[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69343-69345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25198]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications 
for 2023 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 Pre-Application for 2023 Pro 
Bono Innovation Fund grants.

DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, 
January 27, 2023.

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. 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 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). In 2021, LSC created Non-Direct Service Project Grants to fund 
organizations to develop and implement innovative solutions to pro bono 
challenges that do not involve providing direct legal services to 
clients. In 2022, LSC created a new funding category to provide 
organizations with resources to plan and establish a strong foundation 
(Planning Grants). Planning Grants will be available on a pilot basis 
in the 2023 funding cycle to select organizations.

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

[[Page 69344]]

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. Planning Grants
    In 2023, LSC is piloting a new grant category, called Planning 
Grants, to provide select organizations with the resources to assess 
their pro bono program and develop an action plan and proposal for a 
2024 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Transformation grant. Planning Grants are 
one-time, six-month grants.
2. 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. The Pro Bono Innovation Fund has 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 a 
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.
3. 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.
4. Sustainability Grants
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund Sustainability Grants are available to 
current Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantees who received a 2021 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

    The amount of funds available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants 
for FY2023 depends on LSC's final appropriation. LSC currently operates 
under a Continuing Resolution for FY2023, which funds the Federal 
government through December 16, 2022. The Continuing Resolution 
maintains funding for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund at $4,750,000. LSC 
will make Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant decisions for FY2023 in the 
summer of 2023. LSC anticipates publicizing the total amount available 
for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants when Congress enacts the FY2023 
appropriation. 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. Grant Terms

    Pro Bono Innovation Fund awards can have grant terms of 6, 18, 24, 
or 36 months, depending on the category of grant.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18NO22.709

    Applicants invited to submit a Pre-Application for a pilot Planning 
Grant can apply for a 6-month grant. 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, 2023.

[[Page 69345]]

III. Grant Application Process

A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process

    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 to LSC in GrantEase by 
January 27, 2023 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 early March 2023. Full applications are due to LSC 
in the GrantEase system on May 1, 2023. 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: November 15, 2022.
Stefanie Davis,
Senior Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2022-25198 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P