Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) Grant

Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) Grant

Funder: Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

Award Amount: $424,694 to West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. (WTLS)

Geographic Scope: West Tennessee region serving the counties of Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Decatur, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Henderson, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Madison, Shelby, Tipton, Obion, and Weakley

Focus Areas:

Expanding and improving pro bono legal services for low-income Americans

Modernizing and enhancing pro bono program delivery

Addressing unmet civil legal needs related to eviction, job loss, divorce, debt collection, denial of benefits, scams, and natural disasters

Pilot high-impact expungement clinic for re-entry legal services

Program Details:

WTLS will use grant funds to modernize and enhance its pro bono program guided by findings from a recent planning assessment

Key focus areas include:

- Hiring dedicated staff
- Integrating pro bono into core practice areas
- Developing clear priorities and protocols
- Improving volunteer engagement
- Piloting a high-impact expungement clinic to address the region's urgent need for re-entry legal services
- Addressing challenges such as inadequate staffing, lack of integration, and insufficient volunteer support

Eligibility: Legal aid organizations funded by LSC

Background:

PBIF grant program began in 2014

Since 2014, LSC has awarded 161 grants totaling more than $46 million

In the most recent funding round, LSC awarded $5.4 million total to 21 legal aid organizations

Funding comes from LSC's FY 2024 congressional appropriation

Grants seek to create replicable and scalable solutions with impact across the country

Contact Information:

Toll Free: 800-372-8346

Main Office: 731-423-0616

Memphis Office: 901-471-8006

Fax: 731-423-2600

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Background:

Independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974

Provides financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans

Currently provides funding to 130 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories