Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants, 57619-57622 [2017-26274]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2017 / Notices Bureau of Labor Statistics Technical Advisory Committee; Request for Nominations Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Department of Labor. ACTION: Request for nominations to the BLS Technical Advisory Committee. AGENCY: The BLS is soliciting new members for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Five current membership terms expire on April 19, 2018. The TAC provides advice to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on technical aspects of data collection and the formulation of economic measures and makes recommendations on areas of research. On some technical issues there are differing views, and receiving feedback at public meetings provides BLS with the opportunity to consider all viewpoints. The Committee will consist of 16 members and will be chosen from a cross-section of economists, statisticians, and behavioral scientists who represent a balance of expertise. The economists will have research experience with technical issues related to BLS data and will be familiar with employment and unemployment statistics, price index numbers, compensation measures, productivity measures, occupational and health statistics, or other topics relevant to BLS data series. The statisticians will be familiar with sample design, data analysis, computationally intensive statistical methods, non-sampling errors, or other areas which are relevant to BLS work. The behavioral scientists will be familiar with questionnaire design, usability, or other areas of survey development. BLS invites persons interested in serving on the TAC to submit their names for consideration for committee membership. SUMMARY: Nominations for the TAC membership should be postmarked January 5, 2018. ADDRESSES: Nominations for the TAC membership should be sent to: Acting Commissioner Bill Wiatrowski, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Room 4040, Washington, DC 20212. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Eldridge, Associate Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Office of Productivity and Technology, Room 2150. Washington, DC 20212. Telephone: 202–691–5600. This is not a toll free number. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 Dec 05, 2017 BLS intends to renew memberships in the TAC for another three years. The Bureau often faces highly technical issues while developing and maintaining the accuracy and relevancy of its data on employment and unemployment, prices, productivity, and compensation and working conditions. These issues range from how to develop new measures to how to make sure that existing measures account for the ever-changing economy. The BLS presents issues and then draws on the specialized expertise of Committee members representing specialized fields within the academic disciplines of economics, statistics and survey design. Committee members are also invited to bring to the attention of BLS issues that have been identified in the academic literature or in their own research. The TAC was established to provide advice to the Commissioner of Labor Statistics on technical topics selected by the BLS. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to providing comments on papers and presentations developed by BLS research and program staff, conducting research on issues identified by BLS on which an objective technical opinion or recommendation from outside of BLS would be valuable, recommending BLS conduct internal research projects to address technical problems with BLS statistics that have been identified in the academic literature, participating in discussions of areas where the types or coverage of economic statistics could be expanded or improved and areas where statistics are no longer relevant, and establishing working relationships with professional associations with an interest in BLS statistics, such as the American Statistical Association and the American Economic Association. Nominations: BLS is looking for committed TAC members who have a strong interest in, and familiarity with, BLS data. The Agency is looking for nominees who use and have a comprehensive understanding of economic statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is committed to bringing greater diversity of thought, perspective, and experience to its advisory committees. Nominees from all races, gender, age, and disabilities are encouraged to apply. Interested persons may nominate themselves or may submit the name of another person who they believe to be interested in and qualified to serve on the TAC. Nominations may also be submitted by organizations. Nominations should include the name, address, and telephone number of the candidate. Each nomination should SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 57619 include a summary of the candidate’s training or experience relating to BLS data specifically, or economic statistics more generally. BLS will conduct a basic background check of candidates before their appointment to the TAC. The background check will involve accessing publicly available, Internetbased sources. Authority: This notice was prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2, the Secretary of Labor has determined that the Bureau of Labor Statistics Data Users Advisory Committee is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed upon the Commissioner of Labor Statistics by 29 U.S.C. 1 and 2. This determination follows consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration. Signed at Washington, DC, this 22nd day of November 2017. Kimberley D. Hill, Chief, Division of Management Systems. [FR Doc. 2017–26224 Filed 12–5–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–24–P LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grants Legal Services Corporation. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions for submitting Letters of Intent to Apply for 2018 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. On May 15, 2017, Congress provided $4 million for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund through the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2017. DATES: Letters of Intent must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, January 8, 2018. ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be submitted electronically at https:// lscgrants.lsc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mytrang Nguyen, Program Counsel, Office of Program Performance, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295– 1564 or nguyenm@lsc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. General Information Since 2014, Congress has provided an annual appropriation to LSC ‘‘for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.’’ See, e.g., Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1 57620 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2017 / Notices Pub. L. 115–31, 131 Stat. 135 (2017). 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 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). LSC sought these funds based on the 2012 recommendation of the LSC Pro Bono Task Force. 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 dividing the grants into three categories to better focus on innovations serving unmet and well-defined client needs (Project Grants), on building comprehensive and effective pro bono projects through new applications of existing best practices (Transformation Grants), and on providing continued development support for the most promising innovations (Sustainability Grants). II. Funding Opportunity Information A. Eligible Applicants daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 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 FieldNative American grants. In addition, Sustainability Grant Applicants must also be a former or current Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantee from the FY 2015 or FY 2016 grant making cycle. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 Dec 05, 2017 Jkt 244001 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; and 3. Develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts. C. Funding Opportunities 1. Project Grants The goal of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project Grants is to leverage volunteers to meet a critical, unmet and welldefined client need. LSC welcomes applications for Project Grants in a wide variety of areas; there are no specific areas of interest. Consistent with the key goals of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, however, applicants are encouraged to focus on engaging volunteers to increase free civil legal aid for low-income Americans by proposing new, replicable ideas. Past projects include efforts to integrate pro bono volunteers into medical-legal partnerships, to engage retired and transitioning attorneys in legal aid, to leverage transactional pro bono attorneys to serve low-income micro-entrepreneurs, and to use technology and web-based systems to allow metropolitan pro bono attorneys to serve rural clients in more remote parts of the state. Project Grants can be either 18 or 24-months. 2. Transformation Grants The goal of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Transformation Grants is 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 and extensive assessment of an LSC grantee’s pro bono program, the identification of best practices in pro bono delivery that are best suited to that grantee’s needs and circumstances, and the development and implementation of new applications of those best practices to restructuring its pro bono program through short- and long-term improvements to organizational policies, management, and operations. Transformation Grants are for 24 months and 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 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 grantees, but is primarily intended for LSC grantees who have been unsuccessful with Project Grants or who have never applied for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant in the past. 3. Sustainability Grants Pro Bono Innovation Fund Sustainability Grants are available to current or former Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantees who were funded in either FY 2015 or FY 2016. The goal of Sustainability Grants is 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, collect meaningful data to demonstrate the project’s results and outcomes for clients and volunteers, and quantify the return on LSC’s investment of Pro Bono Innovation Fund dollars. Applicants for Sustainability Grants will be required to propose an ambitious match requirement, tied to realistic goals that reduce the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the project over the grant term. D. Available Funds for FY 2018 The availability of Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants for FY 2018 depends on LSC’s receipt of a full fiscal year appropriation. LSC is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution for FY 2018 which funds the federal government through December 8, 2017. The Continuing Resolution maintains funding at FY 2017 levels, but with an across-the-board reduction of 0.6791 percent. In FY 2017, LSC received an appropriation of $4 million, of which $3.8 million was available for direct grants to support Pro Bono Innovation Fund projects. A .6791 percent rescission for all of FY18 would result in a $25,805.80 decrease in the Pro Bono Innovation Fund’s appropriation. In 2017, fifteen Pro Bono Innovation Fund applications received funding with a median funding amount of $253,333. There is no maximum amount for Pro Bono Innovation Fund requests that are within the total funding available. Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant decisions for FY 2018 will be made in the summer of 2018. LSC anticipates knowing the total amount available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants before August and will communicate this information to all applicants as soon as LSC receives our final appropriation for the full fiscal year. LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the three E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2017 / Notices different funding categories and will make grant awards for the three categories within the total amount of funding available. E. Project and Grant Term Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant awards will cover an 18- to 24-month project period. Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 18- or a 24-month project. Applicants for Transformation Grants and Sustainability Grants apply for a 24month grant only. Applicants’ proposals should cover the full term for which a grant award is requested. The grant term is expected to commence on October 1, 2018. III. Grant Application Process and Letter of Intent To Apply Instructions A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process LSC is committed to reviewing all Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant applications in a quick and thorough manner. Applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent to Apply for Funding (LOI). LSC staff will review the LOIs and notify applicants by February 2018 if their LOI is selected. Applicants whose LOIs are selected will be asked to submit a detailed, full application in LSC Grants. Once LSC has received a full application from a selected applicant, the application undergoes a rigorous review process by LSC staff and external subject matter experts. LSC’s President makes the final decision on funding for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES B. Late or Incomplete Applications LSC may consider an LOI after the deadline, but only if the Applicant has submitted an email to probonoinnovation@lsc.gov explaining the circumstances that caused the delay prior to the applicable deadline. Communication with LSC staff, including assigned Program Liaisons, is not a substitute for sending an explanatory email to probonoinnovation@lsc.gov. At its discretion, LSC may consider incomplete applications. LSC will determine the admissibility of late or incomplete applications on a case-bycase basis. C. Letters of Intent To Apply for Funding Requirements and Format The LOI should succinctly summarize the information requested for the funding category for which an applicant seeks funding. A complete LOI consists of: (1) A narrative that responds to the questions for the funding category; and (2) a budget form. Applicants must VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 Dec 05, 2017 Jkt 244001 57621 submit the LOI electronically using the LSC Grants online system found at https://lscgrants.lsc.gov. The system will be live for applicants in early December 2017. The LOI narrative should be a Word or PDF document submitted in the LSC Grants system. The narrative must not exceed 5 double-spaced pages or approximately 1,300 words in Times New Roman, 12-point font. The LOI narrative must be paginated. The budget form is an online form that is submitted in LSC Grants. Applicants who do not follow the above formatting requirements for the Narrative submission may be subject to scoring penalties. Applicants may submit multiple LOIs under the same or different funding category. If applying for multiple grants, applicants should submit a separate LOI in LSC Grants for each funding request. Innovation Fund requested amount and other in-kind or cash contributions to support the project. Your narrative should provide a breakdown of the major project expenses including, but not limited to, personnel, project expenses, contracts or sub-grants, etc., and how each expense supports the project design. • For expenses related to personnel, please indicate how many and which positions will be fully or partially funded by the proposed grant. • A list of any anticipated contributions, both in-kind and monetary, from all partners involved in the project. • A list of key partners who will receive Pro Bono Innovation Fund funding, including their roles and the estimated dollar amount or percent of budget assigned to each partner. 1. Project Grants The LOI Narrative for Project Grants should respond to the following questions. a. Project Description. Please provide a brief description of the proposed project that includes: • The specific client need and challenge or opportunity in the pro bono delivery system that the project will address. • The goals and objectives of the project, the activities that make up the project, and how those activities will link to and achieve the stated goals and objectives. • Strong indication of volunteer interest in and support for the project. • The expected impact of the project. This should include a brief explanation of the changes and outcomes that will be created as a result of the project. • The proposed strategies that are innovative or the best practices being replicated, including a brief discussion of how these innovation and/or replicable strategies were identified. b. Project Staff, Organizational Capacity, and Project Partners. Please briefly identify and describe the project team and project partners including: • The qualifications and relevant experience of the proposed project team, any proposed partner organizations, and your organization. • The role of your organization’s executive management in the design and implementation of the project. c. Budget and Timeline. Please state whether you are proposing an 18- or 24month project and provide the following information about the estimated project costs: • Estimated total project cost. This includes the estimate for the Pro Bono The LOI Narrative for Transformation Grants should respond to the following questions. a. Transformation Strategy: Please explain why are you seeking a Transformation Grant for your pro bono program. In your response, please include: • An honest assessment of the challenges with your organization’s current pro bono efforts that inhibit your ability to test, develop, and replicate innovations, and the reasons for them. • At least three specific and important improvements to your organization’s pro bono program that you would like to achieve in the first 6– 9 months of a two-year Transformation Grant. b. Guiding Coalition: Please describe the core team who would be responsible for the pro bono transformation effort in your organization. In your response, please state: • The qualifications and relevant experience of each proposed team member. • Whether a majority your executive and senior managers agree that your organization’s pro bono program needs