Review investment frameworks: Analyse how each structure impacts external investment opportunities, shareholder arrangements, and funding mechanisms for subsidiaries

Evaluate asset lock implications: If CIC conversion recommended, assess how asset lock rules affect subsidiary ownership, profit distribution, and operational flexibility

Provide conversion guidance: Deliver step-by-step recommendations for optimal structure choice, including legal documentation requirements, regulatory filings, and implementation timeline

Design governance frameworks: Recommend governance structures that preserve community control whilst enabling commercial growth and external investment

Ensure regulatory compliance: Identify ongoing compliance obligations, reporting requirements, and regulatory considerations for chosen structure and subsidiary operations

Deliver implementation roadmap: Create practical action plan with timelines, legal documentation templates, and next steps for structure optimisation

Nice to have; International investment experience: Understanding of UK-Bangladesh cross-border investment structures and regulatory considerations

Emerging market legal knowledge: Experience with South Asian legal frameworks and diaspora investment structures (beneficial)

Weekly Time Commitment

2-3 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-5 months