April 1, 2020 – The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announces the availability of grant funds to provide civil legal services to eligible clients during calendar year 2021.
On or around April 1, 2020, LSC will publish the list of service areas for which grants are available and the service area descriptions. Applications are available on or around June 1, 2020, and the deadline is Aug. 20, 2020.
In the past, LSC has defined three types of service areas for its grant funds:
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Grants for Basic Field-General service areas provide legal services to the general low-income population living in a specific geographical area;
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Grants for Basic Field-Native American service areas provide legal services to Native Americans living in a specific geographical area, related to their status as Native Americans; and
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Grants for Basic Field-Agricultural Worker service areas provide legal services to agricultural workers living in a specific geographical area, related to their status as Agricultural Workers.
LSC seeks to fund legal aid organizations that provide a full range of legal services throughout each service area, consistent with the LSC Act and appropriations laws. LSC, an independent nonprofit established by Congress, is the single largest funder of civil legal aid to low-income persons in the U.S.
LSC’s Basic Field Grants provide funding to support delivery of high-quality civil legal services and access to justice to low-income people throughout the U.S. and U.S. territories. Full-service grants for all eligible people in a service area and specialized subpopulation grants provide services for agricultural workers and their dependents or for people in Native American communities.
Please note that the LSC is launching a new, streamlined process for grant applications. Because of this, all applicants are required to complete a full applications. For details and for the 2020 schedule, see Basic Field Grant Key Dates on the LSC website.
The Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes instructions for preparing the grant proposal, will be available at the LSC grants information webpage on or around June 1, 2020. Applicants must file a Notice of Intent to Compete (NIC) and the grant proposal through LSC’s online application system in order to participate in the grants process.
In accordance with LSC’s multiyear funding policy, grants are available for only specified service areas. The list of service areas for which grants are available and the service area descriptions are available at LSC grants webpage.
Please visit LSC's Basic Field Grants website for filing dates, applicant eligibility, submission requirements, and updates regarding the LSC grants process. Email inquiries pertaining to the LSC grants process to LSCGrants@lsc.gov.
