Deadline: 01-Oct-21
Applications are now open for the Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that offer direct legal representation to low-income Denver residents who face potential deportation.
The fund is managed by The Denver Foundation in partnership with a community advisory board composed of representatives from the Denver Mayor’s Office, Denver City Council, Colorado Lawyers Committee, immigrant rights groups, and The Denver Foundation
The Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund was established in March 2018 as a special project fund at The Denver Foundation. Its purpose is to increase legal services to Denver’s immigrant community by providing qualified nonprofit organizations with grants to:
- Offer direct legal representation to immigrants in detention and/or subject to removal proceedings;
- Provide affirmative relief to individuals seeking help with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and various visa programs; and/or
- Support capacity building or other innovative projects to help organizations increase the pool of pro bono or low bono immigration attorneys available to represent immigrants.
Grant Categories
The Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund Advisory Board established the following three funding priorities:
- Category 1: Removal defense for individuals who are detained at the Aurora Detention Facility and those released from the facility that have cases pending in Denver Immigration Court.
- Category 2: Affirmative relief and removal defense for people not in detention.
- Category 3: Building capacity for direct legal representation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Funds may only be used to support individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Are residents of the City and County of Denver (a “resident” is an individual living in the State of Colorado who can verify his or her presence in the City and County of Denver for at least 60 days).
- Have a household income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Present with viable claims, or need advice of counsel, or are offered removal defense representation without an initial screening based on eligibility for relief. Services can also be offered to individuals for affirmative relief or defense from removal.
- Those facing removal proceedings should be individuals facing an immigration court proceeding.
- Nonprofit groups based in the Denver area with 501(c)3 status in good standing with the IRS and State of Colorado with:
- Demonstrated knowledge of the Denver immigrant community, including populations that are most vulnerable to immigration enforcement action (e.g., arrest, detention and removal).
- Strong working relationships with a diverse network of community-based organizations, legal service providers, and faith-based institutions that have direct contact with immigrants.
- Previous experience and capacity to collaborate with key partners, such as legal services providers, law firms, bar associations, and private attorneys to promote greater access to legal services.
- For those applying in Category 1, Applicants must:
- Demonstrate a strong record of providing high-quality legal representation to immigrants facing removal.
- Have licensed attorneys with immigration law expertise on staff or under contract who will directly provide the services described in this application. Demonstrate that all professionals (attorneys, BIA-accredited representatives, social workers, etc.) involved in providing services under this contract have the appropriate professional licenses and are in good standing professionally.
- Demonstrate the ability to consult with/represent clients in the Aurora Detention Center.
- For organizations applying in Category 2 and 3, Applicants must:
- Applicants must demonstrate a history of working with the prioritized populations. Organizations with prior experience providing similar services will be given priority.
For more information, visit https://denverfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-DILSF-Grant-Guidelines.pdf