DC Bar Foundation General Support Grants

The DC Bar Foundation's General Support Grants Program offers private funding to legal services providers in the District of Columbia. This program is a cornerstone of the Foundation's mission to fund civil legal services, primarily for District residents with low incomes. Funding is sourced from individual, law firm, and corporate donations, alongside revenue generated by the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, which the DCBF administers. This ensures a consistent and dedicated stream of resources to support vital civil legal aid initiatives, directly aligning with the Foundation's commitment to access to justice. The target beneficiaries of this program are District residents with low incomes who require free civil legal services. The primary impact goal is to provide these essential services, addressing critical legal needs within this population. Strong applications will demonstrate an organization's ability to identify and respond to pressing civil legal needs, ensuring appropriate supervision, training, and development of staff, and utilizing stakeholder and client feedback for continuous improvement. Furthermore, applicants are expected to offer services that increase accessibility, such as self-help strategies, online legal information, and community legal education. The Foundation prioritizes applications that expand legal assistance for DC residents, avoid duplication of services, and enhance accessibility. Priority is also given to programs that expand pro bono participation by recruiting, training, and supervising law firm attorneys, and those that strategically leverage DCBF resources to support other service providers. Importantly, the Foundation seeks to fund services not supported by other funding sources and those that test innovative approaches to achieving these priorities, reflecting a forward-thinking and impactful strategy. Organizations applying for this private funding must demonstrate adequate capacity, as evidenced by experience in providing similar services and related current work. Sustainability is also a key factor, with the Foundation considering potential funding sources beyond DCBF and longer-term service delivery strategies. The expected outcomes include an expansion in the number of DC residents receiving legal assistance, improved accessibility to legal services, and the effective use of resources to address the most pressing civil legal needs of low-income residents, contributing to a more equitable justice system in the District of Columbia.