Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications for 2025 Grants, 88308-88309 [2024-25853]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 216 / Thursday, November 7, 2024 / Notices
subgrant agreement through GrantEase
by the date requested.
As required by 45 CFR 1627.4(b)(3),
LSC will inform applicants of its
decision to disapprove, approve, or
request modifications to the subgrant no
later than the subgrant’s proposed
effective date.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).)
Dated: November 1, 2024.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel for Administrative
Law and Regulatory Practice, Legal Services
Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024–25852 Filed 11–6–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050–01–P
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for
Submitting Pre-Applications for 2025
Grants
Legal Services Corporation.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Legal Services
Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice
describing the conditions for submitting
a Pre-Application for 2025 Pro Bono
Innovation Fund grants.
DATES: Pre-applications must be
submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday,
January 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be
submitted electronically at https://
lscgrants.lsc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katherine Harris, Special Grant Program
Coordinator, Office of Program
Performance, Legal Services
Corporation, 1825 I Street NW, Suite
800, Washington, DC 20006; (202) 295–
1572 or harrisk@lsc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
I. Introduction
Since 2014, Congress has provided an
annual appropriation to LSC ‘‘for a Pro
Bono Innovation Fund.’’ See, e.g.,
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023,
Public Law 117–328, 136 Stat. 4553
(2022). 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:15 Nov 06, 2024
Jkt 265001
innovative projects that promote and
enhance pro bono 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).
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. PBIF has four
funding categories that are described in
further detail below: Planning, Project,
Sustainability, and Transformation.
II. Funding Opportunities Information
A. Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for PBIF grants,
Applicants must be current grantees of
LSC Basic Field-General, Basic FieldMigrant, or Basic Field-Native American
grants. To qualify for a Sustainability
Grant, Applicants must also have a 2023
PBIF Project Grant.
B. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Purpose
and Key Goals
PBIF 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;
3. Develop, test, and replicate
innovative pro bono efforts.
C. Funding Categories
1. Planning Grants
Planning Grants provide organizations
with a one-time grant to complete an
assessment of their pro bono program
and develop a plan to build or revitalize
their pro bono delivery system.
Planning Grants have a 6-month term.
2. Project Grants
Project Grants aim to leverage
volunteers to meet a critical, unmet and
well-defined client need. Consistent
with the key goals of PBIF, Applicants
are encouraged to focus on engaging
volunteers to increase free civil legal aid
for low-income Americans by proposing
new, replicable ideas.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to
research prior PBIF projects to replicate
PO 00000
Frm 00079
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and improve upon them. LSC is
particularly interested in applications
that propose to replicate projects LSC
has previously funded with
‘‘Sustainability’’ Grants. Project Grants
can be either 18 or 24 months.
3. Sustainability Grants
Sustainability Grants are available to
current PBIF grantees who received a
2023 Project Grant. Sustainability
Grants provide the most promising and
replicable PBIF projects with an
additional 24 months of funding so
grantees can leverage new sources of
revenue for the project and collect
meaningful data to demonstrate the
project’s results and outcomes for
clients and volunteers. Applicants for
Sustainability Grants are asked to
propose an ambitious strategy that
reduces the Pro Bono Innovation Fund
contribution to the project over the
Sustainability Grant term. Sustainability
Grants have a 24-month term.
4. Transformation Grants
Transformation Grants aim to support
LSC grantees in the comprehensive
assessment and restructuring of their
pro bono programs using best practices
in pro bono delivery. Each
Transformation Grant will support a
rigorous assessment of a grantee’s pro
bono program and identify best
practices in pro bono delivery suited to
that grantee’s needs and circumstances.
Transformation Grants are for LSC
grantees whose leadership is committed
to restructuring their pro bono delivery
system to create a high-impact pro bono
program now. Transformation Grants
can have either a 24- or 36-month term.
D. Available Funds for 2025 Grants
The amount of funds available for
PBIF Grants for FY2025 depends on
LSC’s final appropriation. LSC currently
operates under a Continuing Resolution
for FY2025, which funds the Federal
government through December 20, 2024.
The Continuing Resolution maintains
funding for PBIF at $5,000,000. LSC will
make PBIF grant decisions for FY2025
in the summer of 2025. LSC anticipates
publicizing the total amount available
for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants
when Congress enacts the FY2025
appropriation.
LSC will not designate fixed or
estimated amounts for the four different
funding categories and will make grant
awards for the three categories within
the total amount of funding available.
E. Grant Terms
Pro Bono Innovation Fund awards can
have grant terms of 6, 18, 24, or 36
E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM
07NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 216 / Thursday, November 7, 2024 / Notices
88309
months, depending on the category of
grant.
Planning Grants ...................................................................
Project Grants ......................................................................
Transformation Grants .........................................................
Sustainability Grants ............................................................
Applicants for Planning Grants can
apply for a 6-month grant. Applicants
for Project Grants can apply for either an
18- or a 24-month grant. Applicants for
Transformation Grants can apply for
either a 24- or a 36-month grant.
