The core mission of the Pro Bono Advisory Council is to assist the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the administration of patent pro bono programs across the United States. Established pursuant to the America Invents Act of 2011, the program's 22 non-profit organizations match under-resourced inventors with top quality volunteer patent attorneys or patent agents. Through their generous donation of time and effort, these volunteers ensure critical inventions, of benefit to all mankind, are not lost because of an inventor's inability to afford quality counsel.