significant improvements. • The role your organization’s executive director and/or senior managers would play in a pro bono transformation effort. c. Budget. Please describe what you would like the Transformation Grant to fund over the 24-month grant period. In your response, please be sure to provide the following information about the anticipated costs associated with a transformation effort for your pro bono program: PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2. Transformation Grants E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1 57622 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2017 / Notices daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES • The estimated total cost and a clear description of what the grant will fund. Your narrative should provide a breakdown of the major expenses including, but not limited to, personnel, project expenses, contracts or subgrants, etc., and how each expense supports the transformation effort to improve your pro bono program. • For expenses related to personnel, please indicate how many and which positions will be fully or partially funded by the proposed grant. • For contracts, please describe whether you intend to use consultants, implement new technology systems, conduct business process analysis, etc. and how this supports improvements to you pro bono program. 3. Sustainability Grants The LOI Narrative for Sustainability Grants should respond to the following questions. a. Justification for Sustaining the Pro Bono Innovation Project. Please describe why you are seeking Sustainability Grant. In your response, please discuss the following: • The impact of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund project to date, supported by data and analysis as to whether the goals of the project were achieved. • Evidence of ongoing client need and how you intend to make the project part of your core legal services. • The level of engagement of pro bono volunteers/private bar and the best practices in pro bono delivery that can be replicated by others. • How ongoing program evaluation and data collection will be incorporated into the project. b. Project Staff and Management Support. Please briefly identify and describe the project team and project partners. In your response, please include the following: • The project staff that will be responsible for the sustainability phase of the project. Please include any additional staff, descriptions of new responsibilities for existing project staff and/or organizational changes that will be made. • The role of your organization’s executive management in the decision to seek this Sustainability Grant and recent examples of your organization’s track record turning ‘‘new’’ or special projects into core legal services. c. Budget and Match Requirement. Please describe what you would like the Sustainability Grant to fund. In your response, please be sure to provide the following information: • Estimated total project cost. This includes the estimate for the Pro Bono VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 Dec 05, 2017 Jkt 244001 Innovation Fund requested amount and other in-kind or cash contributions to support the project. Your narrative should provide a breakdown of the major project expenses including, but not limited to, personnel, project expenses, etc., and how each expense supports the project design. • A narrative proposing an ambitious match requirement that reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the project for the grant term. LSC is not setting a specific percentage of required match for Sustainability Grant applicants, but will assess the two-year budget from the applicant’s previously funded project with the grant amount proposed in the Sustainability LOI. LSC’s expectation is that applicants will propose a meaningful shift from Pro Bono Innovation Fund support to other sources of support during the grant term. • A narrative discussing the potential sources of funding that have been or will be cultivated. If the project has already received new financial support, please provide the source and amount committed and further describe the plans for ensuring continued financial support. Dated: November 30, 2017. Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2017–26274 Filed 12–5–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7050–01–P THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES Institute of Museum and Library Services Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests: 2019–2021 IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries/Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Foundation for the Arts and the Humanities. ACTION: Notice, request for comments on this collection of information. AGENCY: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This pre-clearance SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 consultation program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. By this notice, IMLS is soliciting comments concerning a plan to offer two grant programs targeted to the needs of libraries nationwide, aligned to the updated IMLS Strategic Framework for 2019– 2021, the National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addressee section below on or before February 2, 2018. IMLS is particularly interested in comments that help the agency to: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; • Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses. ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Dr. Sandra Webb, Senior Advisor, Office of the Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L’Enfant Plaza North SW., Suite 4000, Washington, DC 20024–2135. Dr. Webb can be reached by Telephone: 202–653–4718 Fax: 202– 653–4608, or by email at swebb@ imls.gov, or by teletype (TTY/TDD) for persons with hearing difficulty at 202– 653–4614. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums and related organizations. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57619-57622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26274]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Request for Letters of Intent To Apply for 2018 Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund Grants

