Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) Grant

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:

• 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