83 FR 59419 - Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2019 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 226 (November 23, 2018)

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions for submitting a Letters of Intent (LOI) to Apply for 2019 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. This notice and application information are posted at www.lsc.gov/pbifgrants.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59419-59421]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25557]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2019 Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund Grants

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice 
describing the conditions for submitting a Letters of Intent (LOI) to 
Apply for 2019 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. This notice and 
application information are posted at www.lsc.gov/pbifgrants.

DATES: Letters of Intent must be submitted by Wednesday, January 23, 
2019 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be submitted electronically through 
http://lscgrants.lsc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information about current Pro 
Bono Innovation Fund projects, please contact Mytrang Nguyen, Program 
Counsel, (202) 295-1564 or [email protected]. For general questions about 
the Pro Bono Innovation Fund application process, please email 
[email protected]. For technical questions or issues with the 
LSC Grants online application system, please email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues 
this Notice describing the conditions for submitting a Letter of Intent 
to Apply (LOI) for 2019 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. This notice 
and application information are posted at www.lsc.gov/pbifgrants.

I. Introduction

    Since 2014, Congress has provided an annual appropriation to LSC 
``for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.'' See, e.g., Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2017, Public Law 115-31, 131 Stat. 135 (2017). LSC 
requested these funds for grants to ``develop, test, and replicate 
innovative pro bono efforts that can enable LSC grantees to expand 
clients' access to high quality legal assistance.'' LSC Budget Request, 
Fiscal Year 2014 at 26 (2013). The grants must involve innovations that 
are either ``new ideas'' or ``new applications of existing best 
practices.'' Id. Each grant would ``either serve as a model for other 
legal services providers to follow or effectively replicate a prior 
innovation. Id. The Senate Appropriations Committee explained that 
these funds ``will support innovative projects that promote and enhance 
pro bono initiatives throughout the Nation,'' and the House 
Appropriations Committee directed LSC ``to increase the involvement of 
private attorneys in the delivery of legal services to [LSC-eligible] 
clients.'' Senate Report 114-239 at 123 (2016), House Report 113-448 at 
85 (2014).
    LSC sought these funds based on the 2012 recommendation of the LSC 
Pro Bono Task Force. Since its inception, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
has advanced LSC's goal of increasing the quantity and quality of legal 
services by funding projects that more efficiently and effectively 
involve pro bono volunteers in serving the critical unmet legal needs 
of LSC-eligible clients. In 2017, LSC built on these successes by 
creating three funding categories to better focus on innovations 
serving unmet and well-defined client needs (Project Grants), on 
building comprehensive and effective pro bono programs through new 
applications of existing best practices (Transformation Grants), and on 
providing continued development support for the most promising 
innovations (Sustainability Grants).

II. Funding Opportunities Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    To be eligible for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund's Project, 
Sustainability, and Transformation grants, Applicants must be current 
grantees of LSC Basic Field-General, Basic Field-Migrant, or Basic 
Field-Native American grants. In addition, Sustainability Grant 
Applicants must also be a former or current Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
grantee from the FY17 grant making cycle.

B. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Purpose and Key Goals

    Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants develop, test, and replicate 
innovative pro bono efforts that can enable LSC grantees to use pro 
bono volunteers to serve larger numbers of low-income clients and 
improve the quality and effectiveness of the services provided. The key 
goals of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund are to:
    1. Address gaps in the delivery of legal services to low-income 
people;
    2. Engage more lawyers and other volunteers in pro bono service;
    3. Develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts.

C. Funding Opportunities

1. Project Grants
    The goal of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project Grants is to leverage 
volunteers to meet a critical, unmet and well-defined client need. 
Consistent with the key goals of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, 
applicants are encouraged to focus on engaging volunteers to increase 
free civil legal aid for low-income Americans by proposing new, 
replicable ideas. Applicants are strongly encouraged to research prior 
successful Pro Bono Innovation Fund projects and Sustainability Grants 
to replicate, adapt, or create enhancements to prior effective pro bono 
projects. LSC will be particularly receptive to applications that 
propose to replicate projects LSC has previously funded with 
``Sustainability'' Grants. Our Sustainability Grants have included:
     Community-based partnerships, like the Medical-Legal 
Partnership of Community Legal Aid, Inc. (MA) or the school-based 
clinic of Legal Aid of West Virginia, Inc., that work with law firms to 
provide legal services where clients are located;
     Court-based partnerships, like those at Legal Action of 
Wisconsin, Inc., and Legal Services Law Line of Vermont, Inc., that use 
pro bono volunteers to provide same-day, in-court representation and 
legal assistance;

[[Page 59420]]

