Notice2025-20319
Pro Bono Innovation Fund; Process for Submitting Pre-Applications for 2025 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 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Legal Services Corporation
Abstract
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions for submitting a Pre-Application for 2025 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 221 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52115-52116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20319]
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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Pro Bono Innovation Fund; Process for Submitting Pre-Applications
for 2025 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 2025 Pro
Bono Innovation Fund grants.
DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday,
January 10, 2025.
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, 1825 I Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006; (202)
295-1572 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#214940535348524a614d52420f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="533b3221213a2038133f20307d343c25">[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, 2017, Public Law 115-31, 131 Stat. 135 (2017). 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 (PBIF) has
advanced LSC's goal of increasing the quantity and quality of legal
services by funding efforts that more efficiently and effectively
involve pro bono volunteers in serving the critical unmet legal needs
of LSC-eligible clients. PBIF has three funding categories that are
described in further detail below: Project, Sustainability, and Project
Incubation Grants. In addition, PBIF is offering Grantee Engagement
Scholarships to select FY26 Applicants.
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 be eligible for a Sustainability Grant, Applicants
must also have a 2024 PBIF Project Grant. To be eligible for a Project
Incubation Grant, an organization must have never received PBIF
funding, have not received a PBIF Grant since 2019, or have applied
unsuccessfully for a PBIF Grant in 2025. Organizations eligible to
apply for a Project Incubation Grant will receive a direct email from
LSC confirming their eligibility.
B. PBIF 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 more significant numbers of low-income clients and improve the
quality and effectiveness of the services provided. The key goals of
the PBIF 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. Project Grants
Project Grants aim to leverage volunteers to provide client-
centered legal assistance in areas of critical need. Consistent with
the key goals of PBIF, Applicants are encouraged to focus on engaging
volunteers to increase free civil legal aid for Americans with low
incomes by proposing new, replicable ideas.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to research previous PBIF
projects to replicate and improve them. LSC is particularly interested
in applications that replicate projects previously funded with
``Sustainability'' Grants.
Project Grants can have either an 18 or 24-month term.
2. Sustainability Grants
Sustainability Grants are available to current PBIF grantees who
received a 2024 Project Grant. Sustainability Grants provide the most
promising and replicable PBIF projects with an additional 24 months of
funding, enabling grantees to leverage new sources of revenue for the
project and collect meaningful data to demonstrate its results and
outcomes to clients and volunteers. Applicants for Sustainability
Grants are asked to propose an ambitious strategy to reduce reliance on
PBIF funding during the Sustainability Grant term.
Sustainability Grants have a 24-month term.
3. Project Incubation Grants
Project Incubation Grants provide funds for organizations to
improve an existing pro bono opportunity using pro bono best practices
and PBIF guidance provided through a structured program and other
resources. Project Incubation Grants have a 24-month term.
Applicants who apply for, but do not receive, a Project Incubation
Grant in FY26 can receive a PBIF Grantee Engagement Scholarship.
Grantee Engagement Scholarships provide
[[Page 52116]]
organizations with opportunities to continue their professional and
programmatic growth through peer learning and knowledge sharing with
the PBIF Team and the community.
D. Available Funds for 2026 Grants
The availability of funds for FY26 PBIF Grants depends on LSC's
appropriation. LSC's FY26 funding level remains unknown. Decisions on
FY26 PBIF Grants will be made in summer 2026, with LSC providing
updated funding details as they become available.
E. Grant Terms
PBIF awards have grant terms of 18 or 24 months, depending on the
grant category.
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18 Months 24 Months
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Project Grants........................ [check] [check]
Sustainability Grants................. X [check]
Project Incubation Grants............. X [check]
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Applicants for Project Grants may apply for either an 18- or a 24-
month grant. Applicants for Sustainability and Project Incubation
Grants will apply for a 24-month grant. The grant activities described
in the application must cover the full proposed grant term, which
commences on October 1, 2026.
III. Grant Application Process
A. PBIF Grant Application Process
The PBIF Application process is managed in LSC's grants management
system, GrantEase. Applicants must first submit a Pre-Application to
LSC in GrantEase by January 15, 2026, to be considered for funding.
After review by LSC staff, LSC's President decides which Applicants
will be invited to submit a Full Application. Applicants will be
notified of invitations by early March 2026. Full Applications are due
to LSC in the GrantEase system on May 8, 2026. 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 all PBIF grants.
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#39494b565b565756505757564f584d50565779554a5a175e564f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d0d0f121f121312141313120b1c091412133d110e1e531a120b">[email protected]</span></a> by January 13, 2026, explaining the
circumstances that caused the delay. Communication with LSC staff,
including assigned LSC Staff Contact, is not a substitute for sending a
formal request and explanation to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a2a283538353435333434352c3b2e3335341a362939743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="28585a474a474647414646475e495c41474668445b4b064f475e">[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 categories. 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 PBIF Pre-Application
and Full Application processes will be available and regularly updated
at <a href="https://www.lsc.gov/grants/pro-bono-innovation-fund">https://www.lsc.gov/grants/pro-bono-innovation-fund</a>.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).)
Dated: November 17, 2025.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2025-20319 Filed 11-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P
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