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GENERAL SUPPORT GRANTS

  • 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 $36 million in critical operating support to DC legal aid providers. General Support grants provide unrestricted funds 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 Foundation hosted a grants information session in mid-July that provided an overview of the grant programs, funding for the FY27 grant cycle, the grants timeline, and the application process. The PowerPoint from that session can be found here.​​​​​

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Organizations that receive funding through the General Support grant program are required to provide programmatic reports.

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FY27 applicants can begin submitting grant applications on August 3, 2026. FY27 applications are due 5:00 pm on August 31, 2026.

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Links to sample application materials for FY27 are provided below.

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FY27 SAMPLE APPLICATION MATERIALS

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  • FY27 General Support Grants Program Overview and Instructions (PDF)

  • FY27 Application Organization Profile Sample (PDF) | (Word)

  • FY27 General Operating Support Application Sample (PDF) | (Word)

  • FY27 General Project Support Application Sample (PDF) | (Word)​

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FY26 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 FY26 General Support grants (January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026) 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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  • ABArray Survey: Due date to be confirmed; please check back for updates

    • For more information, please see this page on the American Bar Association website.​

  • Due July 31, 2026 by 5:00 pm: Semiannual Programmatic Report (reporting for the period January 1, 2026  - June 30, 2026)​ (Word)

  • Due January 29, 2027 by 5:00 pm: Final Programmatic Report with Client Story (reporting for the period January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026)​

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