• 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 $21 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

The application for the 2024 General Support Grants Program will open in July 2024. The Foundation hosted a grants information session on July 26, 2023, and provided an overview of the grant programs, funding for the FY24 grant cycle, the grants timeline, and the application process. Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation. Supplemental Information can be found below.

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Awards will be announced mid-December 2024, with the grant year running from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

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Links to the FY24 application materials are provided below.

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EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION MATERIALS

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• FY24 General Support Application Sample  (PDF) | (Word)

• FY24 Application Organization Profile Sample  (PDF) | (Word)

• FY24 General Support Grants Program Overview and Instructions

• FY24 Demographic Data (Word) | (Excel)

• FY24 Client Eligibility Guidelines on Residency and Income

• FY24 Data Packet Sample  (Budget Narrative Explanation and Notes)

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Awards will be announced in mid-December 2024, with the grant year running from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. 

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FY24 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 26, 2024 by 5:00 pm: Six-Month Report

• Due January 31, 2025 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)​