Applicants for Sustainability Grants can
apply for a 24-month grant only. The
grant activities described in the
application must cover the full
proposed grant term which commences
on October 1, 2025.
III. Grant Application Process
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant
Application Process
The PBIF application process is
administered in LSC’s unified grants
management system, GrantEase.
Applicants must first submit a PreApplication to LSC in GrantEase by
January 16, 2024, to be considered for a
grant. After review by LSC Staff, LSC’s
President decides which applicants will
be asked to submit a full application.
Applicants will be notified of approval
to submit a full application by early
March 2025. Full applications are due to
LSC in the GrantEase system on May 5,
2025. Once received, full applications
will undergo a rigorous review by LSC
staff and other 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 a request to submit
a Pre-Application 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 PreApplication deadline. Communication
with LSC staff, including assigned LSC
Special Grant staff members, is not a
substitute for sending a formal request
and explanation 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. Multiple Pre-Applications
Applicants may submit multiple Preapplications under the same or different
funding category. If applying for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:15 Nov 06, 2024
Jkt 265001
6 Months
12 Months
18 Months
24 Months
36 Months
✓
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
✓
X
X
X
✓
✓
✓
X
X
✓
X
multiple grants, applicants should
submit separate Pre-applications for
each funding request.
D. Additional Information and
Guidelines
Additional guidance and instructions
on the Pro Bono Innovation Fund PreApplication and Application processes,
will be available and regularly updated
at https://www.lsc.gov/grants-granteeresources/our-grant-programs/pro-bonoinnovation-fund.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e))
Dated: November 1, 2024.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel for Administrative
Law and Regulatory Practice, Legal Services
Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024–25853 Filed 11–6–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050–01–P
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET
Draft Report to Congress on the
Benefits and Costs of Federal
Regulations and Agency Compliance
With the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act
Office of Management and
Budget, Executive Office of the
President.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) requests comments
on its Draft Report to Congress on the
Benefits and Costs of Federal
Regulations and Agency Compliance
with the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act, available at www.whitehouse.gov/
omb/information-regulatory-affairs/
reports. The Draft Report is divided into
two parts, the first of which is further
divided into several chapters. Part I,
chapter I examines the benefits and
costs of major Federal regulations issued
in fiscal year 2023. Part I, chapter II
discusses regulatory impacts on State,
local, and Tribal governments, small
business, wages and employment, and
economic growth. Part I, chapter III
offers recommendations for regulatory
reform. Part II summarizes agency
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
compliance with the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act. OMB requests
that comments be submitted
electronically to OMB by December 9,
2024, through www.regulations.gov
using Docket ID OMB–2024–0012.
DATES: To ensure consideration of
comments as OMB prepares this Draft
Report for submission to Congress,
comments must be in writing and
received by December 9, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by one of
the following methods:
• www.regulations.gov: Direct
comments to Docket ID OMB–2024–
0012.
• Fax: (202) 395–7285.
• Mail: Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget, New
Executive Office Building, 9th Floor,
725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20503. To ensure that your comments
are received timely, we recommend that
comments on this draft report be
electronically submitted.
Privacy Act Statement: OMB is
issuing this draft report pursuant to its
authorities under the Regulatory Right
to Know Act, Public Law 106–554, title
IV, sec. 624. Your submission of
comments is voluntary. OMB will use
your feedback to inform sound decision
making regarding this report. Please
note that submissions received in
response to this notice may be posted in
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov or otherwise
released in their entirety, including any
personal and business confidential
information provided. Do not include in
your submissions any information of a
confidential nature, such as personal or
proprietary information, or any
information you would not like to be
made publicly available. The OMB
System of Records Notice, OMB Public
Input System of Records, OMB/INPUT/
01, at 88 FR 20913
(www.federalregister.gov/documents/
2023/04/07/2023-07452/privacy-act-of1974-system-of-records) includes a list
of routine uses associated with the
collection of this information.
For general inquiries email:
MBX.OMB.OIRA.BC_Report_Questions@
omb.eop.gov.
E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM
07NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88308-88309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25853]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Pro Bono Innovation Fund Process for Submitting Pre-Applications
for 2025 Grants
AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice
describing the conditions for submitting a Pre-Application for 2025 Pro
Bono Innovation Fund grants.
DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday,
January 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Letters of Intent must be submitted electronically at https://lscgrants.lsc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Harris, Special Grant
Program Coordinator, Office of Program Performance, Legal Services
Corporation, 1825 I Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006; (202)
295-1572 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
Since 2014, Congress has provided an annual appropriation to LSC
``for a Pro Bono Innovation Fund.'' See, e.g., Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328, 136 Stat. 4553 (2022).
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 bono 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).
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. PBIF has four funding categories that are described in further
detail below: Planning, Project, Sustainability, and Transformation.
