Private Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and select for-profits for programs addressing substance use disorders in West Virginia, focusing on areas such as foster care, youth prevention, recovery housing, and workforce development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for New Jersey-based nonprofit organizations and government entities to implement public humanities projects that engage local audiences through activities like exhibitions, oral history projects, and community programs.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Washington Innovation Fund is a program designed to enhance Washington state's criminal legal system by supporting innovative, sustainable, and data-driven practices. Its overarching goals are to improve community safety, foster collaboration among various sectors, and provide support to victims and individuals involved in the criminal legal system. This aligns with a foundational mission of creating a fair and equitable criminal legal system in Washington that prioritizes these critical areas. The program draws on the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program, a significant federal source of criminal justice funding, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which provides essential resources to state and local jurisdictions for system improvement and community advancement. The target beneficiaries of the JAG Innovation Fund include local governments and private community-based or non-profit agencies that are working to improve the criminal legal system. The program aims to impact community safety directly, enhance support for victims, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration and collective accountability within the system. Ultimately, the expected outcomes include the implementation of more effective and data-informed stewardship of criminal legal system resources, leading to a more just and safer Washington. The JAG Innovation Fund focuses on several key priorities for funding, including organizational or program capacity building, supporting new ideas, projects, or promising practices, enhancing system and community collaborations, and expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices. The program identifies nine specific Purpose Areas to allow for diverse and flexible criminal legal system improvement projects. These areas range from Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement to Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy, Community Safety Enhancement, and Corrections, Community Corrections and Re-Entry, among others. Approximately $1,000,000 of JAG funding is dedicated to the Innovation Fund each award cycle, with individual project awards supporting proposals up to $150,000. The funding period for projects is from November 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. To ensure accountability and community relevance, non-governmental applicants must provide one or more letters of support from a local government unit in the project's jurisdiction, explaining the proposed program's benefits to the local government agency and jurisdiction. This requirement underscores the program's strategic priority of fostering robust community and governmental partnerships as a theory of change for sustainable criminal legal system improvements.

This grant provides financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky, helping them with various business improvement expenses.

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, in partnership with the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay, is offering a grant opportunity through the Central Coast Community-Based Water Quality Grants Program. This initiative focuses on supporting water quality-related projects within the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s jurisdiction. The program's core mission aligns with the Rose Foundation's broader goals of fostering environmental health and community well-being, specifically by addressing critical water issues in California's Central Coast. The program primarily targets projects that advance environmental justice and provide water quality benefits to underrepresented communities. This focus aims to address historical inequities and ensure that all communities have access to clean and safe water. The expected outcomes include tangible improvements in water quality, enhanced environmental justice outcomes, and increased resiliency for communities facing water-related challenges. Measurable results will likely involve reductions in pollutant loading, progress toward water quality objectives, and the preservation and restoration of watershed functions. Key priorities and preferred topic areas for this grant include the human right to water, environmental justice capacity building, and understanding the water quality impacts of climate change. The program also emphasizes drought-related water supply resiliency, climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable drinking water and wastewater treatment, and sustainable groundwater management strategies. Additionally, projects that benefit marine habitats in San Luis Obispo County, reduce pollutant loading to meet Central Coast Basin Plan objectives, restore impaired waterbodies, implement on-farm Best Management Practices to reduce salt and nitrate, and prevent or address Harmful Algal Blooms are highly encouraged. The grant offers two funding tracks: a Large Grant Track for requests up to $200,000 (with most awards between $100,000-$200,000) and a Small Grant Track for requests up to $50,000 (with most awards between $20,000-$50,000). Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, federally recognized and State Indian tribes, and public agencies with jurisdiction over water resources management. All projects must be conducted within the Central Coast Water Board's Region 3 jurisdiction, encompassing Southern Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and portions of Ventura, Kern, and San Mateo Counties. The foundation's strategic approach underscores a commitment to community-driven solutions and measurable environmental impact through collaborative partnerships.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits in Illinois and Missouri that are addressing critical community needs through innovative or emergent programs, with a focus on areas such as basic needs, health, and youth success.

This grant provides $40,000 to nonprofit organizations across the U.S. to implement data and technology projects that promote racial equity and reform in the criminal legal system.

