DCBF Grants: How to Apply

The FY2027 application cycle for grant funding for January 1 - December 31, 2027 will open for applications on Monday, August 3, 2026 - August 31, 2026.

Instructions for starting an application in the Grants Management System (GMS) are provided on this page under the section header: HOW TO START A GRANT APPLICATION.

Before beginning an application, please read the Program Overview and Instructions specific to the grant program to which you plan to apply. Information regarding the application process and sample application materials is provided in the APPLICANTS section for each grant program:

Access to Justice Grants Program

Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program Grants

General Support Grants Program

DCBF Grant Management System Resources

The DC Bar Foundation uses an online application and grants management system to manage all applications, grant awards, grantee reporting, grant adjustments, and grant closeout. The resources on this page will help walk you through using the GMS.

Grants Management System URL: https://dcbarfoundation.org/gms
To request a GMS account: New User/New Organization Request Form
To access an existing account: Login. If you forget your password, please click “Forgot Password?” on the login page of the GMS and follow the instructions.

If you are still having trouble, email us at grants@dcbarfoundation.org

How-to videos for Grant Post-Award Activities are available on this web page. See the section titled: Grant Post-Award Activities.

HOW TO START A GRANT APPLICATION

Please review the following instructions on Starting an Application. Additional instructions for completing and submitting the application in the GMS are provided on this webpage under the section header: HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.

Starting an Application

If you are applying for multiple grants, you can submit multiple applications for your organization under the same account (or different accounts). Create an application for each project for which you are requesting funding.

Log into the DCBF Grant Management System (GMS)using a previously created account: https://dcbarfoundation.org/gms
On your GMS HOME PAGE click APPLY FOR FUNDING.
On the GRANTS AND APPLICATIONS page, click the NEW APPLICATION button.
Select the funding opportunity you want to apply for and click the CREATE APPLICATION button.
Review the information on the OVERVIEW page of the application form to confirm that the ORGANIZATION CATEGORY, GRANT TYPE, AND APPLICATION TYPE are correct. If the information is not correct, do NOT proceed to enter information on the form.
- If the Organization Category is not correct email us at grants@dcbarfoundation.org and request that your category be corrected.
- If the Grant Type or Application Type is not correct, click the Grants and Application link at the top of the page and return to the page to create a new application.
When you have confirmed that the information on the OVERVIEW page is correct, click SAVE DRAFT to create the application. The GMS will assign an application ID to the application and set the application status to In-Progress.
You can begin to enter information in the form. Asterisks mark required information.
Use the PREVIOUS and NEXT PAGE buttons and/or the PROGRESS BAR to navigate the form. Save your work often using the SAVE DRAFT button.
To leave an application and continue your work later, click SAVE DRAFT to save your work. Close the browser window – or – click the GRANTS AND APPLICATION link that displays at the top of your application. Your application will be saved and assigned a status of In-progress. In-progress applications can be opened from the Grants and Application page.

How To Submit a Grant Application

HOW TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION

Completing Application Proposal Forms

Your organization’s in-progress applications are listed on the GRANTS AND APPLICATION page. On your GMS Home page, click the GRANTS AND APPLICATION link to navigate to the page.

On your Home page click “Grants and Applications.” Your applications will appear in the list view. Click OPEN to continue your work.
When the form appears in your browser window, you can start work on it. Asterisks mark required information.
Navigate the form by clicking the PREVIOUS and NEXT buttons that appear at the top and bottom of each form page or use the Progress Bar that displays at the top of the form to jump to a specific page (tab) of the form.
To ensure that nothing is lost, click the SAVE DRAFT button periodically to save your work. The system will automatically save your work when you use the NEXT button to move to a new page of the form.
You can exit an application and return to it later. Click SAVE DRAFT to save your work. Close the browser window – or – click the GRANTS AND APPLICATION link that displays at the top of your application form to return to page with the list of your applications. Your application status will display as In-progress.
NOTE: If you accidentally start an incorrect application type, you can abandon the incorrect application and begin a new application. Click Grants and Applications (the link displays at the top of your page) to leave the current application and begin a new application. We recommend that you email us at grants@dcbarfoundation.org and request that we delete an “abandoned’ application so as to remove the application from displaying as an in-progress application.

Completing Your Organization Profile (Part One of your application)

You can access your Organization Profile two ways:
- On your Home Page, click the Grants and Applications link. On the Grants and Applications page, click the link: Submit your Organization Profile for FY27. The link displays under the New Application button.
- Open an in-progress Application Proposal. In the Alert Banner that displays at the top of the application form: click PART 1: ORGANIZATION PROFILE.
On the Organization Profile form, some information about your organization will pre-populate (mailing address, EIN, etc.). Review and update this information as needed.
Complete all required information in the form.
Click SAVE CHANGES to save your work.
Click SUBMIT PROFILE when you have completed all information.
To exit and return later to continue work, click SAVE DRAFT to save your work and click HOME (top navigation of your window) to return to your GMS Home Page.

Submitting Your Application

Before you submit your application, make sure you have completed all required information and uploaded required files. It is best to submit your application well before the deadline, just in case a submission error occurs.

On the application form, navigate to the REVIEW page and check that the status for each part of your application is showing as COMPLETE. If your Organization Profile is incomplete, you must complete and submit it before your can submit your application.
On the REVIEW page, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the certification statement.
Click the SUBMIT APPLICATION button, if it is available. This button will only be available if your Organization Profile has been submitted AND all application required information and file uploads are complete.
Applications must be submitted in the GMS by 5:00 pm ET on August 31, 2026.
Your application status will display as Submitted – Pending Signature.

Application Signatures

The system will prepare an application PDF document with your Organization Profile and Application Proposal information. The application will be sent for e-signature by your organization’s executive director and board chair. Completed signatures are due by 5:00 pm ET on September 8, 2026. The application status will display as SUBMITTED when the application signatures are complete. You can view the status of your applications on your Grants and Applications page in the GMS.

Grant Post-Award Activities

Submitting a Grant Adjustment Request

Submitting a Grantee Report

Reviewing and updating grantee and organization account information