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Virginia Law Foundation

...promotes through philanthropy the rule of law, access to justice, and law-related education.

GRANTS APPLICATION PROCESS

OUR MISSION

The Virginia Law Foundation promotes through philanthropy the rule of law, access to justice, and law related education.

In the fulfillment of our mission, the Virginia Law Foundation (also VLF or the Foundation) strives to be recognized as the leading law-related philanthropic organization in Virginia. Through financial support and partnerships, VLF's goal is to be a catalyst for original research, creative thinking, and well-crafted initiatives that advance the goals of our Vision Statement, which is located on the VLF website: http://www.virginialawfoundation.org/vision.htm. Those goals are:

  1. All persons should understand, value, and adhere to the Rule of Law. The Rule of Law should be recognized as the foundation of peace, stability, and prosperity.
  2. The gap between persons in need of access to legal assistance and sources of competent, affordable legal services should be reduced significantly if not closed in Virginia.
  3. The VLF Will support law related education as a way to realize the VLF’s Rule of Law and Access to Justice visions.
  4. The VLF shall strive to be recognized as the leading law-related philanthropic organization in Virginia, and respected as an innovator in the field.

GRANT PREFERENCES

Applications for VLF grants will be considered only if they support the VLF mission in one of the following areas:

In the last three years, approximately 43% of our grants have been related to legal education, 22% for Access to Justice programming, and 35% to Rule of Law initiatives. During the same period, 100% of our grants have been made in Virginia. VLF grants are available to support projects in any part of the Commonwealth. Grants benefiting purposes outside Virginia or to non-Virginia entities may be considered on an exception basis only.

APPLICATION ORGANIZATION

A proposal may be submitted from a an independent organization or a collaborative effort of multiple groups, but one (and only one) organization must be designated to receive the grant, administer the project effort, and report on the use of VLF funds. The organization administering the project must meet all eligibility requirements referenced herein. An invitation to submit a proposal or a VLF request for additional information regarding any application submitted does not guarantee grant approval.

LIMITATIONS

The foundation does not consider the following for funding:

TO OBTAIN A GRANT APPLICATION

If you are interested in making an application to the Virginia Law Foundation for funds, please contact the Foundation office at (804) 648-0112 and discuss your proposal informally with the Virginia Law Foundation staff. An application request must be submitted in writing on organization letterhead only. Application forms must be requested each year, and forms from prior years will not be accepted. Phone, fax or e-mail requests are not accepted. The Foundation awards grants on an annual basis to valid Internal Revenue Service 501(c)[3] organizations.

APPOINTMENTS

Applicants who wish to personally visit or have a direct conversation with the Foundation prior to application may telephone for an appointment. Appointments will be granted on a case by case basis. For availability, please contact the Virginia Law Foundation office at (804) 648-0112.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

ANNUAL GRANT CYCLE

Grants are considered during two review cycles each year. The application form can be submitted by:

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WITH THE GRANT APPLICATION!

Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged by mail. Applicants will be notified of the determination, and, if approved, grant payments are normally made by July 31 and December 15 for the respective cycles, or at a later date subject to special provisions of or timing for the actual grant request.

Grant recipients must certify that they will adhere to all VLF reporting requirements and that they will immediately notify the VLF of any material change of circumstances that impacts the application statement and / or materials.

GRANT REPORTING

All grant recipients must submit at least one grant report. Reporting deadlines for VLF funded projects will be tailored to the specific project. A narrative and a financial report will be required on a periodic basis until the project is concluded. Under no circumstances will a subsequent grant be approved unless a grant report for prior grant disbursements has been submitted and deemed acceptable by the VLF.

The narrative report shall provide an update regarding the status of project implementation and development.

The financial report accompanying each narrative report shall detail the expenditure of grant funds.

Grant Recipients must certify that they will immediately notify the Virginia Law Foundation of any material change of circumstances that imparts their application statement and/ or materials.

Grant Application