New Leaf Illinois Network Grant

New Leaf Illinois Network Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Last Updated: March 19, 2026

Summary

The New Leaf Illinois Network Grant, funded by the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, aims to support civil legal aid programs that assist individuals in clearing cannabis convictions. It provides funding for legal services, community outreach, and technical assistance, ensuring equitable access to justice for those impacted by past cannabis-related offenses. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and provide free legal representation to low-income clients, focusing on communities disproportionately affected by cannabis laws.

Overview

What We Fund The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation supports innovative, cost-effective civil legal aid programs that help people in crisis address life-changing problems and improve their lives. These programs offer: Legal representation to people who can’t afford a lawyerEasy to understand legal forms and informationEasy to access legal aid hotlinesLegal self-help centers that help people understand their rightsMediation services that help people resolve conflicts and avoid court New Leaf Illinois Grant The IEJF awards grants to organizations to provide legal services to help people clear cannabis convictions off their record as part of New Leaf Illinois. New Leaf Illinois is a statewide network of nonprofit organizations who are committed to equal justice for all those who were previously arrested or convicted for cannabis use, production and sale. The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation will make New Leaf Illinois grants in four categories: Telephone Advice & Referral Services Grants will be made to support the operating expenses of legal services hotlines. These operating expenses include staff salaries and benefits, as well as other costs directly related to providing advice and referral services to callers, including technological infrastructure costs or maintenance. Legal Services Grants will be made to support direct service staff positions at eligible legal services providers, including attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, intake staff, and/or pro bono coordinators. Grant funds can be used to pay for salaries, benefits, and limited overhead, including administrative costs, not to exceed10%. The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed staff position(s) will help the organization provide efficient and effective legal assistance to persons seeking cannabis expungement. Grant funds may also be used for client costs associated with accessing cannabis expungement relief, such as criminal history reports, required court documents, or other necessary expenses to determine eligibility or file for relief. Community Outreach In the Community Outreach category, the IEJF will make grants to support: Operating costs for community outreach projects, including personnel costs, marketing, and related events costs. Technology investments to provide for the registration of individuals for New Leaf Illinois. The creation, distribution and delivery of legal information and self-help materials. Marketing materials for events and other associated costs related to public forums. Projects that will offer printed, video and/or web-based materials on cannabis expungement and related topics and how individuals access services through New Leaf Illinois. Projects can include the preparation and distribution of materials; targeted outreach to community organizations and members; legal information classes taught by attorneys or under the supervision of a licensed attorney; know your rights or community education events conducted by staff with approved materials; and/or other creative efforts to help give Illinois residents the information and resources to seek legal relief through cannabis expungement. Technical Assistance In the Technical Assistance category, the IEJF will make grants to support: Training and supportive materials for New Leaf Illinois grantees. Consultation services for network organizations. Communication to network grantees on status of cannabis-related Personnel costs to provide technical assistance, in addition to travel, meeting and other associated training costs.

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 tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; Provide services to Illinois residents in one or more of the four areas set forth in the “Purposes” section. Provide free legal representation or advice to low-income clients seeking expungement of cannabis convictions under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Adhere to income guidelines that includes people whose households have an income of up to 80% of the current Chicago Area Median Income (AMI). The City of Chicago and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development update AMI calculations annually. Current AMI can be found on the City of Chicago website.Engage in a network model for service delivery. This requires organizations to take and make referrals from other organizations via secure electronic portal, share data, collaborate, and report on activities using standardized methods. Demonstrate expertise in providing services to individuals with arrest or conviction records through criminal records legal relief or legal education efforts.In the Telephone Advice and Referral Services category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that:Provide free legal advice and referral services to low-income persons. Use licensed attorneys to provide or supervise legal services to callers. Provide legal advice and referral services throughout the State of Illinois.In the Legal Services category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that:Serve persons in one or more R3 identified disproportionately-impacted jurisdictions. Have been in continuous operation for at least two years prior to the date the application is submitted to the IEJF. Employ two or more full-time, licensed attorneys who provide legal services to low-income persons at the time the application is submitted to the IEJF.In the Outreach category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that:Provide legal information and community outreach services free of charge. Provide legal information as described in the Purpose section of these guidelines. For organizations that do not have licensed attorneys, applicants will agree to confirm the provision of accurate legal information through Network legal organization grantees and commit to training resources on the unauthorized practice of law. Provide legal information on questions commonly faced by members of the public in understanding eligibility for cannabis expungement and impacts of a criminal record. Provide legal information in locations that are accessible to the public.In the Technical Assistance category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that:Provide legal services in the subject-matter of criminal records relief and cannabis expungement. Demonstrate experience in providing technical assistance to other organizations, systems, or jurisdictions.

Ineligibility

Limitations:Funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly, 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. Organizations may not deny services on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, heritage, race, religion, or citizenship. No more than 10% of grants awarded by the IEJF can be used for overhead costs. Failure to abide by this may jeopardize future funding from the IEJF.In the Telephone Advice and Referral Services category, the IEJF will not make grants to support the client screening and intake systems of individual legal services programs if they do not provide direct service in the form of legal advice, brief services and/or referral.In the Outreach category, the IEJF will not consider proposals for:Telephone-based services or legal services programs’ efforts to provide legal information and self-help assistance as part of their screening and intake systems.In the Technical Assistance category, the IEJF will not consider proposals for:Proposals that violate the lobbying restrictions of IEJF funding.