Applying for a grant: what you need to know
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The Law Foundation of Ontario invites applications from nonprofit organizations across Canada to the Access to Justice Fund (ATJF) in the area of family law, including child protection. Family law, including child protection, is an important area of focus for the Foundation because many people experiencing family problems struggle to use the law to improve their lives and address those problems. This is a unique opportunity to further access to justice for families through innovative projects.
Grants made from the ATJF are to be used to support public access to justice. While the phrase “access to justice” cannot have a single meaning, it is closely linked to the promotion of equity, fairness, and the elimination of barriers to justice (whether physical, psychological, financial, linguistic or social). It can include access by low-income or marginalized persons to information and services.
The Law Foundation of Ontario makes grants to advance access to justice. Grants are made to nonprofit organizations that work to benefit the people of Ontario.
To be eligible to apply to the ATJF, your proposal must support access to justice and:
- Address the priorities listed below
- Fit within the Foundation’s mandate and be consistent with the Foundation’s vision and mission
- Be from a nonprofit venture
Preference will be given to applications that address one (or more) of the following:
- Constitute novel or “breakthrough” innovations that could dramatically improve access to justice or outcomes for families
- Use technology to reach people more effectively
- Pilot programs that have a reasonable chance of finding ongoing funding (while the Foundation does not generally provide funding to government or legal aid agencies, we are interested in ideas that have the support of those system partners)
- Will provide meaningful insights into outcomes in family law matters, particularly applied research that will provide insights into what is working and where improvements could be made. Any research proposal must demonstrate concrete benefit to community members.
Preference will be given to proposals that involve collaboration between two or more organizations. The Foundation is happy to accept proposals that respond to needs in one or more than one province and/or territory.
Family law needs
The Foundation is particularly interested in applications that address needs, including but not limited to:
- Supports for self-represented litigants
- Complex family law needs that intersect with other areas of law (e.g. refugee, immigration, criminal law, and child protection)
- Areas where no or very limited public funding is available for services (e.g. divorce)
- Child protection, in particular efforts to respond to the over-representation of certain populations, including Indigenous families, Black families, and Latin and Hispanic families
- Ensuring access to relevant help for all families, including LGBTQ families
- Poverty reduction strategies and links to family law
- Public legal education and information (PLEI) that assists the public in taking steps to identify, address, and resolve their family law disputes (Please note that we are unlikely to fund the development of PLEI unless the application demonstrates that the proposed PLEI adds to and does not duplicate existing PLEI in the jurisdiction)
Important notes
Please note that this is a non-renewable funding source. For that reason, the Foundation will only approve applications for project funding or those that demonstrate a realistic possibility of future funding from another source.
The Foundation anticipates a very competitive process. We encourage those thinking about submitting a proposal to contact that Foundation to discuss their idea in advance of the deadline for applications.
The proposed program or project may be local, regional, provincial or national in scope.
The Foundation will accept two types of applications:
- Small grants up to $15,000
- Major grants of over $15,000 up to $250,000
Applications can be for short-term or multi-year projects.
For major grants, in particular, applicants should ensure that the specific amount requested reflects a demonstrated need for the activities and a reasonable budget for the contemplated activities.
For small grants
Small grants deadline: June 30, 2017
Complete Part I and Part III of the application form and submit it by the deadline to: ATJF@lawfoundation.on.ca
- Download the application form in Word format here: Family Law Application Form
For major grants
Major grants deadline: October 2, 2017
There is a two-stage application process for large grants.
Stage 1: Letter of Intent
Please complete Parts I and Part II ONLY of the application form and submit it by the deadline to: ATJF@lawfoundation.on.ca
- Download the application form in Word format here: Family Law Application Form
Stage 2: Full Application – By invitation only
Only Letters of Intent that are approved will be asked to submit a full application. An invitation to submit a full application is not a guarantee that you will receive funding.
As part of this process, applicants are required to follow the Foundation’s ATJF application form (Part I and Part III) and instructions, and to respond to any requests from Foundation staff for additional information in a timely fashion.
In addition to all of the considerations covered above, the Foundation will also be looking for applications that demonstrate that the applicant:
- Has the skills and experience to plan and carry out the project
- Is ready to be fully accountable to the Foundation for monies
- Read the FAQ below.
- Read the example Letter of Agreement.
- Discuss your idea with a Grants Officer.
For more information, please email a Grants Officer.
Frequently asked questions
Eligibility to apply
No, you need only be a nonprofit corporation, university or community college. If you are a nonprofit with charitable status, please include your registered charity number on your application.
The Foundation will not fund work for a commercial venture or government-run project or program. The Foundation will consider applications from Indigenous governmental organizations.
