Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Applying for 2027 Grants

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions for applying for 2027 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 213 (Thursday, November 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 213 (Thursday, November 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69885-69887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22542]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Applying for 2027 Grants

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice 
describing the conditions for applying for 2027 Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund Grants.

[[Page 69886]]


DATES: Submissions must be received by LSC on or before 11:59 p.m. EST 
on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.

ADDRESSES: All submissions must be submitted electronically through 
GrantEase, LSC's Grant Management System.

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#ec9c9e838e838283858282839a8d98858382ac809f8fc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5121233e333e3f3e383f3f3e273025383e3f113d22327f363e27">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 27 (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 Grantee 
Engagement Scholarships.

I. 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 2025 PBIF Project Grant. To be eligible for a Grantee 
Engagement Scholarship, an organization cannot have an active PBIF 
Grant between October 1, 2027 and September 30, 2028.

B. PBIF Purpose and Key Goals

    PBIF Grants develop, test, and scale 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 scale 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 ideas or adapting effective models in a new 
context.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to research previous PBIF 
projects to scale or improve them. LSC is particularly interested in 
applications that build on projects previously funded with 
``Sustainability'' Grants.
    Project Grants have a 24-month term.
2. Sustainability Grants
    Sustainability Grants are available to current PBIF grantees who 
received a 2025 Project Grant. Sustainability Grants provide the most 
promising and scalable PBIF projects with an additional 24 months of 
funding, enabling grantees to leverage new revenue sources and collect 
meaningful data to demonstrate 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. Grantee Engagement Scholarships
    Grantee Engagement Scholarships provide organizations with 
opportunities to continue their professional and programmatic growth 
through peer learning and knowledge sharing with the PBIF Team and the 
community.
    Grantee Engagement Scholarships have a 12-month term.

D. Available Funds for 2027 Grants

    The availability of funds for FY27 PBIF Grants depends on LSC's 
appropriation. LSC's FY27 funding level remains unknown. Decisions on 
FY27 PBIF Grants will be made in summer 2027, with LSC providing 
updated funding details as they become available.

E. Grant Terms

    PBIF awards have grant terms of 12 or 24 months, depending on the 
grant category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   12 Months   24 Months
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Grants..................................           X     [check]
Sustainability Grants...........................           X     [check]
Grantee Engagement Scholarship..................     [check]           X
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Applicants for Grantee Engagement Scholarships will apply for a 12-
month grant. Applicants for Project and Sustainability 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, 2027.

II. Grant Application Process

A. PBIF Grant Application Process

    The PBIF Application process is managed in LSC's grants management 
system, GrantEase. Project & Sustainability Applicants must first 
submit a Pre-Application to LSC in GrantEase by January 13, 2027, 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 March 2027. Full 
Applications are due to LSC in the GrantEase system on May 6, 2027. 
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.
    Grantee Engagement Scholarship Applicants will submit a Full 
Application to LSC in GrantEase by January 13, 2027, to be considered 
for funding. Full Applications will undergo a rigorous review by LSC 
staff. LSC's President makes the final decision on funding for all PBIF 
Grants. The decision on Grantee Engagement Scholarship funding will be 
made contemporaneously with Project and Sustainability funding 
decisions.

[[Page 69887]]

B. Late or Incomplete Submissions

    LSC may consider a request to submit after the deadline, but only 
if the Applicant has submitted an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8afaf8e5e8e5e4e5e3e4e4e5fcebfee3e5e4cae6f9e9a4ede5fc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3040425f525f5e5f595e5e5f465144595f5e705c43531e575f46">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> by 
January 11, 2027, explaining the circumstances that caused the delay. 
Communication with LSC staff, including assigned LSC Special Grant 
staff contacts, is not a substitute for sending a formal request and 
explanation to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bfcfcdd0ddd0d1d0d6d1d1d0c9decbd6d0d1ffd3ccdc91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3242405d505d5c5d5b5c5c5d4453465b5d5c725e41511c555d44">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. At its discretion, LSC may 
consider incomplete submissions. LSC will determine the admissibility 
of late or incomplete submissions on a case-by-case basis.

C. Multiple Submissions

    Applicants may apply for more than one grant, either within the 
same funding category or across different categories. If applying for 
multiple grants, Applicants should submit separate Pre-Applications or 
Applications for each funding request.

D. Additional Information and Guidelines

    Additional guidance and instructions on applying for a PBIF Grant 
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 2, 2026.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2026-22542 Filed 11-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P


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