LFW: Race Equity Grants

The Legal Foundation of Washington offers Race Equity Grants aimed at dismantling systemic racial oppression in civil legal aid. These grants provide multiyear funding to empower communities most affected by structural racism. Utilizing a participatory grantmaking approach, an advisory panel of community leaders reviews applications to ensure impactful projects are prioritized. Since inception, two-thirds of awards have gone to BIPOC-led organizations, reflecting a commitment to statewide equity in civil justice access.

We bring expertise about our state civil legal aid system to ensure thoughtful grantmaking.
LFW believes that creating fair access to civil justice requires undoing systemic racial oppression.
Our Race Equity Grants provide multiyear funding to advance racial justice in civil legal aid and build power in communities most impacted by structural racism and oppression. We use a participatory grantmaking model designed to center the voices of communities most impacted by grantmaking decisions. An advisory panel of community leaders who have lived experience with the legal aid system, poverty, and racism review grant applications and prioritize the projects that will be most impactful.
The goals of the Race Equity Grant Fund are to:

• invest in communities most impacted by structural racism and oppression;support community- and client-centered approaches to civil legal aid;
• increase civil justice for communities of color;
• build and support anti-racist organizations and leadership;
• center those most impacted in the decision making process.

Since the Race Equity Grant program’s inception, 88% of awards went to BIPOC-led organizations and almost half were first-time grantees with LFW. The program also reflects LFW’s statewide reach: 38% percent of grantees work statewide; 33% focus on Central and Eastern WA; 17% percent serve the Puget Sound region; and 12% cover other areas in WA.

Eligibility

Who can apply:Non-profits that are civil legal aid providers or in partnership with civil legal aid providersOrganizations can partner together to apply for a joint grantPrevious applicants and current grantees are welcome to applyGrant proposals can be for new or existing projects, including operational expenses, and must be focused on civil legal aid work in Washington State.Eligible civil justice projects include direct civil legal aid services, systemic advocacy, policy reform, and tribal issues.