No, applications need to be made by a nonprofit organization, a university or a community college.
Yes, if administration of the grant can be done through an appropriate accountability structure, e.g. through a law firm in trust or an incorporated nonprofit. If your grant request is approved, the Foundation will require you and your partner to provide a Memorandum of Agreement that sets out clear roles and responsibilities for each of you.
Yes, organizations outside Ontario can apply for an Access to Justice Fund grant. The Access to Justice Fund is a national fund.
Yes, we will accept joint applications. However, you must indicate clearly which organization will assume lead responsibility for the grant if it is approved (this is the organization that will be expected to sign the Foundation’s Letter of Agreement).
No. However, we do encourage partnerships, so if your project lends itself to partnerships we encourage you to look into those possibilities. If, in your application, you indicate the intent to partner with another organization, you should include a written statement of commitment from the partner(s).
We recommend that all applicants review the Foundation’s vision, mission, and approach and consider our Annual Report and projects we have funded in the past.
Applications to the Access to Justice Fund may provide a benefit anywhere in Canada. It may be local, regional, provincial, or national in scope. You should indicate the geographic community that will benefit in your Letter of Intent and application.
No. All projects must have a legal component.
No. The Foundation will not fund litigation.
No. The Foundation will not fund costs directly related to lobbying, advocating, or promoting a particular position on a legal or public policy issue.
University/college applications
We request that you include confirmation that your department/faculty head or other appropriate institutional authority is aware of your application.
As a general matter, absent special circumstances, full time faculty at a college or university will not be personally compensated for research undertaken on a project that falls within their own research agenda and/or their institutional research obligations. However, we will fund other expenses associated with the proposed research, including the hiring of students as research assistants.
As a general matter, absent special circumstances, full time faculty at a college or university will not be personally compensated for research undertaken on a project that falls within their own research agenda and/or their institutional research obligations. However, we will fund other expenses associated with the proposed research, including the hiring of students as research assistants.
Generally, no. The Law Foundation of Ontario does not usually fund indirect costs applied by universities or colleges to recover administrative overhead for the project.
The Law Foundation of Ontario prefers to directly communicate with the individual who is proposing or conducting the research in case there are specific questions about the project. However, a development officer is welcome to join the primary researcher on any calls that may be scheduled.
Application process
The Foundation will consider multiple applications from one organization; however, we require a separate application for each project.
For applications to the Access to Justice Fund program, there is no fixed amount of funding allocated to specific geographic regions within Canada. One objective of the Access to Justice Fund program is to fund projects from across Canada. Because the Access to Justice to Fund was established with cy-prés awards from class action cases, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees may have regard to the geographical distribution of the plaintiffs in the relevant cases when assessing applications to the Access to Justice Fund.
Yes, you can apply for projects that will last longer than a year.
We encourage partnerships with other funders but it is not a requirement. We encourage all applicants to contribute in-kind services.
No, you do not need to have a commitment from your other funder(s), but you must indicate in your application to us which other funder(s) you are approaching, the amount you are requesting from them, and the status of your application to them.
We encourage potential applicants to contact Foundation staff with any questions prior to submitting an application (Small Grant) or Letter of Intent (Major Grant).
Eligible costs
Yes, we will fund core operating costs if they can be shown to be directly related to the project. Rather than cover such costs on the basis of a flat percentage, we prefer to fund on the basis of actual need, so your application should demonstrate the connection between the project and the expense.
We will not fund capital expenditures for immoveable assets (i.e., buildings). Usually, applicant organizations will be expected to include equipment or office furniture expenses as in-kind contributions.
After a grant application is approved
You will be asked to review and sign a standard Letter of Agreement (click here to see an example in PDF), which may also have special conditions attached that are specific to your grant. In general, the first instalment is paid soon after receipt of the signed Letter of Agreement, and remaining instalments are paid in accordance with the schedule drawn up to suit your particular project.
The payment schedule is developed taking into consideration the information provided in the work plan included in the grant application, and often also in consultation with the grantee. In general, the Foundation makes payments in advance, in accordance with each grantee’s needs, and subject to any special conditions of approval being met. The Foundation makes every effort to accommodate special requirements (for instance, where significant expenses have to be incurred at an early stage of the project). For all projects, the final payment is a hold-back instalment (typically 10% of the total grant) that is paid out on receipt of the final report.
All grantees are required to submit written activity reports, as well as budget-to-actual financial reports, over the course of the project. A full final report is required in order to receive payment of the final grant instalment. Instalment payments are always conditional upon receipt of required reports, in accordance with the schedule established between the Foundation and the grantee. The timing and frequency of reporting is tailored to the circumstances of each project. Visit our Reporting requirements & templates webpage for more information about reporting requirement.
