The DC NLG Litigation Fund was established to provide grants to support public interest litigation that will potentially benefit a large number of people, lead to significant law reform, or raise the public consciousness. Our specific priority areas are human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, but we will consider proposals in other subject areas. The Fund intends to provide financial support to allow our colleagues to litigate impact cases that might not otherwise be brought.
About the DC Litigation Fund
The DC NLG Litigation Fund is a non-profit corporation established to provide grants to support public interest litigation that will potentially benefit a large number of people, lead to significant law reform, or raise the public consciousness. Our specific priority areas are human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, but we will consider proposals in other subject areas. The Fund intends to provide financial support to allow DC NLG members and their colleagues to litigate impact cases that might not otherwise be brought.
The Board of Directors meets as needed to review requests for funding.
The Fund seeks to provide financial assistance to cover out-of-pocket expenses necessary to pursue litigation such as filing fees, depositions, transcripts, and expert fees. In rare cases, the Fund will provide assistance for overhead expenses. Grant recipients will be required to repay the Fund if the litigation is successful and the costs and attorney fees are recovered. Grant recipients will also be encouraged to make an additional contribution to the fund to grow the project.
Contact the Fund at dcnlglitfund@gmail.com
How to Apply
Questions and proposals should be submitted to dcnlglitfund@gmail.com
The DC NLG Litigation Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis. Our volunteer board will do our best to respond to your request within two – four weeks.
Typically, grants are in the amounts of $250 -$5,000 and is intended to cover out-of- pocket expenses necessary to pursue litigation including filing fees, depositions, transcripts, and expert fees. In rare cases, the Fund will provide assistance for overhead expenses. Grant recipients will be required to repay the Fund if the litigation is successful and costs and attorney fees are recovered.
Our goal is to make the application process simple.
Proposals, submitted in the form of a letter, should be no more than two pages and should include the following information:
• A brief description of the organization or firm;
• Attorneys who will be working on the case, contact name, phone number, address and email;
• Brief summary of the case and how it may have a substantial impact; and
• Amount of request and for what it would be used.
In assessing proposals, the Litigation Fund Board considers the potential impact of the case, the need for the funding, and its probability of success. Specific priority areas are human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties, and proposals in related subject areas.
Further, the Fund seeks to enable DCNLG members to litigate impact cases that might not otherwise be brought. While a preference is given to DC NLG members, the Board may also consider applications from other NLG chapters.
Upon the Board’s review of the preliminary proposals, all applicants will receive notification either accepting the proposal, inviting the submission of a full application, or declining further to consider the proposal.
Submit applications to dcnlglitfund@gmail.com
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