II. Funding Opportunities Information
A. Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for PBIF grants, Applicants must be current grantees
of LSC Basic Field-General, Basic Field-Migrant, or Basic Field-Native
American grants. To qualify for a Sustainability Grant, Applicants must
also have a 2023 PBIF Project Grant.
B. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Purpose and Key Goals
PBIF 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;
3. Develop, test, and replicate innovative pro bono efforts.
C. Funding Categories
1. Planning Grants
Planning Grants provide organizations with a one-time grant to
complete an assessment of their pro bono program and develop a plan to
build or revitalize their pro bono delivery system. Planning Grants
have a 6-month term.
2. Project Grants
Project Grants aim to leverage volunteers to meet a critical, unmet
and well-defined client need. Consistent with the key goals of PBIF,
Applicants are encouraged to focus on engaging volunteers to increase
free civil legal aid for low-income Americans by proposing new,
replicable ideas.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to research prior PBIF projects
to replicate and improve upon them. LSC is particularly interested in
applications that propose to replicate projects LSC has previously
funded with ``Sustainability'' Grants. Project Grants can be either 18
or 24 months.
3. Sustainability Grants
Sustainability Grants are available to current PBIF grantees who
received a 2023 Project Grant. Sustainability Grants provide the most
promising and replicable PBIF projects with an additional 24 months of
funding so grantees can leverage new sources of revenue for the project
and collect meaningful data to demonstrate the project's results and
outcomes for clients and volunteers. Applicants for Sustainability
Grants are asked to propose an ambitious strategy that reduces the Pro
Bono Innovation Fund contribution to the project over the
Sustainability Grant term. Sustainability Grants have a 24-month term.
4. Transformation Grants
Transformation Grants aim to support LSC grantees in the
comprehensive assessment and restructuring of their pro bono programs
using best practices in pro bono delivery. Each Transformation Grant
will support a rigorous assessment of a grantee's pro bono program and
identify best practices in pro bono delivery suited to that grantee's
needs and circumstances. Transformation Grants are for LSC grantees
whose leadership is committed to restructuring their pro bono delivery
system to create a high-impact pro bono program now. Transformation
Grants can have either a 24- or 36-month term.
D. Available Funds for 2025 Grants
The amount of funds available for PBIF Grants for FY2025 depends on
LSC's final appropriation. LSC currently operates under a Continuing
Resolution for FY2025, which funds the Federal government through
December 20, 2024. The Continuing Resolution maintains funding for PBIF
at $5,000,000. LSC will make PBIF grant decisions for FY2025 in the
summer of 2025. LSC anticipates publicizing the total amount available
for Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants when Congress enacts the FY2025
appropriation.
LSC will not designate fixed or estimated amounts for the four
different funding categories and will make grant awards for the three
categories within the total amount of funding available.
E. Grant Terms
Pro Bono Innovation Fund awards can have grant terms of 6, 18, 24,
or 36
[[Page 88309]]
months, depending on the category of grant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Months 12 Months 18 Months 24 Months 36 Months
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planning Grants.................................................... [check] X X X X
Project Grants..................................................... X X [check] [check] X
Transformation Grants.............................................. X X X [check] [check]
Sustainability Grants.............................................. X X X [check] X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicants for Planning Grants can apply for a 6-month grant.
Applicants for Project Grants can apply for either an 18- or a 24-month
grant. Applicants for Transformation Grants can apply for either a 24-
or a 36-month grant. Applicants for Sustainability Grants can apply for
a 24-month grant only. The grant activities described in the
application must cover the full proposed grant term which commences on
October 1, 2025.
III. Grant Application Process
A. Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant Application Process
The PBIF application process is administered in LSC's unified
grants management system, GrantEase. Applicants must first submit a
Pre-Application to LSC in GrantEase by January 16, 2024, to be
considered for a grant. After review by LSC Staff, LSC's President
decides which applicants will be asked to submit a full application.
Applicants will be notified of approval to submit a full application by
early March 2025. Full applications are due to LSC in the GrantEase
system on May 5, 2025. Once received, full applications will undergo a
rigorous review by LSC staff and other 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 a request to submit a Pre-Application after the
deadline, but only if the Applicant has submitted an email to
[email protected] explaining the circumstances that caused the
delay prior to the Pre-Application deadline. Communication with LSC
staff, including assigned LSC Special Grant staff members, is not a
substitute for sending a formal request and explanation to
[email protected]. 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. Multiple Pre-Applications
Applicants may submit multiple Pre-applications under the same or
different funding category. If applying for multiple grants, applicants
should submit separate Pre-applications for each funding request.
D. Additional Information and Guidelines
Additional guidance and instructions on the Pro Bono Innovation
Fund Pre-Application and Application processes, will be available and
regularly updated at https://www.lsc.gov/grants-grantee-resources/our-grant-programs/pro-bono-innovation-fund.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e))
Dated: November 1, 2024.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel for Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice,
Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024-25853 Filed 11-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P