     An ``emeritus'' project at The Legal Aid Society of 
Cleveland (LASC) that provides transitioning and retired attorneys with 
varied and substantive opportunities to support the LASC's advocates 
and clients;
     A neighborhood-based project at Legal Aid of Western 
Missouri that engages transactional attorneys to assist clients in 
distressed and underserved communities.
    Project Grants can be either 18 or 24 months.
2. Transformation Grants
    The goal of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Transformation Grants is to 
support LSC grantees in comprehensive assessment and restructuring of 
pro bono programs through new applications of existing best practices 
in pro bono delivery. Each Transformation Grant will support a rigorous 
and extensive assessment of an LSC grantee's pro bono program, the 
identification of best practices in pro bono delivery that are best 
suited to that grantee's needs and circumstances, and the development 
and implementation of short- and long-term improvements to 
organizational policies, management, and operations. Transformation 
Grants are 24 months and targeted towards LSC grantees whose leadership 
is committed to restructuring an entire pro bono program and 
incorporating pro bono best practices into core, high-priority client 
services with an urgency to create a high-impact pro bono program. This 
funding opportunity is open to all LSC grantees, but is primarily 
intended for LSC grantees who have been unsuccessful applying for 
Project Grants or who have never applied for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
grant in the past.
3. Sustainability Grants
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund Sustainability Grants are available to 
current or former Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantees who were funded in 
FY 2017. The goal of Sustainability Grants is to support further 
development of the most promising and replicable Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund projects with an additional 24 months of funding so grantees can 
leverage new sources of revenue for the project, collect meaningful 
data to demonstrate the project's results and outcomes for clients and 
volunteers, and quantify the return on LSC's investment of Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund dollars. Applicants for Sustainability Grants will be 
required to propose an ambitious match requirement, tied to realistic 
goals that reduce the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the 
project over the grant term.

D. Available Funds for FY 2019

    The availability of funds for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants for 
FY 2019 depends on LSC's appropriation. LSC is currently operating 
under a Continuing Resolution for FY 2019 which funds the federal 
government through December 7, 2018. The Continuing Resolution 
maintains funding at $410 million. Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant 
decisions for FY 2019 will be made in the summer of 2019. LSC 
anticipates knowing the total amount available for Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund grants before August.
    In FY 2018, LSC received an appropriation of $4.5 million, of which 
$4.25 million was available for direct grants to support Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund projects. In 2018, fifteen Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
applications received funding with a median funding amount of $293,650. 
There is no maximum amount for Pro Bono Innovation Fund requests that 
are within the total funding available.
    LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the three 
different funding categories and will make grant awards for the three 
categories within the total amount of funding available.

E. Project and Grant Term

    Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant awards will cover an 18- to 24-month 
period. Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 18- or a 
24-month grant. Applicants for Transformation Grants and Sustainability 
Grants apply for a 24-month grant only. Applicants' proposals should 
cover the full term for which a grant award is requested. The grant 
term is expected to commence on October 1, 2019.

III. Grant Application Process and Letter of Intent To Apply 
Instructions

A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process

    LSC is committed to reviewing all Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant 
applications in a timely and thorough manner. Applicants must first 
submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Apply for Funding to LSC by January 
23, 2019 to be considered for a grant. After review by LSC Staff, LSC's 
President makes the final decision on which applicants will be asked to 
submit a detailed, full application due to LSC in April. Applicants 
will be notified of invitations to full application by February 2019. 
Once LSC has received a full application from a selected applicant, the 
application will undergo a rigorous review by LSC staff and external 
subject matter experts. LSC's President makes the final decision on 
funding for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund.

B. Late or Incomplete Applications

    LSC may consider an LOI after the deadline, but only if the 
Applicant has submitted an email to [email protected] 
explaining the circumstances that caused the delay prior to the 
applicable deadline. Communication with LSC staff, including assigned 
Program Liaisons, is not a substitute for sending an explanatory email 
to [email protected]. At its discretion, LSC may consider 
incomplete applications. LSC will determine the admissibility of late 
or incomplete applications on a case-by-case basis.

C. Letters of Intent To Apply for Funding Requirements and Format

    The LOI should succinctly summarize the information requested for 
the category of funding the applicant seeks. A complete LOI consists 
of: (1) A narrative that responds to the questions for the funding 
category; and (2) a budget form. Applicants must submit the LOI 
electronically using the LSC Grants online system found at http://lscgrants.lsc.gov. The system will be live for applicants in mid-
December 2018.
    The LOI narrative should be a Word or PDF document submitted in the 
LSC Grants system. The narrative must not exceed 5 double-spaced pages 
or approximately 1,300 words in Times New Roman, 12-point font. The LOI 
narrative must be paginated. The budget form is an online form that is 
submitted in LSC Grants. Applicants who do not follow the above 
formatting requirements for the Narrative submission may be subject to 
scoring penalties.
    Applicants may submit multiple LOIs under the same or different 
funding category. If applying for multiple grants, applicants should 
submit a separate LOI in LSC Grants for each funding request.
1. Project Grants
    The LOI Narrative for Project Grants should respond to the 
following questions.
    a. Project Description. Please provide a brief description of the 
proposed project that includes:
     The specific client need and challenge or opportunity in 
the pro bono delivery system that the project will address.
     The goals and objectives of the project, the activities 
that make up the project, and how those activities will

