Statewide Legal Services Grant

This is a non-competitive grant awarded annually to the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.), an administrative and support agency that receives annually-appropriated Commonwealth and federal block grant funding through a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Grant Structure: Except for funds to cover its own administrative budget, PLAN, Inc. subcontracts all funding to:

• Seven legal aid organizations that provide a full range of civil legal aid for the indigent and victims of abuse
• Six projects focused on specialized areas of the law or clients with special needs

Geographic Scope: Pennsylvania statewide

Focus Areas:

• Free civil legal representation to low-income Pennsylvanians
• Services to victims of abuse
• Specialized legal services and projects

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be not-for-profit Pennsylvania corporations
• Must be tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Must operate primarily within Pennsylvania
• Primary purpose must be provision of civil legal representation without charge
• Must expend at least 50% of total audited resources on delivery of free civil legal representation to Pennsylvanians living at or below 187.5% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Must meet IOLTA Board's Organizational Performance Standards and Organizational Financial Health requirements
• For Statewide System: Must operate to provide civil legal services to eligible clients and victims of abuse with funds appropriated by General Assembly and received through Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, or be determined by IOLTA Board as appropriate provider for a particular service area

Mission: Support the provision of free civil legal representation to low-income Pennsylvanians

Mailing Address: PA IOLTA Board, P.O. Box 62445, Harrisburg, PA 17106-2445

Application Process

Applications are submitted through SmartSimple portal.

Key Deadlines & Information

• Next Application Opens: November 12, 2026
• Application Due: December 12, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.
• Grant Year: July 1, 2027

Required Materials

• Program Guidelines and Instructions
• SmartSimple Technical Support Guide
• Signed Assurances Page (must be signed and submitted with application)

Additional Requirements

• Budget modification requests are due by May 31st of the grant year
• Audited financial statements must be submitted for the organization's most recently completed fiscal year no later than October 15th
• Extensions for audit submission will not be granted; if audit is late, an explanation can be provided and shared with Board during following year's grant deliberations