BFF Legal Services Grant

The BFF grant program supports nonprofit and public entities that deliver legal services, with a strong emphasis on enhancing access to justice. BFF only funds 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and public entities, and does not support individuals, capital campaigns, or direct scholarships. Additionally, BFF does not support organizations that engage in any form of discrimination based on age, political affiliation, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief. The grant program includes differentiated eligibility criteria based on an organization’s operating budget. Legal Services Organizations (LSOs) with budgets under $1 million are eligible for general operating support but typically cannot receive program/project support. LSOs with budgets between $1 million and $5 million may apply for general operating support and may request programmatic funding if a rationale is provided. LSOs with budgets over $5 million are limited to seeking support for new or pilot programs or underfunded initiatives such as impact litigation, research, or inter-sectional work, and cannot receive general operating support. However, legal services programs housed within larger social service organizations or law schools with total operating budgets exceeding $5 million can request general operating support if the legal program has dedicated staff attorneys. Eligibility also varies by fiscal year. LSOs with a January–December fiscal year are encouraged to apply during the fall cycle, while those with a June–July fiscal year are encouraged to apply in the spring cycle. Organizations with other fiscal calendars or those with special funding timing needs may request guidance directly from the foundation. Grants primarily support California-based programs. However, national organizations may be considered if they offer programs focused on increasing access to justice, leadership development in the civil legal aid space, or civil legal aid think tank initiatives. Indirect costs for project grants are capped at 25% for organizations with operating budgets over $5 million, while for smaller organizations, such costs are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Typical grant amounts range from $10,000 to $30,000, with a few exceeding that amount. BFF runs two annual grant cycles—spring and fall. The spring 2025 cycle includes an LOI window from November 1, 2024, to December 2, 2024, with applications due by January 23, 2025, and notifications issued in March. The fall 2025 cycle accepts LOIs from April 7, 2025, to May 5, 2025, with applications due by June 26, 2025, and notifications by September. The spring 2026 cycle follows a similar timeline with LOIs from October 27, 2025, to November 24, 2025, and a deadline of January 26, 2026. Self-report deadlines are tied to grant award cycles and span across the subsequent year.