Grant Opportunity: Community Priorities Grant Cycle Funding Organization: Charlevoix County Community Foundation (C3F) Contact Information: To discuss eligibility and get started, contact Ashley Cousens at acousens@c3f.org. For technical assistance with the online grant application, reach out to Megan Havrilla DeHoog. Award Details: The Community Priorities Grant Cycle offers funding opportunities for projects and programs that address needs in Charlevoix County, including health needs. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, all units of government, and educational institutions serving Charlevoix County residents. Donor advisors can also make grants through this cycle. There are no restrictions on the size or scope of grant requests, and grants of all sizes are encouraged. The grant period is one year. Eligibility: Eligible organizations must be current with follow-up reports for all previous grant awards from C3F and be in good standing with the IRS. Faith-based organizations must demonstrate a clearly demonstrated public benefit and be fully accessible to all people regardless of religious beliefs and lifestyle choices. Other Relevant Information: Proposals should address new needs or try new approaches, encourage self-help, focus on prevention, avoid duplication of services, and demonstrate collaboration. The evaluation criteria include the organization's impact and relevance in the community, organizational capacity and solvency, proposed activities' comprehensiveness and planning, duration of impact in the community served. Applications for the Community Priorities Grant Cycle are due by May 1st each year. To apply for a grant, contact Ashley Cousens to discuss eligibility. If eligible, you will receive an access code for the online grant application available on the C3F website. Complete the online application and save your progress as needed before submitting it. Grant decisions will be announced in early June. After receiving a grant, organizations are required to submit a follow-up report within one year of the grant award. The governing board of the organization is responsible for appropriate use of funds and project implementation. Please note that this breakdown is specific to the Community Priorities Grant Cycle. For information on other grant cycles and guidelines, please refer to the provided links or contact the appropriate staff member.

The Clean Power Alliance (CPA) offers Community Benefits Grants (CBG) to support organizations that are advancing clean energy, fostering green jobs, promoting environmental education and stewardship, and championing energy equity and diversity within the communities served by CPA. This grant program directly aligns with CPA's mission to drive sustainability and resiliency through various pathways, reflecting their strategic priority to invest in community-level initiatives that complement their core energy services. The CBG program targets several key beneficiaries, particularly focusing on environmental and social justice communities. These include areas predominantly inhabited by communities of color or low-income populations, those underrepresented in policy and decision-making processes, and communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Specifically, targeted communities include disadvantaged communities (based on CalEnviroScreen scores), all Tribal lands, and low-income households or census tracts. The impact goals are to alleviate environmental burdens, promote equitable access to clean energy benefits, and empower these communities through education and workforce development. The program prioritizes projects and organizations that advance clean energy, sustainability, and resiliency through specific focus areas: Research, Environmental and Social Justice Communities, Workforce Development, and Education. These priorities are designed to address systemic inequalities and foster a just transition to a clean energy economy. The expected outcomes include increased community engagement in clean energy initiatives, the development of a skilled green workforce, improved environmental literacy, and a reduction in environmental disparities in historically underserved areas. Awards for this grant range from $15,000 to $30,000, with a grant duration of one year. Eligible applicants must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating within the CPA service territory, which encompasses numerous cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. While previous grant recipients can apply for the 2024-2025 cycle, they are ineligible to receive funds for more than two consecutive years. This structure aims to ensure a broad reach of funding and sustainable impact across the service areas.

This grant provides funding to support professional development and networking opportunities for teaching artists in the Philadelphia area, enabling them to deliver high-quality, inclusive arts education programs for youth.

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF), managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), seeks to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. This grant program, with approximately $12 million available in 2024, aligns with the foundation's mission by supporting efforts to test innovative conservation approaches, deliver transformative projects, and engage communities that value and protect the Sound. Major funding is provided by EPA through the LISS, with additional support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Zoetis Foundation, demonstrating a collaborative strategic approach to environmental conservation. The LISFF targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local and municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions. The impact goals are centered on improving water quality, enhancing and restoring coastal habitats, and fostering sustainable and resilient communities around the Long Island Sound. The program’s strategic priorities are guided by the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2020-2024 Update (CCMP), which emphasizes three core themes: Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds, Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Cross-cutting principles of resiliency to climate change, long-term sustainability, and environmental justice are also integral to the program's theory of change. Under the "Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds" theme, the program prioritizes reducing nitrogen pollution, combined sewer overflows, impervious cover, stormwater runoff, and point and nonpoint source loading. This includes funding for "shovel-ready" projects that result in quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly those addressing water quality at a larger scale. Planning activities, such as community engagement, feasibility studies, site assessments, conceptual design, and final design and permitting, are also supported. Projects in the Upper Basin states (MA, NH, VT) are specifically focused on quantifiable nitrogen/nutrient prevention with a documented benefit to Long Island Sound. The "Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife" theme focuses on enhancing or restoring coastal habitats to maintain resilience and function, supporting fish, bird, and wildlife populations, and sustaining the Sound's ecological balance. This involves implementing "shovel-ready" habitat restoration and nature-based or green-gray hybrid resilience projects, as well as planning activities for such projects. The program also aims to foster diverse, balanced, and abundant populations of fish, birds, and wildlife, encouraging proposals that consider the LISS Habitat Restoration Guidelines. The "Sustainable and Resilient Communities" theme supports vibrant, informed, and engaged communities through projects that offer hands-on conservation experiences. Expected outcomes include quantifiable pollutant reductions, enhanced and restored coastal habitats, increased resilience to climate change, and more engaged communities actively participating in the Sound's protection and sustainability. For water quality projects, measurable results will include quantifiable pollutant prevention, particularly nitrogen/nutrient reductions. For habitat projects, long-term maintenance plans and ecological improvements are expected. The LISFF's strategic framework, rooted in the CCMP, aims to accelerate local and regional water quality improvements, natural resource restoration, coastal resilience, environmental justice, and community outreach, ultimately leading to a healthier, more productive, and resilient Long Island Sound for both people and wildlife.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit arts organizations in Genesee County, Michigan, to enhance community engagement and cultural initiatives through various arts programs.

The William Penn Foundation is offering Climate, Environmental Justice, and Infrastructure Grants to help the Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties) secure federal funding for initiatives in these areas. This grant program aligns with the Foundation's broader mission by focusing on critical environmental and social issues within its geographic scope, leveraging external funding opportunities to maximize impact. The Foundation has allocated up to $3.5 million for this Request for Proposals (RFP), with individual organizations eligible to receive a maximum of $1,000,000 over a two-year grant duration. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are the communities and residents of the Philadelphia region, particularly those who will benefit from advancements in climate resilience, environmental justice, and infrastructure development. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen the region's ability to access and utilize available federal funding, thereby leading to tangible improvements in these critical sectors. The Foundation aims to empower local organizations to pursue projects that might otherwise lack the necessary financial backing, fostering long-term positive change. The Foundation's strategic priorities for this grant are clearly focused on efforts to access federal funding for climate, environmental justice, and infrastructure. There are few limitations on project designs or the applicants' approach to securing such funding, encouraging innovative and diverse strategies. Proposals can focus on project development, technical or legal assistance, communications, or other methods to advance the objective, whether on a regionwide or more localized scale. This flexible approach allows for a broad range of initiatives to be supported, from initial planning to implementation support. Expected outcomes include an increase in successful applications for federal funding, a greater number of projects addressing climate change, environmental injustices, and infrastructure needs, and ultimately, an enhanced quality of life for residents in the designated counties. While the specific measurable results will depend on the individual projects funded, the Foundation's theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in the capacity of organizations to secure federal funding, it can catalyze a larger volume of impactful work in its priority areas, amplifying its philanthropic reach and fostering sustainable progress.

The 501vc® Investment Fund is seeking to invest $200,000 to $300,000 in early-stage climate tech startups in the Greater Midwest region, focusing on sectors like advanced materials, renewable energy, and agriculture technologies.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Baltimore City and Baltimore County that empower women and their families through initiatives promoting gender equity and economic stability.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is offering the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects across the Northeast. The core mission of this program is to foster competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability. This aligns with a broader strategic objective of strengthening the regional dairy industry by enabling operations of all sizes to successfully launch and sustain their products in the marketplace. By focusing on start-up operations and tangible implementation, the NE-DBIC aims to facilitate direct economic impact and product innovation within the dairy sector. The program targets several key beneficiaries, including dairy farmers ready to begin processing, value-added entrepreneurs with proven experience in dairy processing or business startups, and dairy processors established after January 1, 2023, who are in their start-up phase. The impact goals are centered on developing these businesses, supporting their entry into the market, and ultimately contributing to the economic vitality of the Northeast dairy industry. By providing financial assistance for start-up operations, the program seeks to create new opportunities for dairy-related businesses and products. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly on tangible implementation rather than earlier stages like research and development, concept development, or initial planning. This indicates a strategic emphasis on getting products to market and establishing sustainable business models. Eligibility criteria further refine this focus, requiring applicants to be headquartered or based in the Northeast, demonstrate proof of concept, have a robust business plan, obtain necessary licenses, and show commitment from buyers or distributors by the end of the grant period. Expected outcomes include the successful launch of new value-added dairy products, the establishment of competitive and viable dairy processing businesses, and increased market access for Northeast dairy products. Measurable results would likely include the number of new businesses launched, the volume of new products brought to market, and the economic growth generated within the participating dairy sectors. The NE-DBIC's strategic priorities, as evidenced by this grant, involve direct investment in the operational start-up phase, aiming for a theory of change where targeted financial support leads to the successful commercialization and long-term sustainability of dairy processing ventures in the region.

