The Impact Fund provides recoverable grants to support legal cases addressing systemic injustice in the areas of economic, environmental, and social justice. Established in 1992, the organization has since distributed over $10 million through more than 800 grants to nonprofit legal services providers, private attorneys, and small law firms. The Fund’s commitment is to use impact litigation as a means to advance equity, protect civil rights, and bring about meaningful legal and policy change.
Grants are awarded four times per year, typically in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. These funds support litigation-related expenses in cases that have the potential to effect broad, systemic change. Impact Fund grants are specifically tailored to litigation and legal services that address issues such as racial and environmental justice, economic equity, and the protection of human and civil rights. The Fund does not support general operating costs or non-litigation programs.
Examples of supported cases include legal challenges to gang injunctions disproportionately targeting young men of color, environmental injustices in marginalized communities such as raw sewage overflow or contaminated drinking water, and economic injustices such as forced labor of detained immigrants or predatory mortgage practices. These examples highlight the fund’s focus on cases that serve underrepresented populations and communities most affected by systemic harm.
To apply, potential grantees must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Impact Fund’s online portal. If selected, applicants are invited to submit a full application, which includes questions on the legal issues involved, desired outcomes, affected populations, and legal strategy. Budget templates and application questions are available to download. The submission deadlines vary by season and are clearly laid out on the funder’s site.
In FY 2025, LOI deadlines are January 9 (Spring), April 1 (Summer), July 8 (Fall), and October 7 (Winter). Full applications follow approximately one month after each LOI deadline. Notification of awards typically occurs mid-March, mid-June, mid-September, and mid-December, respectively. The process is recurring on a quarterly basis, allowing year-round engagement for litigators pursuing qualifying cases.
For inquiries, applicants are encouraged to email grants@impactfund.org or call (510) 845-3473. Comprehensive application instructions, eligibility guidelines, and frequently asked questions are available on the Impact Fund’s website. There is no formal cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated. However, grantees are expected to repay the grant only if the case results in a monetary award, making the grants "recoverable" rather than conventional philanthropic gifts.
Select cases with potential for systemic change; prioritize underserved communities.
