Legal Assistance For Nonprofits Grant

The Legal Assistance for Nonprofits program by the Chicago Lawyers Committee provides essential legal services to nonprofits and small businesses aiming to reduce systemic inequalities in wealth and access to economic opportunities. This initiative offers support specifically to organizations that advance race equity and serve underserved communities, ultimately helping to close the racial wealth gap through education, legal support, and advocacy for economic development.

Our Economic Justice program aims to address the systemic inequalities in income, wealth, and access to economic opportunities by providing critical support to communities of color that helps spur economic development in historically disinvested communities. Part of our Economic Justice program includes providing free legal assistance to nonprofits and small businesses that would not otherwise have access to those services. This work helps to close the racial wealth gap by:
Providing education and legal support for nonprofits to maximize their potential to provide services in historically disinvested communities of color. Providing education and legal support for small businesses to spur economic development and wealth-building in historically disinvested communities. Supporting investment in communities to reduce the racial wealth gap by advocating for economic development efforts and access to capital in historically disinvested communities of color.

Eligibility

We only support nonprofits that meet all the following criteria: Have (or plan to apply for) 501c3, 501c4, or 501c6 status. Advance race equity or serve a low-income or otherwise underserved population in Illinois. Are unable to pay legal fees out of unrestricted, general operating funds.Startup nonprofits (not yet incorporated or not yet providing services) must also provide: A business plan A proposed budget A list of individuals committed to serving on the Board of Directors and an explanation of their qualifications for that position.