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice 
describing the conditions for submitting Letters of Intent to Apply for 
2018 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants. On May 15, 2017, Congress 
provided $4 million for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund through the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2017.

DATES: Letters of Intent must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, 
January 8, 2018.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mytrang Nguyen, Program Counsel, 
Office of Program Performance, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295-1564 or nguyenm@lsc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

    Since 2014, Congress has provided an annual appropriation to LSC 
``for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.'' See, e.g., Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2017,

[[Page 57620]]

Pub. L. 115-31, 131 Stat. 135 (2017). 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 
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). LSC sought these funds based on the 2012 recommendation of 
the LSC Pro Bono Task Force. 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 dividing the grants into three categories to better focus 
on innovations serving unmet and well-defined client needs (Project 
Grants), on building comprehensive and effective pro bono projects 
through new applications of existing best practices (Transformation 
Grants), and on providing continued development support for the most 
promising innovations (Sustainability Grants).

II. Funding Opportunity 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. In addition, Sustainability Grant 
Applicants must also be a former or current Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
grantee from the FY 2015 or FY 2016 grant making cycle.

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; 
and
    3. Develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts.

C. Funding Opportunities

1. Project Grants

    The goal of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Project Grants is to leverage 
volunteers to meet a critical, unmet and well-defined client need. LSC 
welcomes applications for Project Grants in a wide variety of areas; 
there are no specific areas of interest. Consistent with the key goals 
of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund, however, applicants are encouraged to 
focus on engaging volunteers to increase free civil legal aid for low-
income Americans by proposing new, replicable ideas.
    Past projects include efforts to integrate pro bono volunteers into 
medical-legal partnerships, to engage retired and transitioning 
attorneys in legal aid, to leverage transactional pro bono attorneys to 
serve low-income micro-entrepreneurs, and to use technology and web-
based systems to allow metropolitan pro bono attorneys to serve rural 
clients in more remote parts of the state. Project Grants can be either 
18 or 24-months.
2. Transformation Grants
    The goal of Pro Bono Innovation Fund Transformation Grants is 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 
and extensive assessment of an LSC grantee's pro bono program, the 
identification of best practices in pro bono delivery that are best 
suited to that grantee's needs and circumstances, and the development 
and implementation of new applications of those best practices to 
restructuring its pro bono program through short- and long-term 
improvements to organizational policies, management, and operations.
    Transformation Grants are for 24 months and 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 with 
Project Grants or who have never applied for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
grant in the past.
3. Sustainability Grants
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund Sustainability Grants are available to 
current or former Pro Bono Innovation Fund grantees who were funded in 
either FY 2015 or FY 2016. The goal of Sustainability Grants is 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, 
collect meaningful data to demonstrate the project's results and 
outcomes for clients and volunteers, and quantify the return on LSC's 
investment of Pro Bono Innovation Fund dollars. Applicants for 
Sustainability Grants will be required to propose an ambitious match 
requirement, tied to realistic goals that reduce the Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund contribution to the project over the grant term.

D. Available Funds for FY 2018

    The availability of Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants for FY 2018 
depends on LSC's receipt of a full fiscal year appropriation. LSC is 
currently operating under a Continuing Resolution for FY 2018 which 
funds the federal government through December 8, 2017. The Continuing 
Resolution maintains funding at FY 2017 levels, but with an across-the-
board reduction of 0.6791 percent.
    In FY 2017, LSC received an appropriation of $4 million, of which 
$3.8 million was available for direct grants to support Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund projects. A .6791 percent rescission for all of FY18 
would result in a $25,805.80 decrease in the Pro Bono Innovation Fund's 
appropriation.
    In 2017, fifteen Pro Bono Innovation Fund applications received 
funding with a median funding amount of $253,333. There is no maximum 
amount for Pro Bono Innovation Fund requests that are within the total 
funding available.
    Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant decisions for FY 2018 will be made 
in the summer of 2018. LSC anticipates knowing the total amount 
available for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants before August and will 
communicate this information to all applicants as soon as LSC receives 
our final appropriation for the full fiscal year.
    LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the three

[[Page 57621]]

different funding categories and will make grant awards for the three 
categories within the total amount of funding available.

