Civil Legal Services Grants (General Operating Grants)

Civil Legal Services Grants

Geographic Scope: Maryland (statewide)

Purpose: MLSC distributes grants to nonprofit legal services organizations to provide civil legal assistance to low-income Marylanders

Focus Areas:

• Eviction prevention and housing
• Foreclosure defense
• Domestic violence
• Family law (child custody, support)
• Employment issues
• Unemployment insurance
• Food stamps/benefits
• Veterans' benefits
• Other civil legal matters

Eligibility:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Must provide civil legal services to low-income Marylanders
• Current grantees seeking continuation or new applicants welcome

Mission: MLSC's mission is to ensure low-income Marylanders have access to stable, efficient and effective civil legal assistance through the distribution of funds to nonprofit legal services organizations.

Background:

• Has distributed over $312 million in grants since inception
• MLSC grantees have provided services in more than 3.5 million legal matters
• Approximately 36 grantees serve more than 200,000 people across Maryland annually

Contact:

• Email: grants@mlsc.org
• Phone: 410-576-9494 or 800-492-1340
• Address: Maryland Legal Services Corporation, 15 Charles Plaza Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21201

Application Process

Submission Platform: SmartSimple (MLSC's online grants management system)

Steps:

1. Register for the annual grant information webinar (typically held in January)
2. Review funding policies, priorities, and grant application process at webinar
3. Access application through SmartSimple portal after webinar conclusion
4. Complete and submit application by deadline

Required Materials:

• Standard nonprofit grant application components (specific details not provided in source materials)
• For non-current grantees: must contact MLSC prior to beginning application to discuss compliance requirements

Application Timeline (based on historical patterns):

• Webinar: typically January (mid-month)
• Application deadline: typically mid-March (approximately 2 months after webinar)
• Fiscal year covered: July 1 - June 30

Contact for Questions:

• Email: grants@mlsc.org