Private Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

Illinois Humanities' Multiplier Grants program supports project-based partnerships that foster broader community engagement, place-based community building, and coalition or network development within Illinois. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to strengthen the humanities throughout the state by championing collaboration and making valuable connections. The program emphasizes that buy-in from all partners is crucial before proposal submission, underscoring a strategic priority for collaborative efforts that amplify the impact of humanities work. The grants target nonprofit organizations, including those with a fiscal sponsor, that are based in Illinois and have projects rooted in the humanities. Priority is given to organizations with an annual budget of $1 million or less, ensuring support for smaller entities that may have limited access to funding. The primary beneficiaries are under-funded and under-served communities, as well as those whose histories and stories are often overlooked or forgotten. The program aims to empower these communities through humanities initiatives, fostering a more inclusive and representative understanding of Illinois's diverse heritage. The program's priorities and focuses include projects that impact under-funded, under-served communities and initiatives that tell stories of forgotten or uncovered history and themes. These preferences reflect Illinois Humanities' strategic priorities to address historical inequities and promote public access to humanities scholarship and programming. The foundation's theory of change likely centers on the belief that by supporting collaborative, community-driven humanities projects, they can foster stronger community bonds, enhance cultural understanding, and create a more equitable and engaged citizenry across Illinois. Expected outcomes include increased collaboration among nonprofits and humanities groups, greater community engagement with humanities topics, and the successful telling of diverse historical narratives. Measurable results could include the number of partnerships formed, the reach of the projects within targeted communities, and the creation of new humanities content or programs. The grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 (up to $10,000), provide vital financial support for these endeavors, enabling organizations to implement impactful projects that align with the foundation's vision for a vibrant and accessible humanities landscape in Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to grassroots organizations in the Chicago area that are actively engaged in urgent social justice efforts and need resources to respond quickly to community challenges.

This grant provides over $1 million to local nonprofit organizations in specific Massachusetts counties to support a wide range of community-focused initiatives, including human services, social justice, education, healthcare, and environmental efforts.

This funding opportunity supports collaborative projects by nonprofit organizations in Washington, DC, aimed at improving health equity and economic mobility for marginalized communities by addressing the root causes of health disparities.

The Santa Barbara Foundation's Tri-Counties Blood Bank Fund Grant aims to distribute income to qualified nonprofit organizations supporting blood and blood-related products and services, aligning with the Foundation's broader mission to enhance community well-being. This grant operates through an annual Request for Proposal (RFP) process, focusing on three main types of support: Indigent Care Grants, Education Grants, and Scholarships. The program's strategic intent is to address critical needs within Santa Barbara County related to blood banking, from ensuring access for vulnerable populations to advancing medical knowledge and public awareness. Indigent Care Grants are specifically designed to reimburse "qualified hospitals" for "un-reimbursed costs" incurred when providing blood or blood products to "qualified patients" in Santa Barbara County. Qualified patients are defined as those with incomes 200% or less of the federal poverty line and without private or government insurance. The impact goal here is to alleviate the financial burden on hospitals and ensure that low-income, uninsured patients receive necessary blood products, directly contributing to health equity within the community. This component directly targets the most vulnerable populations, ensuring their access to essential medical care. Education Grants and Scholarships form another crucial pillar of this program. Education grants are intended for advanced medical technology or nursing education related to blood banking, physician education on transfusion medicine, and community education on blood and blood diseases. These grants prioritize improving the quality of blood banking, enhancing hospital staff's capabilities, and raising public awareness. Expected outcomes include a more skilled medical workforce, improved transfusion practices, and a more informed community regarding blood-related health issues and the importance of blood donation. Measurable results could include an increase in trained professionals, improved blood banking practices, and enhanced public knowledge about blood-borne diseases and critical shortages. Scholarships are aimed at post-doctoral education in non-medical disciplines related to blood and blood banking at UCSB, covering departments like Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering, as well as medical education in hematology/oncology specialties. This focus underscores the Foundation's commitment to fostering cutting-edge research and specialized medical expertise. The expected outcome is the development of new knowledge and highly trained specialists who can contribute to advancements in blood science and patient care. The overall theory of change for the Tri-Counties Blood Bank Fund is that by investing in direct patient support, professional education, community awareness, and specialized research, the Santa Barbara Foundation can significantly improve the availability, quality, and accessibility of blood and blood-related services for the entire Santa Barbara County community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to emerging and established organizations led by and serving Latine communities, focusing on HIV care, prevention, and addressing social health determinants.