E. Project and Grant Term

    Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant awards will cover an 18- to 24-month 
project period. Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 
18- or a 24-month project. Applicants for Transformation Grants and 
Sustainability Grants apply for a 24-month grant only. Applicants' 
proposals should cover the full term for which a grant award is 
requested. The grant term is expected to commence on October 1, 2018.

III. Grant Application Process and Letter of Intent To Apply 
Instructions

A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process

    LSC is committed to reviewing all Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant 
applications in a quick and thorough manner. Applicants must first 
submit a Letter of Intent to Apply for Funding (LOI). LSC staff will 
review the LOIs and notify applicants by February 2018 if their LOI is 
selected. Applicants whose LOIs are selected will be asked to submit a 
detailed, full application in LSC Grants. Once LSC has received a full 
application from a selected applicant, the application undergoes a 
rigorous review process by LSC staff and external 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 an LOI after the deadline, but only if the 
Applicant has submitted an email to probonoinnovation@lsc.gov 
explaining the circumstances that caused the delay prior to the 
applicable deadline. Communication with LSC staff, including assigned 
Program Liaisons, is not a substitute for sending an explanatory email 
to probonoinnovation@lsc.gov. 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. Letters of Intent To Apply for Funding Requirements and Format

    The LOI should succinctly summarize the information requested for 
the funding category for which an applicant seeks funding. A complete 
LOI consists of: (1) A narrative that responds to the questions for the 
funding category; and (2) a budget form. Applicants must submit the LOI 
electronically using the LSC Grants online system found at https://lscgrants.lsc.gov. The system will be live for applicants in early 
December 2017.
    The LOI narrative should be a Word or PDF document submitted in the 
LSC Grants system. The narrative must not exceed 5 double-spaced pages 
or approximately 1,300 words in Times New Roman, 12-point font. The LOI 
narrative must be paginated. The budget form is an online form that is 
submitted in LSC Grants. Applicants who do not follow the above 
formatting requirements for the Narrative submission may be subject to 
scoring penalties.
    Applicants may submit multiple LOIs under the same or different 
funding category. If applying for multiple grants, applicants should 
submit a separate LOI in LSC Grants for each funding request.
1. Project Grants
    The LOI Narrative for Project Grants should respond to the 
following questions.
    a. Project Description. Please provide a brief description of the 
proposed project that includes:
     The specific client need and challenge or opportunity in 
the pro bono delivery system that the project will address.
     The goals and objectives of the project, the activities 
that make up the project, and how those activities will link to and 
achieve the stated goals and objectives.
     Strong indication of volunteer interest in and support for 
the project.
     The expected impact of the project. This should include a 
brief explanation of the changes and outcomes that will be created as a 
result of the project.
     The proposed strategies that are innovative or the best 
practices being replicated, including a brief discussion of how these 
innovation and/or replicable strategies were identified.
    b. Project Staff, Organizational Capacity, and Project Partners. 
Please briefly identify and describe the project team and project 
partners including:
     The qualifications and relevant experience of the proposed 
project team, any proposed partner organizations, and your 
organization.
     The role of your organization's executive management in 
the design and implementation of the project.
    c. Budget and Timeline. Please state whether you are proposing an 
18- or 24-month project and provide the following information about the 
estimated project costs:
     Estimated total project cost. This includes the estimate 
for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund requested amount and other in-kind or 
cash contributions to support the project. Your narrative should 
provide a breakdown of the major project expenses including, but not 
limited to, personnel, project expenses, contracts or sub-grants, etc., 
and how each expense supports the project design.
     For expenses related to personnel, please indicate how 
many and which positions will be fully or partially funded by the 
proposed grant.
     A list of any anticipated contributions, both in-kind and 
monetary, from all partners involved in the project.
     A list of key partners who will receive Pro Bono 
Innovation Fund funding, including their roles and the estimated dollar 
amount or percent of budget assigned to each partner.
2. Transformation Grants
    The LOI Narrative for Transformation Grants should respond to the 
following questions.
    a. Transformation Strategy: Please explain why are you seeking a 
Transformation Grant for your pro bono program. In your response, 
please include:
     An honest assessment of the challenges with your 
organization's current pro bono efforts that inhibit your ability to 
test, develop, and replicate innovations, and the reasons for them.
     At least three specific and important improvements to your 
organization's pro bono program that you would like to achieve in the 
first 6-9 months of a two-year Transformation Grant.
    b. Guiding Coalition: Please describe the core team who would be 
responsible for the pro bono transformation effort in your 
organization. In your response, please state:
     The qualifications and relevant experience of each 
proposed team member.
     Whether a majority your executive and senior managers 
agree that your organization's pro bono program needs significant 
improvements.
     The role your organization's executive director and/or 
senior managers would play in a pro bono transformation effort.
    c. Budget. Please describe what you would like the Transformation 
Grant to fund over the 24-month grant period. In your response, please 
be sure to provide the following information about the anticipated 
costs associated with a transformation effort for your pro bono 
program:

