Fundraising

Auction & Gala

The PILF Auction & Gala has typically been the most profitable fundraising activity, and a good opportunity for grant applicants to volunteer their time. In 2007, PILF made around $70,000 from the auction alone. The auction is held every year in the Spring, normally coincident with Duke Law Parents' Weekend and tends to be one of the most entertaining organized activities of the year. Auction night consists of food, drinks, a silent auction, and a live auction. The items at auction were donations solicted by PILF throughout the year from law firms, local businesses, faculty, students, and alumni. Popular items have included a law school parking lot pass, vacation time shares in Colorado, Whistler, and the Carribean, Duke Basketball paraphernalia, dinners with professors, guitar lessons, and climbing trips.

The 2008 PILF Auction & Gala will be held on February 23, 2008. Please reserve the date and join everyone for a spectacular time. Additionally, check back for time and place specifics and a list of auction items.

You can support PILF by (1) coming to the auction, (2) bidding on an item, (3) donating an item, (4) sponsoring the auction (like the sponsors listed to the side), or (5) volunteering.

Proxy bid:
If you would like to bid on an item but are unable to attend the auction, you can place a proxy bid. To do so, email the Auction Manager Chair with the subject "Proxy Bidding"; in the body of the email please include the name of the item you wish to bid for and your maximum bid. A student will be assigned to bid on oyour behalf on the night of the auction. The student will bid as if they were you, attempting to win the item at the lowest price while not exceeding your maximum bid.

Donate an auction item:
If you would like to donate an item to be auctioned, please email the Auction Donations Chair with your contact information, a description of the item you would like to donate and the item's estimated value.

Donate money; become a sponsor:
Monetary donations are always welcome. Checks made payable to the "Public Interest Law Foundation" can be sent to:

Public Interest Law Foundation
c/o Auction Manager Chair
Duke University School of Law
Corner of Towerview Road & Science Drive
Box 90360
Durham, NC 27708

Donate $500 or more and become an auction sponsor. Sponsor's names are included in the auction advertisement materials and here on the website. If you would like to sponsor the auction please contact the Auction Manager Chair.

Tax deductions:
All donations to PILF are tax deductable. You will be sent a receipt for any donations you make, including item donations.

Contact the Auction Manager Chair with any other questions regarding the auction. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator Chair for volunteer information.

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CAPITAL

The CAPITAL program is an easy way for law students to give to PILF and can potentially be more profitable than the auction. If you can stay with a friend or family during your callback interview, your firm can make a donation to PILF with the money they would have spent on your hotel. All it takes is 4 easy steps:

1. Inform your prospective firm's recruiting manager that you intend to participate in PILF's CAPITAL project during your callback interview. Most firms, even if they have not participated before, are glad to be involved in the project.
2. Stop by the Career and Professional Development Center or the PILF CAPITAL mail folder to get the callback packet.
3. Put the completed pack in the PILF CAPITAL mail folder.
4. Fill out your portion of the CAPITAL form and give it to the recruiter when you check in for your interview.

The following is a list of some of the firms that have participated in the past:

• Allen & Overy
• Arent Fox
• Ashe, Rafuse & Hill
• Baker & Daniels
• Bingham McCutchen
• Bryan Cave
• Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
• Cooley Godward
• DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary
• Foley Hoag
• Fried Frank
• Gardner Carton & Douglas
• Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
• Goodwin Procter
• Gunderson Dettmer
• Holland & Knight
• Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk, & Rabkin
• Howrey LLP
• Irell & Manella
• Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro
• Jones Day
• Kelley Drye

• King & Spalding
• Kirkpatrick & Lockhart
• Latham & Watkins
• Litchford & Christopher
• Milbank Tweed
• Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
• Paul Hastings
• Perkins Coie
• Proskauer Rose
• Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi
• Seward & Kissel
• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
• Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett
• Squire, Sanders & Dempsey
• Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan
• Thacher Proffitt & Wood
• White & Case
• White & Williams
• Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale & Dorr

 

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Pledge Drive

The Pledge Drive is another way law students can donate to PILF. Every year PILF asks students who plan to work in high-paying jobs—typically law firm jobs—to donate their wages earned for a small number of working hours to PILF. Watch the tables in the hallways on campus or email one of the PILF Co-Chairs for more information.

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Gear Sales

The Duke Bookstore sells Duke Law gear and donates a significant percentage of the proceeds to PILF. Duke Law gear is also sold by PILF volunteers at special Duke Law events, like the Auction & Gala, selected weekdays, and other times. Watch the tables in the hallways on campus or at special events, and support PILF by outfitting yourself with Duke Law t-shirts, hats, fleeces, pint glasses, polos, and more.

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Donations

PILF is always eager to except monetary donations. Checks made payable to the "Public Interest Law Foundation" can be sent to:

Public Interest Law Foundation
c/o Auction Manager Chair
Duke University School of Law
Corner of Towerview Road & Science Drive
Box 90360
Durham, NC 27708

Donations are tax deductible. You will receive a receipt for any donations you make.

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Other

The activities listed above are PILF's main and ongoing fundraising activities. There are, however, a number of additional fundraising events throughout the year. Pay attention to the news bulletin on the HOME page for announcements and updates about PILF-sponsored events. Additionally, PILF is always open to new and innovative fundraising ideas. Please contact one of the PILF Co-Chairs with any fundraising suggestions.

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