Deadline: 11-Apr-23
The Law Foundation of Ontario invites applications for its 2023 Responsive Grants program to fund community-led initiatives that improve access to justice.
Responsive grants aim to encourage new projects that fill existing legal gaps, supplement existing services, or otherwise help address emerging needs by connecting more people to legal information and support, especially people who are not currently being reached.
Responsive grants fund community-led initiatives that improve access to justice. Responsive grants aim to encourage new projects that fill existing legal gaps, supplement existing services, or otherwise help address emerging needs by connecting more people to legal information and support, especially people who are not currently being reached.
Funding information
- Funds are from $10,000 to $250,000.
Responsive grants
- Support new projects or the expansion or adaptation of pilots.
- Are one-time grants and are time-limited (but may be multi-year).
- Are not intended to support an organization’s core operating costs.
Preference will be given to applications that:
- Respond to an urgent legal need.
- Demonstrate a strong work plan for the contemplated activities.
- Support a group who has experienced injustice or inequity – past or current – and those who have experienced exclusion or barriers in society.
- Are informed, supported, and/or led by the community they seek to serve.
- Fill a gap, including supplementing existing legal resources.
- Have outcomes that can be measured, and scaled, replicated, or adapted to benefit others.
- Demonstrate the impact will be maintained or sustained beyond the grant.
- Are led by a team with the experience, expertise, and/or skills to successfully deliver results.
- Have the right partnerships in place to ensure success.
- Include a reasonable budget to successfully respond to the demonstrated need.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for a grant, applicants must be one of the following:
- Registered charities or incorporated nonprofit organizations.
- Canadian universities or colleges.
- Indigenous organizations.
Unincorporated organizations, committees, or associations may also apply if they possess a signed letter of commitment from an eligible payee.
- Eligible applications must:
- Directly benefit the people of Ontario.
- Focus on legal content, e.g. promote knowledge and services that help people understand the law and use it to improve their lives, or exercise their legal rights.
- Be signed off by the applicant’s Executive Director, Board Chair, or other appropriate authority.
- Eligible applications must NOT include:
- Support for specific litigation or legal fees.
- Costs directly related to lobbying, advocating, or promoting a particular position on a legal or public policy issue.
- Primarily administrative or core operating costs.
For more information, visit Law Foundation of Ontario.