Thanks to our supporters!
We are grateful for those who attended our 50th Anniversary Gala on November 14th, 2019 at District Winery. We appreciate the ovewhelming support. If we missed you, there is still time to support our next 50 years of work, including our Judge Patricia Wald Trailblazer Fund and our GROW Fund for Leaders.
Gala Sponsors
- LaVeeda Morgan Battle, Esq.
- John M. Bouman
- Lisa Brown
- Jamira Burley
- Annie Burns
- Michael C. Camuñez
- Donna Cooper
- David Dodson
- Steven Dow
- Peter Edelman
- Olivia Golden
- David Hansell
- Thomas Kahn
- Simon Lazarus, Esq.
- Sunil Mansukhani
- Edward Montgomery
- Joe Onek, Esq.
- Michelle R.B. Saddler
- Sarah Rosen Wartell
- Alan Houseman
- Albert Kramer
- Alliance for Justice
- Alluma
- Amalgamated Bank
- Andy and Robin Schneider
- Ann Rosewater
- Anne Lewis
- Anne Lewis Strategies
- Anne Mosle
- Benjamin Heineman
- Beth Grupp Associates
- Brandon and Sarah Matloff
- Bread for the City
- Brooksley Born
- Caryl Welborn
- Center for Community Change
- Center for the Study of Social Policy
- Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
- Charles Licameli
- Charlie and Susan Halpern
- CLASP Management Team
- Cristina Leckie & Victor Glasberg
- Danielle Ewen
- David & Nicole Mitchell
- David Rosenbloom and Carla Peterson
- Dennis Flannery
- Edgar James
- EDITRAV LLC
- Eldon and Emily Greenberg
- Elise Rabekoff and Chris Gladstone
- Emily Scott
- Frank Greer & Stephanie Solien
- Franklin Raines
- Gelman, Rosenberg, & Freedman CPAs
- GMMB
- Greater Washington Community Foundation
- GRF CPAs & Advisors
- James Chastain
- James Margolis & Vicki Margolis
- Jamie Marks
- Jay and Robin Varon
- Jeannette O'Connor, Woodside Park Strategies
- Jim and Vicki Margolis
- Jim Steinberg
- Jim Weill and Judy Waxman
- Joan Wills
- Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation
- Kaia Lenhart
- Katharine Kravetz
- Kittleman & Associates
- Larry Gold
- Leslie and Beth Michelson
- Linda Harris
- Linda Perle and Neil Levy
- Lisa Dawe
- Lois Schiffer
- Louis N. Cassett Foundation
- Lumina Foundation
- Marcia Greenberger & Nancy Duff Campbell
- Margy Kohn
- Mark Greenberg
- Mary Ann Walker
- Matt & Louise Myers
- National Partnership for Women & Families
- National Women’s Law Center
- Patricia & John Koskinen
- Peter Buscemi & Judith A. Miller
- Public Welfare Foundation
- Richard Booth
- Robert Friedman
- Robin & Jay Varon
- Sandy Newman and Chris Owens
- Scott Sinder (Steptoe & Johnson, LLP) and Jodie Kelley (Electronic Transactions Association)
- Sheldon and Sandra Danziger
- Shriver Center on Poverty Law
- SmithPilot
- Steve Hoffman
- Summit Business Technologies
- The Center for the Study of Social Policy
- The Retirement Research Foundation
- thetenantagency
- Trip Rothschild
- Wiley Rein LLP
- WilmerHale
Support Our Future
GROW Fund for Leaders
Through the GROW Fund for Leaders, CLASP will build new partnerships and deepen engagement with advocates and aspiring leaders. We'll build on our extraordinary range of resources, expertise, and support to ensure people’s voices on the ground are heard in Congress and state capitols.
Judge Patricia Wald Trailblazer Fund
The Judge Patricia Wald Trailblazer Fund will help CLASP invest in rising policy staff poised to take the next step driving public policy change. In honor of Judge Wald's legacy of mentoring young people, the fund will focus on early career staff who have shown outstanding promise in their field.

1982: A new direction for CLASP
CLASP changes its focus from general public interest law to anti-poverty policy, emphasizing children and families and civil legal assistance. This is a strategic effort to target resources where they will have the most impact.

1982: Advancing legal aid
CLASP begins representing National Legal Aid and Defender Association membership and the Legal Services Corporation before Congress. It also provides legal support to civil legal aid programs.

1985: Comprehensive advocacy for children & families
CLASP launches a family policy program focused on child support, child care, income support, and education and training. It’s designed to help families leave poverty and become economically secure.

1995: Preparing people for good jobs
CLASP establishes a workforce development initiative, focused on welfare-to-work and federal and state job training and education programs.

1999: Supporting young children & their parents
CLASP launches a child care and early education program to promote policies that support children’s healthy development as well as address low-income, working parents’ needs.

2009: Opening doors to education
CLASP secures landmark provisions in the Higher Education Act, expanding financial aid and helping low-income and nontraditional students (adult learners and opportunity youth) earn postsecondary credentials.

2009: Jobs program for 260,000 people
CLASP’s advocacy helps pass the TANF Emergency Fund, which includes a subsidized job program employing 260,000 people. CLASP’s technical assistance helps states successfully implement the Fund.

2014: Child Care and Development Block Grant reauthorization
CLASP’s advocacy helps reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). The new law increases health, safety and quality standards and makes child care assistance more stable for families.

2017: Protecting immigrant families
CLASP launches the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) campaign with the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). PIF generates 260,000 public comments to President Trump’s proposed "public charge" rule, which would penalize immigrants for receiving public benefits.
CLASP Alumni
CLASP's alumni make up the rich fabric of our history. Read their stories as we honor their incredible work.
Blogs from Our Alumni

Jim Barnes describes CLASP's groundbreaking advocacy work in the environmental arena during the 1970s.

Joe Onek reflects on his long history with CLASP as a staff attorney, executive director, board member, and board chair.

Alan Houseman reflects on 32 years as CLASP's executive director.
Join our CLASP Alumni Group
If you're an alumnus, we want to keep in touch about exclusive events, our 50th anniversary, and other important information.
#CLASPFlashbackFriday


To celebrate #CLASPFlashbackFriday this week, CLASP Alumna Nune Phillips shares why CLASP is so effective: "The focus on immigrant issues and racial equity are more pronounced at CLASP than other policy groups in DC."

In celebration of #CLASPFlashbackFriday, we are sharing some treasured memories from our beloved CLASP alumni—like this proud moment from Rhonda Bryant.
“Partnering with foundations, practitioners, and advocates on the 2025 Campaign for Black Men and Boys was a pivotal project and moment for me."
"I authored the “We Dream a World” paper, which became a catalyst for so many foundations to get involved in funding work for Black men and boys, and later for boys and young men of color more broadly."
“The impact of that work is still being felt in the field of BYMOC today.”
#CLASPat50