[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57619-57622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26274]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 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 Letters of Intent to Apply for 
2018 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. On May 15, 2017, Congress 
provided $4 million for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund through the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2017.

DATES: Letters of Intent must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, 
January 8, 2018.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mytrang Nguyen, Program Counsel, 
Office of Program Performance, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295-1564 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

    Since 2014, Congress has provided an annual appropriation to LSC 
``for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.'' See, e.g., Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2017,

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Pub. L. 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 
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 dividing the grants into three categories to better focus 
on innovations serving unmet and well-defined client needs (Project 
Grants), on building comprehensive and effective pro bono projects 
through new applications of existing best practices (Transformation 
Grants), and on providing continued development support for the most 
promising innovations (Sustainability Grants).

II. Funding Opportunity 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 FY 2015 or FY 2016 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; 
and
    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. LSC 
welcomes applications for Project Grants in a wide variety of areas; 
there are no specific areas of interest. Consistent with the key goals 
of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, however, applicants are encouraged to 
focus on engaging volunteers to increase free civil legal aid for low-
income Americans by proposing new, replicable ideas.
    Past projects include efforts to integrate pro bono volunteers into 
medical-legal partnerships, to engage retired and transitioning 
attorneys in legal aid, to leverage transactional pro bono attorneys to 
serve low-income micro-entrepreneurs, and to use technology and web-
based systems to allow metropolitan pro bono attorneys to serve rural 
clients in more remote parts of the state. 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 new applications of those best practices to 
restructuring its pro bono program through short- and long-term 
improvements to organizational policies, management, and operations.
    Transformation Grants are for 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 with 
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 
either FY 2015 or FY 2016. 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 2018

    The availability of Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants for FY 2018 
depends on LSC's receipt of a full fiscal year appropriation. LSC is 
currently operating under a Continuing Resolution for FY 2018 which 
funds the federal government through December 8, 2017. The Continuing 
Resolution maintains funding at FY 2017 levels, but with an across-the-
board reduction of 0.6791 percent.
    In FY 2017, LSC received an appropriation of $4 million, of which 
$3.8 million was available for direct grants to support Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund projects. A .6791 percent rescission for all of FY18 
would result in a $25,805.80 decrease in the Pro Bono Innovation Fund's 
appropriation.
    In 2017, fifteen Pro Bono Innovation Fund applications received 
funding with a median funding amount of $253,333. There is no maximum 
amount for Pro Bono Innovation Fund requests that are within the total 
funding available.
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant decisions for FY 2018 will be made 
in the summer of 2018. LSC anticipates knowing the total amount 
available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants before August and will 
communicate this information to all applicants as soon as LSC receives 
our final appropriation for the full fiscal year.
    LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the three

[[Page 57621]]

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 
project period. Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 
18- or a 24-month project. 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, 2018.

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 quick and thorough manner. Applicants must first 
submit a Letter of Intent to Apply for Funding (LOI). LSC staff will 
review the LOIs and notify applicants by February 2018 if their LOI is 
selected. Applicants whose LOIs are selected will be asked to submit a 
detailed, full application in LSC Grants. Once LSC has received a full 
application from a selected applicant, the application undergoes a 
rigorous review process 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 funding category for which an applicant seeks funding. 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 early 
December 2017.
    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 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 
innovation and/or replicable strategies 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 are you 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 6-9 months 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 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 
be sure to provide the following information about the anticipated 
costs associated with a transformation effort for your pro bono 
program:

[[Page 57622]]

     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 subgrants, 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 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 30, 2017.
Stefanie K. Davis,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-26274 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7050-01-P