Deadline: 27-Aug-25
The Alberta Law Foundation provides funding for one-time projects that advance the access to justice needs of Albertans through its Project Grants.
Types of Grants
- Small Project Grants: Small Project Grant applications are accepted year-round, and a decision is usually communicated to the applicant six to eight weeks after the application is received.
- Large Project Grants: Large Project Grant applications will be considered at regularly scheduled Board meetings with application deadlines determined annually and posted publicly on the Foundations website.
Funding Information
- Small Project Grants: The maximum amount available for each project is $100,000 for a term of two years or less.
- Large Project Grants: There is no maximum budget for a large project grant. The term of the grant must be two years or less.
Eligible Use of Funds
- Organizations and projects that are eligible for funding must align with the Foundations objects and seek to increase access to justice with priority given to those serving individuals facing vulnerabilities or barriers.
- Consideration will be given to projects which:
- Undertake research to develop recommendations for reforming the law or the administration of justice to help ensure the justice system evolves to meet the needs of Albertans.
- Support the establishment, maintenance or operations of law libraries that are open to the public.
- Provide legal information and/or education to help Albertans understand their legal rights and obligations and what they can expect from the justice system.
- Provide direct services such as legal advice or representation in response to specific need within Alberta, with a particular focus on individuals facing vulnerabilities or barriers.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-profits
- Indigenous communities and organizations
- Grant-seeking organizations based outside Alberta must demonstrate substantial connections within the province. Additionally, their proposed programs or research projects must directly benefit Albertans.
- Grant-seekers do not need to be registered charities. Grant-seekers do not need to identify as specifically law-focused organizations as long as the proposed work relates to Canadian law or Indigenous law.
Ineligibility Criteria
- The Foundation will not provide funding to or for the following purposes:
- Individuals;
- Commercial entities;
- International projects, except in exceptional circumstances;
- Endowment grants, except in exceptional circumstances;
- Political lobbies;
- Programs of government departments or salaries of government employees;
- Professional development activities for third party lawyers and judges which would otherwise fall under the mandate of the Law Society, the Canadian Bar Association, the government or similar;
- Cost of an application for funding to a third party;
- Offsetting previously incurred deficits, except in exceptional circumstances;
- Purchase of buildings, except in exceptional circumstances;
- Purchase or lease of vehicles, unless integral to the delivery of a program or project funded by the Foundation;
- Any expenses that are already being paid by the Foundation through a different grant;
- Legal advice if the organization does not hold Approved Legal Service Provider status through the Law Society of Alberta;
- Program or course development costs at colleges, universities and school boards, which should be the normal duty of the professor or instructor;
- Sending delegates to conferences, including travel to attend conferences outside Alberta, unless for the professional development of staff or volunteers involved in the delivery of programs for projects funded by the Foundation.
For more information, visit Alberta Law Foundation.
