Grants are available to support law-related projects in any part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Grants will be considered only if they support the Foundation’s mission in one of the following areas:
- Access to Justice Programming
- Rule of Law Programming
- Other Law Related Education
Please be aware that the sustainability of a program and/or the overall applicant organization is also a meaningful consideration.
Limitations, the Foundation does not consider the following for funding:
- Organizations without a valid IRS 501(c)[3] determination letter, or the equivalent exemption status
- Grants to individuals
- Capital expenditures
- Duplicate or overlapping services
- Event sponsorships, such as the purchase of tables, tickets, advertisements, receptions, alcoholic beverages, or entertainment
- Projects intended to influence legislation or regulatory agencies
- Programs sponsored by government agencies that are properly part of the agency’s regular activity
- Deficits in programs that were not previously funded by the VLF
- Honorariums and/or speaker fees
- Political organizations, political action committees, partisan political activities, or individual campaigns whose primary purpose is to influence legislation
- Foundations that are themselves grant making bodies
- Grants for loans, operating deficit reductions, the liquidation of a debt or general support
Please submit your Virginia Law Foundation Grant Application no later than March 15. Final decisions are generally rendered by June 30. Download the MS Word version of the application here.
A proposal may be submitted from 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 Foundation funds. The organization administering the project must meet all eligibility requirements referenced herein. Please note that an invitation to submit a proposal, or a VLF request for additional information regarding an application, does not guarantee grant approval.
Required Documents
- Project Goals and Anticipated Outcomes
- Project Narrative
- Project Budget
- Disclosure for other proposed funders of the project/activity
- Copy of most recent 501 (C)[3] determination letter from the IRS
- Copy of most recent audited financial statements
- Copy of most recent IRS Form 990
- List of your Board of Directors /Trustees
- Biographical profile of the essential personnel responsible for implementing the grant
- Organization’s budget for the current fiscal year
- Most recent business or strategic plan for the applicant
- Estimate the number of Virginia citizens impacted by the request and describe how that figure was derived
Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by mail. The applicant will be notified of the determination, and, if approved, grant payments are normally made by July 31, or 30 days in advance of a program.
Grant recipients must certify that they will adhere to all VLF reporting requirements and donor recognition stipulations. Any failure to comply with the VLF requirements may result in the ineligibility for future grant consideration or the request to refund full or partial grant proceeds.
Grant Reporting
The Foundation requires that grant recipients submit at least one, but preferably periodic, grant reports. The report should include a narrative update on the status of project implementation and development, and a financial report detailing the expenditure of grant funds. The deadline for the report will be tailored to the specific project. Under no circumstances will subsequent grant applications be approved if reports for prior grant disbursements have not been submitted and approved.
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.
Guidelines effective as of November 1, 2017 for all grant applications pursuant to the March 15, 2018 application cycle.
