1. Open Call for Applications | 6 Weeks
During the open solicitation, the Legal Accelerator Grant Application will be available here. FurtherJustice will review each organization’s responses to our application and select applicants that we believe may be a good fit for the FurtherJustice Legal Accelerator Grant program to move to a first interview. Those not invited to a first round interview will receive a notification email during this time.
2. First Round Interviews for Select Applicants | 2 Weeks
FurtherJustice will schedule 1-hour virtual interviews with applicants to learn more about the organization and the organization’s plan for its civil legal service program, and to discuss the ways that the FurtherJustice Legal Accelerator Grant program can support the growth of the legal program. By the end of this period, FurtherJustice will notify applicants whether they are eligible to move on to the due diligence phase.
4. Due Diligence | 8 Weeks
This will be an information and document exchange period between FurtherJustice and the applicant to enable FurtherJustice to learn more about the applicant’s legal program goals, budget, staffing, existing network, and initial plans for sustainability beyond the grant period, and to enable to the applicant to ask questions of FurtherJustice to determine whether the applicant thinks FurtherJustice is the right partner for it in building a legal services program.
In addition to a due diligence questionnaire, it is expected that due diligence will include at least one remote meeting. This due diligence period will also enable the parties to discuss the categories of individualized programmatic assistance that FurtherJustice might provide.
4. Announcement of Grantees
FurtherJustice will inform each applicant whether they have been selected to receive a Legal Accelerator Grant. Applicants not selected to receive a Legal Accelerator Grant following due diligence will receive a $5,000 grant intended to compensate the organization for its time in the due diligence phase. These funds may be used in whatever way the organization determines is best.