Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Civil Legal Services Grants

Funder: Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC)

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:

  • Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982

  • 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
  • How to Apply

    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
  • Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    nonprofitshuman-serviceshousingdomestic-violence

    Categories

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