FY25 Workplace Rights Grant Program

The Workplace Rights Grant Program is administered by the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia and was established under the Workplace Rights Grant Program Act of 2021. The program is designed to support community based organizations and legal service providers in educating workers and enforcing employment laws within the District. It replaces a prior program administered by the Department of Employment Services and reflects a broader strategy to strengthen worker protections, increase awareness of rights, and support enforcement activities through community partnerships. The primary purpose of this grant program is to fund outreach, worker education, and legal services related to employment laws affecting individuals who work in the District of Columbia. These laws include but are not limited to workplace leave, minimum wage requirements, unemployment benefits, wage collection, and other relevant District and federal employment protections. The program emphasizes reaching populations that may experience disproportionately high violations or barriers to accessing employment protections, including specific occupational groups requiring targeted assistance. Funding for this opportunity totals up to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars for the fiscal year, with at least two awards expected. Each award will be no less than one hundred thousand dollars per year. Funds may be used for personnel salaries, fringe benefits, program supplies, marketing materials, operating costs such as rent and utilities, participant costs, contracts, and indirect expenses subject to approval. Certain expenses are explicitly prohibited, including lobbying, fundraising, legal action against the District, and costs unrelated to program activities. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit community based organizations headquartered in the District of Columbia, including those designated as 501c3 or 501c4 entities. Applicants must demonstrate at least three years of experience in outreach and assisting workers with employment law issues. Organizations must also be in good standing with the District government and the Internal Revenue Service, possess sufficient financial and operational capacity, and demonstrate the ability to comply with reporting and data requirements. Organizations applying to provide legal services must also demonstrate capacity to deliver free legal assistance. The application process requires submission through an online grant management system or via paper delivery by the stated deadline. Applications must include a cover page, proposal narrative, detailed budget and justification, and extensive administrative documentation such as financial statements, certifications, and organizational records. Proposals are evaluated by an external review panel using a one hundred point scale across categories including organizational capacity, proposed services, staffing, timeline, and budget justification. Final award decisions are made by the Attorney General. The deadline for submission is July 12, 2024 at 2 PM Eastern Time for both electronic and paper applications. Award notifications are expected within thirty to forty five days after the application deadline. Funded organizations will be required to provide monthly, quarterly, and annual reports detailing service delivery, demographics served, and program outcomes. Payments are made on a reimbursement basis, with possible advance payments up to twenty five percent subject to approval. The program operates on an annual cycle and is expected to recur as part of ongoing workforce protection efforts in the District.