Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program

The Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program is an initiative of the AccessLex Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to legal education and fostering diversity in the legal profession. This grant program aims to support innovative interventions that help college students and graduates from historically underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds successfully prepare for and gain admission to law school. The central mission is to expand the knowledge base on effective strategies that enhance the enrollment and success of such students in law school and ultimately the legal field. To qualify for funding, proposed programs must span between 12 and 24 months and request funding in the range of $200,000 to $300,000. Eligible programs must be intentionally designed to support participants through the law school admission process and/or prepare them for the rigors of law school itself. Successful applicants will demonstrate how their program components are closely tied to defined goals, measurable objectives, and desired outcomes. Importantly, programs must incorporate robust evaluation plans using valid data collection and analysis techniques, as well as tracking mechanisms that extend beyond the program’s duration to capture meaningful long-term participant outcomes such as law school admissions results. Although not mandatory, applicants whose programs include certain preferred elements may receive selection priority. These elements include a focus on participants aiming to start law school within two years of the grant period who have not yet been admitted, an emphasis on individuals with lower academic metrics (e.g., GPA or standardized test scores), and the use of experimental or quasi-experimental methodologies (e.g., control groups) in evaluation. Other prioritized factors include the provision of extended support to participants beyond the program timeline and collaboration with external organizations or institutions to strengthen program delivery and impact. The application process follows a structured review timeline. Letters of Inquiry were accepted between January 27 and March 1, 2025. Applicants selected to move forward were notified by May 16, 2025, and full proposals were due by July 25, 2025. Funding decisions were communicated by October 3, 2025. Applicants were expected to prepare a clear statement of their intended outcomes and articulate how their program components and evaluation strategies would produce evidence-based results. No pre-application steps were listed as required. This funding opportunity does not specify allowable or unallowable costs in detail but emphasizes that proposals must be programmatic in nature, grounded in solid planning and evaluation methodology, and centered on participants’ readiness for law school. Contact for the grant is available via email at [email protected]. While the grant cycle for this opportunity has closed, the structured timeline and focus on recurring law school admission patterns suggest that similar funding rounds may be anticipated in the future.