[[Page 59421]]

link to and achieve the stated goals and objectives.
     Strong indication of volunteer interest in and support for 
the project.
     The expected impact of the project. This should include a 
brief explanation of the changes and outcomes that will be created as a 
result of the project.
     The proposed strategies that are innovative or the best 
practices being replicated, including a brief discussion of how these 
strategies or best practices were identified.
    b. Project Staff, Organizational Capacity, and Project Partners. 
Please briefly identify and describe the project team and project 
partners including:
     The qualifications and relevant experience of the proposed 
project team, any proposed partner organizations, and your 
organization.
     The role of your organization's executive management in 
the design and implementation of the project.
    c. Budget and Timeline. Please state whether you are proposing an 
18- or 24-month project and provide the following information about the 
estimated project costs:
     Estimated total project cost. This includes the estimate 
for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund requested amount and other in-kind or 
cash contributions to support the project. Your narrative should 
provide a breakdown of the major project expenses including, but not 
limited to, personnel, project expenses, contracts or sub-grants, etc., 
and how each expense supports the project design.
     For expenses related to personnel, please indicate how 
many and which positions will be fully or partially funded by the 
proposed grant.
     A list of any anticipated contributions, both in-kind and 
monetary, from all partners involved in the project.
     A list of key partners who will receive Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund funding, including their roles and the estimated dollar 
amount or percent of budget assigned to each partner.
2. Transformation Grants
    The LOI Narrative for Transformation Grants should respond to the 
following questions.
    a. Transformation Strategy: Please explain why you are seeking a 
Transformation Grant for your pro bono program. In your response, 
please include:
     An honest assessment of the challenges with your 
organization's current pro bono efforts that inhibit your ability to 
test, develop, and replicate innovations, and the reasons for them.
     At least three specific and important improvements to your 
organization's pro bono program that you would like to achieve in the 
first year of a two-year Transformation Grant.
    b. Guiding Coalition: Please describe the core team who would be 
responsible for the pro bono transformation effort in your 
organization. In your response, please state:
     The qualifications and relevant experience of each 
proposed team member.
     Whether a majority of your executive and senior managers 
agree that your organization's pro bono program needs significant 
improvements.
     The role your organization's executive director and/or 
senior managers would play in a pro bono transformation effort.
    c. Budget. Please describe what you would like the Transformation 
Grant to fund over the 24-month grant period. In your response, please 
include the following information about the anticipated costs 
associated with a transformation effort for your pro bono program:
     The estimated total cost and a clear description of what 
the grant will fund. Your narrative should provide a breakdown of the 
major expenses including, but not limited to, personnel, project 
expenses, contracts or sub-grants, etc., and how each expense supports 
the transformation effort to improve your pro bono program.
     For expenses related to personnel, please indicate how 
many and which positions will be fully or partially funded by the 
proposed grant.
     For contracts, please describe whether you intend to use 
consultants, implement new technology systems, conduct business process 
analysis, etc. and how this supports improvements to you pro bono 
program.
3. Sustainability Grants
    The LOI Narrative for Sustainability Grants should respond to the 
following questions.
    a. Justification for Sustaining the Pro Bono Innovation Project. 
Please describe why you are seeking a Sustainability Grant. In your 
response, please discuss the following:
     The impact of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund project to 
date, supported by data and analysis as to whether the goals of the 
project were achieved.
     Evidence of ongoing client need and how you intend to make 
the project part of your core legal services.
     The level of engagement of pro bono volunteers/private bar 
and the best practices in pro bono delivery that can be replicated by 
others.
     How ongoing program evaluation and data collection will be 
incorporated into the project.
    b. Project Staff and Management Support. Please briefly identify 
and describe the project team and project partners. In your response, 
please include the following:
     The project staff that will be responsible for the 
sustainability phase of the project. Please include any additional 
staff, descriptions of new responsibilities for existing project staff 
and/or organizational changes that will be made.
     The role of your organization's executive management in 
the decision to seek this Sustainability Grant and recent examples of 
your organization's track record turning ``new'' or special projects 
into core legal services.
    c. Budget and Match Requirement. Please describe what you would 
like the Sustainability Grant to fund. In your response, please be sure 
to provide the following information:
     Estimated total project cost. This includes the estimate 
for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund requested amount and other in-kind or 
cash contributions to support the project. Your narrative should 
provide a breakdown of the major project expenses including, but not 
limited to, personnel, project expenses, etc., and how each expense 
supports the project design.
     A narrative proposing an ambitious match requirement that 
reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the project for 
the grant term. LSC is not setting a specific percentage of required 
match for Sustainability Grant applicants, but will assess the two-year 
budget from the applicant's previously funded project with the grant 
amount proposed in the Sustainability LOI. LSC's expectation is that 
applicants will propose a meaningful shift from Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund support to other sources of support during the grant term.
     A narrative discussing the potential sources of funding 
that have been or will be cultivated. If the project has already 
received new financial support, please provide the source and amount 
committed and further describe the plans for ensuring continued 
financial support.

    Dated: November 19, 2018.
Mark F. Freedman,
Senior Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2018-25557 Filed 11-21-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P