[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8807-8809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02645]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Pro Bono Innovation Fund Request for Pre-Applications for 2021 
Grant Funding

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice 
describing the conditions for submitting a Pre-Application for 2021 Pro 
Bono Innovation Fund grants.

DATES: Pre-Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, 
March 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Pre-Applications must be submitted electronically to 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. 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).
    Since its inception, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund has advanced 
LSC's goal of increasing the quantity and

[[Page 8808]]

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 current Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantee with 
a 2019 grant award.

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 Categories

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. This year, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund will have two 
Project Grant types, Direct Service and Non-direct Service. Direct 
Service projects are focused on engaging volunteers to increase free 
legal assistance for eligible clients. Non-direct service projects 
propose to strengthen core aspects of pro bono delivery systems and may 
not result in direct pro bono client services within the grant 
timeframe (i.e., develop suite of substantive training materials, 
create on-demand videos for volunteers, etc.).
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to research prior Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund projects to replicate and improve upon them. LSC is 
particularly interested in applications that propose to replicate 
projects LSC has previously funded with ``Sustainability'' Grants. 
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 
assessment of an LSC grantee's pro bono program and the identification 
of best practices in pro bono delivery that are best suited to that 
grantee's needs and circumstances. Transformation Grants are 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. Transformation Grants can 
be either 24 or 36 months.
3. Sustainability Grants
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund Sustainability Grants are available to 
current Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantees who received a 2019 Project 
grant. 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 and collect meaningful 
data to demonstrate the project's results and outcomes for clients and 
volunteers. Applicants for Sustainability Grants will be asked to 
propose an ambitious strategy that reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
contribution to the project over the Sustainability Grant term.

D. Available Funds and Additional Consideration for 2021 Grants

    LSC anticipates awarding up to $4,512,500 through Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund grants in 2021. All awards are subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional 
requirements that may be imposed by law. 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.
    LSC's Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations legislation included language 
for LSC ``to explore opportunities to increase access to eviction-
related legal aid . . . including through LSC's Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund.'' PBIF proposals that direct pro bono resources towards 
addressing unmet legal needs for evictions in jurisdictions with high 
eviction rates will receive additional consideration in the application 
review process.

E. Grant Terms

    Pro Bono Innovation Fund awards can have grant terms of 18, 24, or 
36 months, depending on the category of grant.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  18 Months        24 Months        36 Months
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Grants...............................................         [radic]          [radic]                X
Transformation Grants........................................               X          [radic]          [radic]
Sustainability Grants........................................               X          [radic]                X
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 8809]]

    Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 18- or a 24-
month grant. Applicants for Transformation Grants can apply for either 
a 24- or a 36-month grant. Applicants for Sustainability Grants can 
apply for a 24-month grant only. Applications must cover the full 
proposed grant term. The grant term is expected to commence on October 
1, 2021.

III. Grant Application Process

A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process

    This year, the Pro Bono Innovation Fund application process will be 
administered in LSC's unified grants management system, GrantEase. 
Applicants must first submit a Pre-Application (formerly Letter of 
Intent to Apply for Funding or ``LOI'') to LSC in GrantEase by March 
15, 2021 to be considered for a grant. After review by LSC Staff, LSC's 
President decides which applicants will be asked to submit a full 
application. Applicants will be notified of approval to submit a full 
application by mid-May 2021. Full applications are due to LSC in the 
GrantEase system on July 1, 2021. Once received, full applications will 
undergo a rigorous review by LSC staff and other 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 a request to submit a Pre-Application 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 Pre-Application deadline. Communication with LSC 
staff, including assigned Program Liaisons, is not a substitute for 
sending a formal request and explanation 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. Multiple Pre-Applications

    Applicants may submit multiple Pre-applications under the same or 
different funding category. If applying for multiple grants, applicants 
should submit separate Pre-applications for each funding request.

D. Additional Information and Guidelines

    Additional guidance and instructions on the Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund Pre-Application and Application processes, will be available and 
regularly updated at https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/pro-bono-innovation-fund.

    Dated: February 4, 2021.
Stefanie Davis,
Senior Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-02645 Filed 2-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P