[[Page 57622]]

     The estimated total cost and a clear description of what 
the grant will fund. Your narrative should provide a breakdown of the 
major expenses including, but not limited to, personnel, project 
expenses, contracts or subgrants, etc., and how each expense supports 
the transformation effort to improve your pro bono program.
     For expenses related to personnel, please indicate how 
many and which positions will be fully or partially funded by the 
proposed grant.
     For contracts, please describe whether you intend to use 
consultants, implement new technology systems, conduct business process 
analysis, etc. and how this supports improvements to you pro bono 
program.
3. Sustainability Grants
    The LOI Narrative for Sustainability Grants should respond to the 
following questions.
    a. Justification for Sustaining the Pro Bono Innovation Project. 
Please describe why you are seeking Sustainability Grant. In your 
response, please discuss the following:
     The impact of the Pro Bono Innovation Fund project to 
date, supported by data and analysis as to whether the goals of the 
project were achieved.
     Evidence of ongoing client need and how you intend to make 
the project part of your core legal services.
     The level of engagement of pro bono volunteers/private bar 
and the best practices in pro bono delivery that can be replicated by 
others.
     How ongoing program evaluation and data collection will be 
incorporated into the project.
    b. Project Staff and Management Support. Please briefly identify 
and describe the project team and project partners. In your response, 
please include the following:
     The project staff that will be responsible for the 
sustainability phase of the project. Please include any additional 
staff, descriptions of new responsibilities for existing project staff 
and/or organizational changes that will be made.
     The role of your organization's executive management in 
the decision to seek this Sustainability Grant and recent examples of 
your organization's track record turning ``new'' or special projects 
into core legal services.
    c. Budget and Match Requirement. Please describe what you would 
like the Sustainability Grant to fund. In your response, please be sure 
to provide the following information:
     Estimated total project cost. This includes the estimate 
for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund requested amount and other in-kind or 
cash contributions to support the project. Your narrative should 
provide a breakdown of the major project expenses including, but not 
limited to, personnel, project expenses, etc., and how each expense 
supports the project design.
     A narrative proposing an ambitious match requirement that 
reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the project for 
the grant term. LSC is not setting a specific percentage of required 
match for Sustainability Grant applicants, but will assess the two-year 
budget from the applicant's previously funded project with the grant 
amount proposed in the Sustainability LOI. LSC's expectation is that 
applicants will propose a meaningful shift from Pro Bono Innovation 
Fund support to other sources of support during the grant term.
     A narrative discussing the potential sources of funding 
that have been or will be cultivated. If the project has already 
received new financial support, please provide the source and amount 
committed and further describe the plans for ensuring continued 
financial support.

    Dated: November 30, 2017.
Stefanie K. Davis,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-26274 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7050-01-P
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