The Clean Water Grant Program (CWGP), offered by the County of Cumberland, Pennsylvania, provides financial support for "shovel-ready" initiatives aimed at enhancing local water quality within Cumberland County. While the description doesn't explicitly state a "foundation mission alignment" or "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change," it can be inferred that the program aligns with broader environmental stewardship and public health goals, likely stemming from the county's responsibility to manage and improve local resources. The program's core objective is to maximize the impact of limited pollution reduction funding by investing in priority water quality projects. The target beneficiaries of the CWGP are diverse, including non-profit 501(c) organizations, municipal governments, educational institutions, and businesses with headquarters in Cumberland County. The impact goals are directly tied to improving local water quality. The program focuses on developing a water quality project backlog to leverage additional funding, pursuing multifaceted pollution reduction strategies with various stakeholders, accelerating progress toward county pollution reduction goals, and institutionalizing an annual project identification process integrated into county CAP development plans. The priorities and focuses of the CWGP revolve around "shovel-ready" projects that deliver tangible water quality improvements. While there is no minimum or maximum grant award, projects with a local match will receive higher priority, indicating a preference for initiatives that demonstrate community investment and shared responsibility. The program anticipates approximately $500,000 will be available for subawards in 2025, with funding decisions at the sole discretion of Cumberland County and contingent upon PADEP approval. Expected outcomes and measurable results include enhanced local water quality, increased leveraging of additional government and nonprofit funding for water quality projects, a more coordinated approach to pollution reduction among various stakeholders, accelerated progress towards county-wide pollution reduction targets, and a sustainable, integrated annual process for identifying and developing water quality initiatives. The grant period for performance is from March 2025 to December 2025, emphasizing a focus on projects that can demonstrate impact within a relatively short timeframe.

The OneAZ Community Foundation's 2024 Community Impact Grant is designed to support initiatives that align with the foundation's mission to strengthen Arizona communities. This grant program specifically targets non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 and have been in existence for at least two years, are in compliance with anti-discrimination laws, and are located within the state of Arizona. The grant aims to foster positive change across all counties of Arizona, reflecting a broad commitment to the state's welfare. The program focuses on three key areas of support: Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, Community Vitality, and Developing Future Leaders. These priorities indicate the foundation's strategic approach to addressing various facets of community development, from fostering economic independence and growth to ensuring the overall health and vibrancy of communities, and investing in the next generation of leaders. This multi-faceted approach suggests a theory of change that believes in interconnected development areas leading to holistic community improvement. Target beneficiaries for this grant are diverse, encompassing individuals and groups who will benefit from improved economic opportunities, enhanced community resources, and leadership development programs. While specific impact goals are implied by the areas of support, the overall goal is to create measurable positive change within these categories. For example, initiatives under Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship would ideally lead to increased job creation or business growth, while efforts in Developing Future Leaders would aim for increased participation and skill development among youth. The funding information indicates that 38 grants, each in the amount of $5,000, will be awarded. This commitment of $190,000 highlights the foundation's dedication to making a tangible impact. While the grant duration is not specified, the focus on community impact suggests an expectation of sustainable outcomes and measurable results in the aforementioned priority areas, contributing to the foundation's long-term strategic priorities for Arizona.

This funding opportunity supports comprehensive research projects focused on race, ethnicity, and immigration, providing up to $200,000 for scholars and organizations dedicated to advancing understanding of these social dynamics.

