Legal Information for the Public Grant

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) is a state-funded organization committed to expanding access to the legal system for all Illinois residents, especially those with limited means. Established to promote civil legal aid, IEJF provides funding to nonprofit legal assistance programs that enable residents to resolve legal issues affecting their lives. Through its grantmaking, IEJF addresses areas such as domestic violence, family crises, housing, consumer fraud, and access to justice for underrepresented communities. The Foundation administers its Civil Legal Aid grant program with a specific focus on five categories of service, including Legal Information for the Public, under which the present opportunity falls. This grant opportunity is part of the “Legal Information for the Public” category, and its primary purpose is to provide Illinois residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the legal system. The IEJF funds two project types under this category: Legal Information Centers and Legal Information Projects. Legal Information Centers act as accessible starting points where people can find educational resources in print, video, or digital formats on legal rights, court processes, and alternatives to litigation. These centers must be located in public-accessible spaces such as courthouses and libraries, though virtual formats are permitted due to ongoing COVID-19 considerations. Legal Information Projects complement these centers by offering resources such as self-help packets, attorney-led pro se classes, and other initiatives that help residents understand legal procedures without formal representation. Grant funds may be used to support the operational costs of eligible programs, including staffing, content creation, and the distribution of materials. Applicants must be Illinois-based nonprofit organizations providing legal information free of charge. Legal services must be supervised by a licensed attorney or, in relevant fields such as immigration or tax, by accredited non-attorney representatives. The organization must offer services in commonly encountered areas of civil law such as housing, family law, immigration, and consumer issues. Services must be delivered in publicly accessible settings. The IEJF will not fund proposals for telephone-based services, legal intake systems, or general public education events like essay contests or law day activities, and will also not support any criminal law-related projects. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of demonstrated community need, such as high pro se filing rates, and endorsements from stakeholders including judges and librarians. Special consideration will be given to programs serving underrepresented or vulnerable populations like immigrants, the homeless, seniors, or those with disabilities. Projects that propose to launch legal information centers in underserved counties or offer replicable models will also receive preferential review. The grant application process for Fiscal Year 2026 follows a fixed timeline. Applications became available on June 27, 2025, and are due by July 25, 2025. The review process, including site visits, will occur in August 2025, and final funding decisions will be announced in October 2025. The grant period runs from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026. Grantees must submit a mid-term report by March 20, 2026, and a final report by September 30, 2026. Continued funding is contingent upon timely and compliant reporting. Applicants must also complete the FY26 Organizational Assurance application in addition to the proposal submission. Both applications are accessible via IEJF’s Foundant grantmaking portal. For assistance, applicants can consult resources available through the Grantee Resources section of the website. Specific questions should be directed to Leslie Corbett, Executive Director, via email at lcorbett@iejf.org or phone at 312-463-9134. The public posting period for the grant guidelines ran from April 4 to May 2, 2025, and the guidelines were officially approved by the Board of Directors on June 10, 2025.

Review Grantee Resources section before applying.