Domestic Violence Legal Services: Legal Information for the Public

Overview

Domestic Violence Legal Services

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1999, pursuant to the Illinois Equal Justice Act. The IEJF supports initiatives to increase Illinois residents’ access to the legal system. The IEJF provides grants to nonprofit legal aid providers through three state appropriations housed in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, COVID-19-related eviction funding through the IL Department of Human Services and COVID-19-related federal funding through the Illinois Housing Developmemt Authority (IHDA).

This funding is designated by the State of Illinois to support domestic violence prevention through a portion of the State’s FY 25 fiscal year (October 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025). IEJF has been charged with distributing grant funding to nonprofit organizations to assist survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence through civil legal services and legal information. This current round of funding has been provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

Legal Information for the Public

Purpose

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) makes grants to help Illinois residents understand how to use the legal system to resolve a problem.

In the Legal Information for the Public category, the IEJF will consider support for two types of projects:

* _Legal Information Centers:_
* Legal information centers are designed to operate as a “starting point” for people who are considering the use of the legal system to resolve a problem. A legal information center will offer printed, video and/or Internet -based materials on topics such as the operation of the court system; how to obtain legal representation; legal rights and responsibilities in various substantive areas of the law; and alternatives to litigation. Legal information centers should be located in libraries, courthouses, or other locations that are accessible to the public. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, virtual information centers and projects under this category will be considered.
* _Legal Information Projects:_
* Legal Information projects are efforts that complement legal information centers by helping Illinois residents who are unable to obtain or do not have legal representation to understand and resolve their legal problems in accordance with applicable law and court procedures.
* Legal information projects can include:
* the preparation and distribution of self-help packets that include legal information, forms and instructions;
* pro se classes taught by attorneys;
* and/or other creative efforts to help give Illinois residents the information and resources to resolve their legal problems on their own when appropriate.
* Due to COVID-19 restrictions, virtual information projects and projects under this category will be considered.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Organizations are eligible to apply for a grant from the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation if they:
* Are certified and in compliance with the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) requirements;
* Have a demonstrated track record in providing legal assistance or legal information services to individuals impacted by domestic violence;
* Are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
* Provide services to Illinois residents in one or more of the three areas set forth in the “Purposes” section.
* Provide services to low-income people free of charge or on a sliding scale based on income.
* Low-income is defined as a household income of up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
* Applicants who charge fees for their legal services are required to provide the IEJF with a copy of their fee schedule.
* However, legal information for the public, and self-help legal assistance must be provided free of charge.
* Use of Grant Funds
* In the Legal Information for the Public category, the IEJF will make grants to support:
* Operating costs for legal information centers and legal information projects, including personnel costs.
* The creation and distribution of legal information and self-help materials;
* In the Legal Information for the Public category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that:
* Provide legal information free of charge via in-person, web-based and telephone-based services.
* Provide legal information as described in the Purpose section of these guidelines under the supervision of a licensed attorney, the court, or for legal matters where accredited non-attorney representatives are permitted to provide services (e.g., immigration and tax matters), a representative accredited by the appropriate administrative agency to provide services in matters pending before that agency.
* Provide legal information in areas of the law that include problems commonly faced by members of the public (e.g., family law, consumer and credit issues, housing, immigration), including areas of the law that affect lower-income Illinois residents.
* Provide legal information in a location that is accessible to the public.

Ineligibility

* In the Legal Information for the Public category, the IEJF will not consider proposals for:
* General efforts to inform the public about the law, such as:
* Law Day activities;
* the development and dissemination of law-related curricula to schools;
* essay contests;
* or other community legal education initiatives that are not designed to help people address specific legal problems; and
* Legal information and self-help projects involving issues of criminal law.
* Funds appropriated by the State of Illinois, including funds distributed by the IEJF, may not be spent on a sectarian purpose.
* Said funds may not be used for the purpose of lobbying; encouraging political activities, labor or anti-labor activities, boycotts, picketing, strikes or demonstrations; or investigative or legal compliance activities related to a pending dispute.
* A recipient may not use funds received under the Illinois Equal Justice Act to file an individual action or class action under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act or other labor laws.
* No more than 15% of grants awarded by the IEJF can be used for indirect costs unless the applicant has a higher state/federal negotiated reimbursement rate. Applicants will be asked to provide a copy of NICRA if over 15%.