The United Way of Northern New York (UWNNY) is offering 2025 Community Impact grant funding to local nonprofit human service organizations. The program aims to support outcome-driven, collaborative, and equity-focused community-based organizations. UWNNY's mission is to connect with and provide funding to organizations that strengthen the community's impact. The program is aligned with UWNNY's broader strategic priorities of addressing critical community needs through targeted interventions. The grant specifically targets organizations serving residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and/or St. Lawrence Counties. Priority is given to proposals that focus on underserved and underrepresented populations, address unmet needs, utilize a collaborative approach, and serve individuals or families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE) or living in poverty. The program's impact goals are to support programs that align with primary areas of focus: Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), Child/Youth Success, and Economic Stability. The Community Impact Fund has clear priorities and focuses. For Social Determinants of Health, the focus is on interventions addressing access to nutrition, housing, healthcare, literacy/language, education, and transportation. For Child/Youth Success, programming should provide vital supplies and support for academic success, growth, development, and a healthy transition into adulthood. For Economic Stability, the focus is on short- and long-term strategies to help people gain or maintain stability, such as job skills training, soft skills development, and support for those at risk of falling into poverty. Expected outcomes include improved access to essential services, enhanced academic and developmental success for children and youth, and increased economic stability for individuals and families in the targeted counties. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed for each objective, the emphasis on "outcome-driven" organizations suggests a focus on demonstrable impact and progress towards these goals. The theory of change implicit in this grant is that by funding strategic, collaborative, and equity-focused programs in these key areas, UWNNY can contribute to a more resilient and thriving community, particularly for its most vulnerable populations.

The Social Justice Fund NorthWest (SJF) is offering the 2024 Base Building Grant, aimed at strengthening grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. This grant directly aligns with SJF's mission to foster social justice by investing in community organizing as a primary strategy. The program focuses on "Base Building," defined as a tactic that expands the number and engagement of people who share a vision for social justice and actively work to achieve it through organized strategies. This approach underscores SJF's strategic priority of empowering communities to drive systemic change. The grant targets organizations committed to community organizing and led by those most directly affected by the issues they address. Specifically, SJF prioritizes organizations with at least 51% leadership from Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, or those working predominantly in reservation, rural, or small-town communities. The impact goals are to build collective power, widen the base of engaged individuals, develop strong leadership within communities, and implement effective long-term strategies. The expected outcomes include a critical mass of collective power capable of winning and defending policy, cultural, or institutional changes, as well as a diverse and actively engaged membership. SJF's community organizing framework emphasizes four key areas: Collective Power, Widening the Base, Leadership Development, and Strategy and Long-Term Planning. Under Collective Power, the focus is on building a diverse membership and achieving policy or cultural wins. Widening the Base involves fostering authentic relationships with those most affected, recruiting new people, and using varied, tailored communication methods, including face-to-face engagement. Leadership Development ensures clear entry points to leadership, accessible political education, and continuous engagement and agitation. Finally, Strategy and Long-Term Planning requires organizations to develop and adapt a comprehensive base-building plan with clear goals, timelines, infrastructure, and accountability structures. The grant, providing $100,000 over two years ($50,000 annually), is open to nonprofit organizations, tribal agencies, or fiscally sponsored groups with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status, or federally recognized American Indian tribal governments. This funding mechanism directly supports SJF's theory of change, which posits that sustained investment in community-led organizing, focused on these core elements, will lead to meaningful and lasting social justice outcomes in the specified regions.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and independent artists in Sullivan County for arts, cultural, and heritage projects, whether in-person or virtual.

This funding opportunity supports Bronx-based non-profit organizations working on transformative community and health projects that address systemic issues in the Bronx.

The Sisters of St. Francis (Sylvania) Foundation Grant Program, in partnership with the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations in selected counties of Ohio and Michigan, to support programs that combat human trafficking, assist immigrants and refugees, advance social justice and equal opportunity, and promote environmental preservation and sustainability.