The Creative Youth Development program, a cornerstone of the California Arts Council (CAC), is fundamentally rooted in the belief that arts learning is crucial for healthy human development and should be universally accessible to all young people across California. This includes, but is not limited to, those whose lives have been impacted by the justice system. The program's mission aligns with the CAC's broader vision of ensuring that all California youth receive meaningful, culturally responsive arts-learning experiences, enabling them to achieve their full potential. This initiative underscores a commitment to nurturing young people's stories, ideas, and dreams through creative expression, while deeply respecting their lived experiences. The program targets young people throughout California, with a particular focus on those who have faced interruptions or impacts from the justice system. The impact goals are to foster environments that promote Creative Youth Development through the integration of three core concepts: Racial Equity and Social Justice, Youth Voices, and Collective Action. Projects are encouraged to take place in a variety of settings, including arts and culture venues, community centers, court/school sites, juvenile halls and camps, county-operated correctional facilities, social services agencies, and other youth-oriented settings, during or outside of traditional school hours. The program prioritizes projects that address one or more of its key goals. These include providing social-emotional creative experiences in safe and healthy learning environments, fostering creative abilities through culturally and linguistically responsive arts learning, and supporting arts programs that activate youth voices, narratives, and perspectives. Other focuses involve utilizing cultural assets for positive self-identification and respect for diverse cultures, empowering youth through cultural preservation and revitalization, and cultivating transferable life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration. The grant seeks to support hands-on learning in various artistic disciplines, from dance and literary arts to media arts, music, theater, traditional/folk arts, and visual arts. Expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around the successful implementation of projects that fulfill the program's purpose within the grant activity period (January 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025). Applicants are expected to design projects that provide safe, healthy, and appropriate learning environments and include sustained activities. For tuition-based projects, a robust equity and accessibility plan with full scholarships and reduced fees is required. The program anticipates increased creative abilities, enhanced social-emotional well-being, and developed life skills among participants. Projects are also expected to demonstrate a commitment to racial equity and social justice, amplify youth voices, and promote collective action within communities. Furthermore, artists involved must have at least two years of relevant experience, be California-based, and not be full-time students in a degree program, ensuring high-quality instruction and mentorship.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Berkshire Taconic region to support capacity-building projects that enhance governance, diversity, and overall effectiveness in serving their communities.

The Scherman Foundation's Core Fund for Strengthening New York Communities focuses on challenging inequities and improving the conditions of New York City communities in need. The grant program supports housing justice, equitable economic development, gender equity, worker rights, immigrant community challenges, sustainable development, and police and carceral system reform. It also provides support for policy reform organizations collaborating with neighborhood-based groups. The Foundation prioritizes general operating support for smaller neighborhood groups and offers project-specific support for larger and policy-focused organizations or collaborative campaigns.

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) awards grants to support legal assistance for low-income Illinois residents who cannot afford an attorney, aligning with its core mission of promoting equal access to justice. These grants enable not-for-profit organizations to provide critical civil legal aid, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent vulnerable populations from addressing legal challenges. The foundation's strategic priority is to support direct service staff positions, including attorneys, paralegals, pro bono coordinators, and social/caseworkers, to enhance the capacity of legal service providers to deliver efficient and effective assistance. The grant program targets two primary beneficiary groups: families in crisis and older Illinoisans. For families, the focus is on civil legal assistance in areas such as family law (e.g., orders of protection, child custody, guardianship, divorce), consumer law, and veterans and disability benefits. For older Illinoisans (aged 65 and above), the program aims to protect them from physical and financial abuse and hardship through civil legal assistance in cases involving orders of protection, guardianships, healthcare, consumer and credit issues, housing, and public benefits like Social Security and Medicare. Housing assistance is specifically excluded for families in crisis this year due to existing IEJF programs funded by IDHS and IHDA. The IEJF's grants are designed to achieve significant impact by strengthening the delivery of civil legal services. By funding staff positions, the foundation seeks to increase the availability of legal aid to those most in need. Expected outcomes include improved legal protection for families facing domestic issues, financial difficulties, and challenges related to veteran and disability benefits, as well as enhanced safeguarding of older adults from abuse and financial hardship. The theory of change posits that by investing in direct service staff, legal aid organizations can better address complex legal needs, leading to more equitable justice outcomes for low-income individuals. Measurable results will stem from the effective deployment of grant funds to support direct service staff. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed staff positions will enhance the organization's ability to provide efficient and effective legal assistance in the priority areas. While specific quantitative metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on direct service staff suggests a focus on the volume and quality of legal aid cases handled and the number of individuals served within the designated priority areas. The foundation's commitment to organizations with a proven track record (e.g., continuous operation for at least two years, expenditures of at least $200,000 for civil legal assistance, and employment of four or more full-time attorneys or provision of legal representation to at least 200 low-income persons via pro bono attorneys) indicates a desire for sustainable and impactful interventions.