Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications for 2025 Grants

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

Since 2014, Congress has provided an annual appropriation to LSC “for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.” See, e.g., Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328, 136 Stat. 4553 (2022). LSC requested these funds for grants to “develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts that can enable LSC grantees to expand clients' access to high quality legal assistance.” LSC Budget Request, Fiscal Year 2014 at 26 (2013). The grants must involve innovations that are either “new ideas” or “new applications of existing best practices.” Id. Each grant would “either serve as a model for other legal services providers to follow or effectively replicate a prior innovation.” Id. The Senate Appropriations Committee explained that these funds “will support innovative projects that promote and enhance pro bono initiatives throughout the Nation,” and the House Appropriations Committee directed LSC “to increase the involvement of private attorneys in the delivery of legal services to [LSC-eligible] clients.” Senate Report 114-239 at 123 (2016), House Report 113-448 at 85 (2014).

Since its inception, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund has advanced LSC's goal of increasing the quantity and quality of legal services by funding projects that more efficiently and effectively involve pro bono volunteers in serving the critical unmet legal needs of LSC-eligible clients. PBIF has four funding categories that are described in further detail below: Planning, Project, Sustainability, and Transformation.

II. Funding Opportunities Information

A. Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for PBIF grants, Applicants must be current grantees of LSC Basic Field-General, Basic Field-Migrant, or Basic Field-Native American grants. To qualify for a Sustainability Grant, Applicants must also have a 2023 PBIF Project Grant.

B. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Purpose and Key Goals

PBIF grants develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts that can enable LSC grantees to use pro bono volunteers to serve larger numbers of low-income clients and improve the quality and effectiveness of the services provided. The key goals of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund are to:

1. Address gaps in the delivery of legal services to low-income people;

2. Engage more lawyers and other volunteers in pro bono service;

3. Develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts.

C. Funding Categories

1. Planning Grants

Planning Grants provide organizations with a one-time grant to complete an assessment of their pro bono program and develop a plan to build or revitalize their pro bono delivery system. Planning Grants have a 6-month term.

2. Project Grants

Project Grants aim to leverage volunteers to meet a critical, unmet and well-defined client need. Consistent with the key goals of PBIF, Applicants are encouraged to focus on engaging volunteers to increase free civil legal aid for low-income Americans by proposing new, replicable ideas.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to research prior PBIF projects to replicate and improve upon them. LSC is particularly interested in applications that propose to replicate projects LSC has previously funded with “Sustainability” Grants. Project Grants can be either 18 or 24 months.

3. Sustainability Grants

Sustainability Grants are available to current PBIF grantees who received a 2023 Project Grant. Sustainability Grants provide the most promising and replicable PBIF projects with an additional 24 months of funding so grantees can leverage new sources of revenue for the project and collect meaningful data to demonstrate the project's results and outcomes for clients and volunteers. Applicants for Sustainability Grants are asked to propose an ambitious strategy that reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the project over the Sustainability Grant term. Sustainability Grants have a 24-month term.

4. Transformation Grants

Transformation Grants aim to support LSC grantees in the comprehensive assessment and restructuring of their pro bono programs using best practices in pro bono delivery. Each Transformation Grant will support a rigorous assessment of a grantee's pro bono program and identify best practices in pro bono delivery suited to that grantee's needs and circumstances. Transformation Grants are for LSC grantees whose leadership is committed to restructuring their pro bono delivery system to create a high-impact pro bono program now. Transformation Grants can have either a 24- or 36-month term.

D. Available Funds for 2025 Grants

The amount of funds available for PBIF Grants for FY2025 depends on LSC's final appropriation. LSC currently operates under a Continuing Resolution for FY2025, which funds the Federal government through December 20, 2024. The Continuing Resolution maintains funding for PBIF at $5,000,000. LSC will make PBIF grant decisions for FY2025 in the summer of 2025. LSC anticipates publicizing the total amount available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants when Congress enacts the FY2025 appropriation.

LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the four different funding categories and will make grant awards for the three categories within the total amount of funding available.

E. Grant Terms

Pro Bono Innovation Fund awards can have grant terms of 6, 18, 24, or 36 months, depending on the category of grant.