[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80777-80779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25550]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications 
for 2024 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 2024 Pro 
Bono Innovation Fund grants.

DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, 
January 16, 2024.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Harris, Special Grant 
Program Coordinator, Office of Program Performance, Legal Services 
Corporation, 3333 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295-1572 or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcd4ddceced5cfd7fcd0cfdf92dbd3ca"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cba3aab9b9a2b8a08ba7b8a8e5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>.

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, 2023, Public Law 117-328, 136 Stat. 4553 (2022). 
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

[[Page 80778]]

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 to all eligible applicants in the 2024 funding 
cycle.

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. To qualify for a Sustainability Grant, 
Applicants must also have a 2022 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project 
Grant.

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 piloted a new grant category, Planning Grants, to 
provide select organizations with the resources to assess their pro 
bono program and develop an action plan. Planning Grants are one-time, 
six-month grants.
2. Project Grants
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project Grants aim 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 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
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund Transformation Grants aim 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 2022 Project 
grant. Sustainability Grants aim 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. Sustainability Grants can 
only be 24 months.

D. Available Funds and Additional Consideration for 2021 Grants

    The amount of funds available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants 
for FY2024 depends on LSC's final appropriation. LSC currently operates 
under a Continuing Resolution for FY2024, which funds the Federal 
government through November 17, 2023. The Continuing Resolution 
maintains funding for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund at $5,000,000. 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         6 Months        12 Months        18 Months        24 Months        36 Months
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planning Grants....................................................         [radic]                X                X                X                X
Project Grants.....................................................               X                X          [radic]          [radic]                X
Transformation Grants..............................................               X                X                X          [radic]          [radic]
Sustainability Grants..............................................               X                X                X          [radic]                X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Applicants for Planning Grants 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

[[Page 80779]]

proposed grant term. The grant term is expected to commence on October 
1, 2023.

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 16, 2024 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 2024. Full applications are due to LSC 
in the GrantEase system on May 6, 2024. 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 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a2a283538353435333434352c3b2e3335341a362939743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5d5d7cac7cacbcacccbcbcad3c4d1cccacbe5c9d6c68bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a> 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7505071a171a1b1a1c1b1b1a0314011c1a1b351906165b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cfbfbda0ada0a1a0a6a1a1a0b9aebba6a0a18fa3bcace1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a>. 
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.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).)

    Dated: November 14, 2023.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel for Administrative and Regulatory Practice, 
Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2023-25550 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P


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