2026 General Support Grants Program

The DC Legal Services Grants Program (General Support Grants), administered by the DC Bar Foundation (DCBF), is a longstanding funding initiative that began in 1978. It offers critical operational support to civil legal aid organizations located in Washington, DC. Since its inception, the program has distributed over $34 million in unrestricted funds, which are used to help legal aid providers manage essential but often underfunded aspects of their operations, such as rent, technology systems, and other overhead costs. Funding for these grants is derived from private contributions as well as revenue generated through the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, for which DCBF is the designated administrator in the District of Columbia. DCBF, founded in 1977, is the leading funder of civil legal aid in the District. It has invested over $200 million into DC’s legal aid infrastructure to ensure equitable access to justice for all residents, especially those with low incomes. In addition to its grantmaking, DCBF manages loan repayment programs for attorneys and offers technical assistance and training to grantee organizations. Its General Support Grants Program aims to bolster the delivery of free civil legal services to DC residents with low incomes, reinforcing the capacity and sustainability of legal aid providers in the region. Eligibility for the General Support Grants is limited to nonprofit organizations that are incorporated in DC, operate primarily within DC, and have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. Additionally, eligible applicants must have a primary organizational purpose centered on providing civil legal services to District residents with low incomes. These services must include direct representation and may also encompass supervision of representation, appellate advocacy, and policy advocacy linked to individual client representation. The program defines low-income using HUD guidelines and accepts reasonable alternatives for defining “District resident” to accommodate special populations, such as incarcerated or unhoused individuals. The FY26 application cycle opens on August 1, 2025, and applications are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 29, 2025. There is no pre-application requirement. Awards will be announced in December 2025, and the funding period runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. DCBF encourages applicants to attend an informational session on July 16, 2025, which will include guidance on the application process and available funding. Templates and instructions for the application process, including organizational profile forms, narrative templates, and data packets, are provided via the DCBF website and grants management system. Applications consist of three parts: an organizational profile submitted once per cycle, a narrative and budget specific to the funding request, and a set of required attachments. These include a completed data packet, organizational budget, recent IRS Form 990, audited financial statements, and client eligibility guidelines. Applicants for project support must also provide resumes or job descriptions of key personnel. Applications are submitted through the DCBF Grants Management System. Awardees are required to submit semiannual and year-end programmatic reports and may also be subject to financial or programmatic site visits. For questions, applicants can reach out to DCBF at grants@dcbarfoundation.org or by phone at 202-467-3750. DCBF’s office is located at 200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001. Interested applicants should consult the DCBF website for updates, sample documents, and access to the grant portal.

Attend the July 16 info session, review all templates on the DCBF site, and begin assembling documentation early