The Foundation’s Chapter Community Outreach Grants program was started in 2011 to support community service or outreach projects that involve FBA chapter participation. Funded projects must address the need for legal services in the community or fall under any component of the Foundation’s mission.

Community Outreach Programs

Over the past several years, the Foundation’s Chapter Community Outreach Grants have supported many worthwhile activities across the country, including educational programs to introduce high school students to important federal laws; a mentorship program for a federal drug court, including recovery, educational and employment materials; writing competitions for law students; and an interview skills workshop in partnership with the District Court’s two probation programs.

Grant Guidelines, Application Processes, and Procedures

The Foundation may fund community service or outreach projects that involve FBA Chapter participation. Foundation grants are not meant to fund projects of other groups or organizations. The Foundation expects your Chapter to provide “hands-on” help. For example, a grant would not cover giving money to the building fund for a law library but might cover members going into a law library and refurbishing a room themselves. Your application should clearly outline what involvement your Chapter members will have in the project and specify how it meets the eligibility and evaluation criteria detailed below.

Grant applications are accepted twice during the Foundation’s fiscal year and processed according to the following schedule:

Grant Application Due Date Date Awarded
June 15 August 31
December 15 February 28

Preference will be given to applicants that did not receive a grant the prior fiscal year.

Grant Eligibility Criteria

The proposed project or program must address the need for legal services in the community or fall under a component of the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education, advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law. Note that, for the purposes of the Chapter Community Outreach Grant, “education” refers to programs directed to members of the community (not continuing legal education for attorneys).

Application Requirements and Grant Evaluation Criteria

Your completed online grant application must include a project/program abstract of 100 words or less and the following information regarding your proposal. The reviewers specifically evaluate each of these criteria. For example, the application should state how or why the chapter decided to do the project, how the chapter members learned about the need, and how the chapter selected the specific project.

Click here to access the online application portal.

  1. Project/Program Description. Describe the community’s need for the project and how the chapter made the decision to support the project.
  2. Objectives. Define the project, including the target population, objectives, expected benefits, methods of implementation and expected results. Please also describe corollary benefits to the chapter, such as enhanced collegiality.
  3. Budget. Define the designated budget, including: use of Foundation grant funding; source of other necessary funds; and how other funds will be raised.
  4. Chapter involvement. Define the personal involvement of FBA Chapter members.
  5. Timeline. Define the timeline for the project activities, and any plans for project support after the Foundation grant ends.
  6. Evaluation Process. Define how the chapter will evaluate the project’s impact and success.
  7. Publicity. Define the planned local and regional publicity for the project.
  8. Chapter Involvement with Foundation and FBA. Describe the Chapter’s general involvement with FBA and the Foundation.
  9. Feedback Plan. Define the plan for providing feedback on the project to the Foundation through the online Follow-Up Report form, submitted not later than 45 days after completion of the project/program or no later than six (6) months after the grant is awarded. This report includes details such as financial data and the grant’s anticipated lasting impact.

Currently, the maximum FBA Foundation grant amount is $10,000. The number of grants funded and the amount of each grant is dependent upon the available funding as well as the number and quality of applications. The decisions of the Chapter Community Outreach Grant Selection Committee are final.

The grant recipient is obligated to use the funds for the intended purpose and must submit the online Grant Program Follow-Up Report within 45 days after completion of the project/program or not later than six (6) months after the grant is awarded. Click here to access the online Follow-Up Report portal. Recipients are encouraged to note in project/program materials that the project/program is funded by the Foundation of the FBA. Grant funds remaining after completion of the project/program OR not used for the intended purpose must be returned to the Foundation. (Contact foundation@fedbar.org)

If your proposal is not awarded funds from the Foundation, you may re-apply for the next grant cycle. If your Chapter wishes to resubmit a project, review the eligibility and evaluation criteria from the Foundation carefully and, perhaps, include additional information to clarify the project.

Please direct questions about the Chapter Community Outreach Grant to foundation@fedbar.org.

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