2025 Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program

The Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (CLCPP) is an initiative by the DC Bar Foundation aimed at supporting DC-based nonprofit legal services providers. The core mission of the CLCPP is to offer eviction prevention services to low-income and underserved residents of the District of Columbia. This aligns with the Foundation's broader strategic priorities of promoting quality, efficiency, and effectiveness in the delivery of civil legal aid. The program emphasizes organizations that have robust systems for self-assessment, continuous improvement, and the ability to identify and respond to the most pressing civil legal needs of the target population. The program primarily targets District residents with low income or who are underserved, with a specific focus on eviction prevention. Impact goals include making legal services accessible to this population, increasing access to services in underserved areas, and expanding pro bono participation. The Foundation seeks to fund organizations that can demonstrate how they will reach these beneficiaries and achieve these goals, ensuring that legal services are not only provided but also effective and responsive to community needs. This includes integrating pro bono attorneys and utilizing various channels for legal information and community education. The CLCPP prioritizes proposals that address underserved areas in the District, housing-related matters, or support a shared legal services interpreter bank. Other key focuses include expanding the number of DC residents receiving legal assistance, avoiding duplication of services, and making legal assistance more accessible. The Foundation also encourages proposals that leverage its resources strategically, avoiding services that could be supported by other funding sources, and testing innovative approaches. The grant period for these projects is from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. Expected outcomes and measurable results are a critical component of the CLCPP. Funded projects are required to measure and report their performance against stated goals in areas such as legal services delivered (volume, type, number of residents assisted), outreach and training efforts (number of efforts, attendees, materials distributed), and pro bono development (attorneys recruited, trained, firms participating). Strong proposals will demonstrate ambitious yet realistic goals and adequate capacity, as well as a high likelihood of sustainability beyond the grant period, considering potential funding sources and long-term service delivery strategies. This rigorous approach to measurement and reporting reflects the Foundation's theory of change, which posits that strategic investment in quality legal aid and capacity building will lead to a more just and equitable legal system for DC residents.