The IPromise Jeffrey M. Glabicki Memorial Giving Fund, supported by Volpe Koenig, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia area. This mission aligns with the foundation's goal of supporting programs that positively impact the community. The fund specifically targets organizations involved in Arts, Culture and Humanities; Community Development; Education and Research; Environment and Animals; Health, Human Services & Youth Development; and Veteran Services. By focusing on these broad categories, the fund aims to address a diverse range of community needs and contribute to a healthier, more vibrant Philadelphia Metro area. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations that are at least two years old, have an annual operating budget of less than $10 million, and are headquartered in and serve the population of the Philadelphia Metro area. This includes specific counties in Pennsylvania (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia) and New Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester). The impact goals are to support and empower these qualifying organizations to continue their vital work in the specified focus areas, ultimately leading to improved quality of life for the residents of the Greater Philadelphia region. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly outlined by the eligible categories for application. These include areas that promote cultural enrichment, strengthen local communities, advance knowledge and learning, protect the environment and animals, improve health and well-being for individuals and youth, and provide support for veterans. The foundation's strategic priorities are to make a significant impact by awarding a single $40,000 grant to a deserving organization, thereby concentrating resources to achieve meaningful outcomes within one of these critical sectors. The expected outcomes of this grant are to enable the selected organization to expand its reach, enhance its programs, or develop innovative solutions within its focus area. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the implicit theory of change is that by investing in established, impactful non-profits within these key sectors, the fund can foster positive social change and contribute to a thriving community. The eligibility criteria, such as the requirement for a 501(c)(3) status and a two-year operational history, suggest a focus on supporting organizations with a proven track record and capacity for effective program delivery. Ineligible organizations include those promoting religious or political activities, programs accessible only to paying members, scholarship or tuition assistance programs, endowments, government agencies, individuals, grant-making organizations, and past recipients within the last five years. These exclusions further refine the fund's strategic approach, ensuring that grants are directed towards direct charitable operations that serve the broader public and avoid duplication of previous efforts. This focused approach allows the fund to maximize its impact by supporting direct service providers in alignment with its mission.

This grant provides funding to teams of creatives and community members in Massachusetts to explore and develop public art projects that promote spatial and racial justice in their communities.

This program provides financial support and resources to community-driven environmental initiatives in underserved areas of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and federally recognized Indian Nations.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and artists in Sullivan County to create structured arts education programs in collaboration with schools or community partners.

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.

The Asian Community Fund (ACF) at The Boston Foundation is offering grants for its 2024 cycle to organizations and/or projects that primarily serve the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Massachusetts. This initiative directly aligns with the foundation's mission to develop, strengthen, and support AAPI community power, galvanize diverse ethnicities within this community, and build a stronger advocacy voice. The ACF's overarching goal is to advocate for equal access for AAPI individuals in all aspects of society and to collaborate with other communities of color and oppressed communities to overcome injustice and racism. The grantmaking approach is rooted in strengthening the broader AAPI community ecosystem across Massachusetts and advancing policy and systems change, reflecting the foundation's strategic priority to foster systemic impact. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations based in Massachusetts, or those with a qualifying fiscal agent, that primarily serve the AAPI community. The impact goals are multi-faceted, focusing on catalyzing new partnerships, expanding the capacity of local AAPI nonprofit and business sectors, and responding to emerging community needs. Expected outcomes include increased AAPI visibility, belonging, and narrative change through convening activities, innovative solutions to systemic gaps facing AAPI residents, and expanded reach and impact of programs that advance policy and systems change. Organizations will be evaluated based on their mission, impact, and alignment to ACF’s goals of strengthening the AAPI community ecosystem and advancing systems change. The program prioritizes several key areas of focus. These include supporting general operating costs for eligible organizations and projects. Funding will specifically support three types of work: Convening, which brings communities together to elevate AAPI visibility and foster solidarity; Catalyzing, which fuels new collaborations and innovations to address systemic gaps; and Capacity Building, which expands the reach of programs focused on policy and systems change. Priority will also be given to organizations serving underrepresented AAPI ethnicities and geographical regions, those not previously funded by ACF/TBF, and grassroots community organizations. This targeted approach demonstrates the foundation's strategic commitment to equitable distribution of resources and empowerment of diverse AAPI segments. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are evident in its emphasis on strengthening the AAPI community ecosystem and driving policy and systems change. The ACF believes that by investing in convening, catalyzing, and capacity building initiatives, it can create a ripple effect, leading to increased community power, stronger advocacy, and ultimately, greater equity for AAPI residents in Massachusetts. The grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, are designed to support organizations in achieving these objectives. While the initial grant size was advertised as $10,000 to $100,000, the funding considerations specify a range of $5,000 to $15,000 for general operating support. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in June 2024 and will be expected to share their experiences and impact in summer 2025, providing measurable results and demonstrating the effectiveness of the foundation's theory of change.