Donor spotlight: Daniel Supalla

Daniel Supalla of Nilan Johnson Lewis is a donor and volunteer with The Advocates for Human Rights, a nonprofit working in Minnesota and internationally to advance human rights. Supalla has been involved with The Advocates since 2008 and currently serves as chair of the board of directors. As a volunteer attorney with The Advocates, Dan works with LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers from around the world fleeing anti-homosexuality laws and other dangers in their home countries. He remembers excitedly telling a client from Cameroon that the government would stipulate to her asylum claim before a hearing. Dan recalls, “It’s especially gratifying to deliver that kind of good news, when somebody’s life is going to be changed so profoundly.”

Supalla notes that lawyers have a special role in giving back because we know how to access the judicial system. We have a responsibility, he believes, to make sure that when people with low incomes need to go to court, they have lawyers who take pro bono cases and contribute financially to organizations who support pro bono lawyers and civil legal aid. Clients achieve better results when they have a lawyer who can help them navigate the system.

In 2024, donations allowed staff at The Advocates to support more than 1,800 volunteers who contributed more than $20 million in human rights work. Suppala says the organization is the place for people who care deeply about human rights to contribute financially and volunteer. “One person can’t do everything,” he concedes, “but collectively we can make a huge difference in people’s lives, especially when it comes to human rights issues.”