The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation makes grants to provide legal assistance to low-income Illinois residents who cannot afford to hire an attorney.
Donor Name: Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 11/04/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Priority Areas
The IEJF grants will focus on one priority area:
- Legal Assistance to Survivors of Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence: This includes civil legal assistance in cases involving family law (eg., orders of protection, civil no contact orders, child custody, dissolution of marriage, post-decree matters, eviction and any other area of civil law that will help secure safety and stability).
Funding Information
IEJF was awarded $1,500,000 for Enhanced Domestic Violence Services this year. The FY 25 grant budget will be approximately $1,380,000. This is a reimbursable grant through IDHS and all awardees must be GATA-certified and in good standing with the State of Illinois.
Grant Period
The grant period will be October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.
Use of Grant Funds
Grants will be made to support direct service staff positions at eligible legal services providers, including attorneys, paralegals and/or pro bono coordinators, advocates and social/caseworkers that are performing duties directly supporting to the civil legal services being delivered by direct service staff. Grant funds can be used to pay for salaries, benefits, and limited overhead costs (15%) directly related to supporting the position. The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed staff position will help the organization provide efficient and effective legal assistance to persons in one or both of the priority areas.
Eligibility Criteria
In the Civil Legal Assistance category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that:
- Serve persons in the priority area listed above (Legal Assistance to Survivors of Domestic Violence).
- Have been in continuous operation for at least two years prior to the date the application is submitted to the IEJF.
- Have received and expended at least $200,000 for the provision of civil legal assistance to low-income persons in its most recently completed fiscal year.
- Employ four or more full-time, licensed attorneys who provide civil legal assistance to low-income persons at the time the application is submitted to the IEJF; or have provided legal representation to at least 200 low-income persons through the services of pro bono attorneys in their most recently completed fiscal year.
For more information, visit IEJF.
