• Formal name: DC Legal Services Grants Program

• Awarded annually since 1978

• Source of funding: private contributions and IOLTA revenue

• Grant year: January 1 to December 31

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The DC Legal Services Grants Program (General Support grants), which began in 1978, the year after DCBF was founded, has provided over $30 million in critical operating support to DC legal aid providers. General Support grants provide unrestricted funds support to help cover overhead costs, such as rent and client record databases, which are not always covered by other grants these organizations receive. These grants are funded by private contributions and revenue received through the IOLTA program.

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APPLICANTS

Applications for the 2023 General Support Grants Program are now closed. The application for the 2024 General Support Grants Program will open in July 2023. Awards were announced in mid-December 2023, with the grant year running from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The Foundation hosted a grants information session on August 10th, and provided an overview of the grant programs, funding for the FY23 grant cycle (Jan 2023 – Dec 2023), the grants timeline, and the application process. Click here to download a PDF of the presentation.

 

EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION MATERIALS

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• FY23 General Support Grants Program Overview and Instructions

• FY23 General Support Application Sample (PDF) (Word Document)

• FY22 Application Organization Profile Sample (PDF) (Word Document)

• FY23 Grants Demographic Data (PDF) (Word Document)

• FY23 Attachment B Client Eligibility Guidelines on Residency and Income

• FY23 Attachment 2B Data Packet Project Budget General Support Grants

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Awards will be announced in mid-December 2022, with the grant year running from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. 

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FY23 GRANTEES

Organizations that receive funding from the DC Legal Services Grants Program (General Support grants) are required to provide substantive midyear and year-end reports on their accomplishments and the use of the DC Bar Foundation funds. The reporting schedule for General Support grants is below. Grant managers will receive an email notification when these reporting forms are ready to be completed.

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At any time, please contact us at grants@dcbarfoundation.org if you would like to discuss your project deliverables, budgets, or reporting deadlines.

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• Due July 28, 2023 via JotForm by 5:00 pm: Six-Month Report

• Due January 26, 2024 by 5:00 pm: Final Programmatic Report, Client Story and Required Signatures form

  • Tips for Telling Your Client's Story (prepared by the DCBF Communications team)​