Notice2023-25550
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications for 2024 Grants
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 20, 2023
Issuing agencies
Legal Services Corporation
Abstract
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions for submitting a Pre-Application for 2024 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80777-80779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25550]
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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications
for 2024 Grants
AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice
describing the conditions for submitting a Pre-Application for 2024 Pro
Bono Innovation Fund grants.
DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday,
January 16, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be submitted electronically at <a href="http://lscgrants.lsc.gov">http://lscgrants.lsc.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Harris, Special Grant
Program Coordinator, Office of Program Performance, Legal Services
Corporation, 3333 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295-1572 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcd4ddceced5cfd7fcd0cfdf92dbd3ca"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cba3aab9b9a2b8a08ba7b8a8e5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>.
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. In 2017, LSC built on these successes by creating three
funding categories to better focus
[[Page 80778]]
on innovations serving unmet and well-defined client needs (Project
Grants), on building comprehensive and effective pro bono programs
through new applications of existing best practices (Transformation
Grants), and on providing continued development support for the most
promising innovations (Sustainability Grants). In 2021, LSC created
Non-Direct Service Project Grants to fund organizations to develop and
implement innovative solutions to pro bono challenges that do not
involve providing direct legal services to clients. In 2022, LSC
created a new funding category to provide organizations with resources
to plan and establish a strong foundation (Planning Grants). Planning
Grants will be available to all eligible applicants in the 2024 funding
cycle.
II. Funding Opportunities Information
A. Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund's Project,
Sustainability, and Transformation 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 2022 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project
Grant.
B. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Purpose and Key Goals
Pro Bono Innovation Fund 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
In 2023, LSC piloted a new grant category, Planning Grants, to
provide select organizations with the resources to assess their pro
bono program and develop an action plan. Planning Grants are one-time,
six-month grants.
2. Project Grants
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project Grants aim to leverage volunteers
to meet a critical, unmet and well-defined client need. Consistent with
the key goals of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, 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 Pro Bono
Innovation Fund 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. Transformation Grants
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Transformation Grants aim to support LSC
grantees in comprehensive assessment and restructuring of pro bono
programs through new applications of existing best practices in pro
bono delivery. Each Transformation Grant will support a rigorous
assessment of an LSC grantee's pro bono program and the identification
of best practices in pro bono delivery that are best suited to that
grantee's needs and circumstances. Transformation Grants are targeted
towards LSC grantees whose leadership is committed to restructuring an
entire pro bono program and incorporating pro bono best practices into
core, high-priority client services with an urgency to create a high-
impact pro bono program. This funding opportunity is open to all LSC
grantees but is primarily intended for LSC grantees who have been
unsuccessful applying for Project Grants or who have never applied for
a Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant in the past. Transformation Grants can
be either 24 or 36 months.
4. Sustainability Grants
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Sustainability Grants are available to
current Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantees who received a 2022 Project
grant. Sustainability Grants aim to support further development of the
most promising and replicable Pro Bono Innovation Fund 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 will be asked to propose an ambitious
strategy that reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the
project over the Sustainability Grant term. Sustainability Grants can
only be 24 months.
D. Available Funds and Additional Consideration for 2021 Grants
The amount of funds available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants
for FY2024 depends on LSC's final appropriation. LSC currently operates
under a Continuing Resolution for FY2024, which funds the Federal
government through November 17, 2023. The Continuing Resolution
maintains funding for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund at $5,000,000. LSC
will make Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant decisions for FY2023 in the
summer of 2023. LSC anticipates publicizing the total amount available
for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants when Congress enacts the FY2023
appropriation.
LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the three
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.
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6 Months 12 Months 18 Months 24 Months 36 Months
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Planning Grants.................................................... [radic] X X X X
Project Grants..................................................... X X [radic] [radic] X
Transformation Grants.............................................. X X X [radic] [radic]
Sustainability Grants.............................................. X X X [radic] X
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Applicants for Planning Grants can apply for a 6-month grant.
Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 18- or a 24-month
grant. Applicants for Transformation Grants can apply for either a 24-
or a 36-month grant. Applicants for Sustainability Grants can apply for
a 24-month grant only. Applications must cover the full
[[Page 80779]]
proposed grant term. The grant term is expected to commence on October
1, 2023.
III. Grant Application Process
A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process
The Pro Bono Innovation Fund application process will be
administered in LSC's unified grants management system, GrantEase.
Applicants must first submit a Pre-Application to LSC in GrantEase by
January 16, 2024 to be considered for a grant. After review by LSC
Staff, LSC's President decides which applicants will be asked to submit
a full application. Applicants will be notified of approval to submit a
full application by early March 2024. Full applications are due to LSC
in the GrantEase system on May 6, 2024. Once received, full
applications will undergo a rigorous review by LSC staff and other
subject matter experts. LSC's President makes the final decision on
funding for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund.
B. Late or Incomplete Applications
LSC may consider a request to submit a Pre-Application after the
deadline, but only if the Applicant has submitted an email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a2a283538353435333434352c3b2e3335341a362939743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5d5d7cac7cacbcacccbcbcad3c4d1cccacbe5c9d6c68bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a> explaining the circumstances that caused the
delay prior to the Pre-Application deadline. Communication with LSC
staff, including assigned Program Liaisons, is not a substitute for
sending a formal request and explanation to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7505071a171a1b1a1c1b1b1a0314011c1a1b351906165b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cfbfbda0ada0a1a0a6a1a1a0b9aebba6a0a18fa3bcace1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a>.
At its discretion, LSC may consider incomplete applications. LSC will
determine the admissibility of late or incomplete applications on a
case-by-case basis.
C. Multiple Pre-Applications
Applicants may submit multiple Pre-applications under the same or
different funding category. If applying for multiple grants, applicants
should submit separate Pre-applications for each funding request.
D. Additional Information and Guidelines
Additional guidance and instructions on the Pro Bono Innovation
Fund Pre-Application and Application processes, will be available and
regularly updated at <a href="https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/pro-bono-innovation-fund">https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/pro-bono-innovation-fund</a>.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).)
Dated: November 14, 2023.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel for Administrative and Regulatory Practice,
Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2023-25550 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P
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