FY 10 11 LSAC Memo And Grant Application Guidelines

LEGAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

140 Minnesota Judicial Center 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155 651-284-4379 www.mncourts.gov/lsac

MEMORANDUM

TO: LSAC Grant Applicants FROM: Judy Rehak, Executive Director RE: FY10-11 Grant Application Guidelines DATE: January 28, 2009

The Legal Services Advisory Committee, appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court, distributes funds appropriated by the Legislature and attorney registration fees for legal services and alternative dispute resolution programs serving economically disadvantaged clients who meet the statutory poverty guidelines.

Application Form A joint application form will be used by the Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) and the Lawyer Trust Account Board (LTAB) to make award decisions. Organizations applying to both granting entities may choose to submit a single application. The joint LSAC/LTAB form is intended to ease the application process for applicants. Both bodies intend to award grants on a two year cycle from July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011. Full compliance with all requested data will be expected during this grant cycle. The data will no longer be submitted as an appendix to the grant application, but will be reported on an Excel spreadsheet and sent via email. An electronic version of this application and the Excel spreadsheet for data submission may be obtained by submitting your email address to the contact provided below.

Funding LSAC anticipates that it will have less funding available for the 2010-2011 biennium than the approximately $2,000,000 in discretionary funding it had in each year of the 2008-2009 biennium from a legislative appropriation and the attorney registration fees for programs providing legal services to eligible clients. The amount of the legislative appropriation will not be known until after the grant applications have been submitted. Please review the LSAC application funding guidelines included in this packet.

In considering FY10-FY11 applications, LSAC will give priority to programs that provide direct legal representation, using either staff attorneys or pro bono attorneys. LSAC will consider whether the grantee will (1) increase the number of persons receiving needed legal assistance; (2) leverage resources through innovative programs or approaches; (3) increase the efficiency of services; (4) provide reliable data regarding the clients served, the level of service provided, and the benefit of services provided; (5) promote statewide equity in access to services. All grantees must also assure adequate financial accountability through a regular financial audit and performance accountability through documented monitoring and evaluation processes established by the program Board of Directors.

Application Process and Timeline Applications for funding in the process should be submitted in the required format by April 6, 2009 to:

Legal Services Advisory Committee 140 Minnesota Judicial Center 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Saint Paul, MN 55155

The Committee contemplates making awards by July 1, 2009.

Please direct inquiries regarding grant applications to Bridget Gernander, Legal Services Advisory Committee, 140 Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, or [email protected] or 651-284-4379. There will be a workshop on February 19, 2009 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Judicial Center in Room G06 for any prospective applicants who would like to ask questions about the grant application or data submission. Please contact Bridget Gernander for more information.

(Attachments: Legal Services Advisory Committee Information for Grant Applications and Legal Services Advisory Committee/Lawyer Trust Account Board Application)

D:\Docs\2017-12-01\0001c310666ef248e9d98e9ed62fc95b.doc LEGAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Information for Grant Applications 2010-2011 Funding Cycle

1.0 Grant Information

1.1 Name of Project Civil Legal Services, Family Farm Legal Services, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs for Eligible Clients.

1.2 Purpose and Description To provide legal services in civil matters or alternative dispute resolution programs for clients eligible under criteria established by Federal Legal Services Corporation standards.

1.3 Scope of Grantee's Role To design, implement, and maintain a legal services program for eligible clients or an alternative dispute resolution program within Minnesota.

1.4 Issuing Office Legal Services Advisory Committee established by the Supreme Court of Minnesota.

1.5 Project Funding This project is funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature and from a share of attorney registration fees. The total amount of the awards will be based on the amount of legislative funding received. The Committee anticipates that it will be less that the approximately $2,000,000 awarded in the last biennium. Each organization may be awarded a grant without specific reference to prior funding history.

1.6 Rejection of Applications The Legal Services Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court reserves the right to reject any or all applications received that does not, in their opinion, serve the best interest of the Minnesota Supreme Court or the intent of this project. This application is made for information or planning purposes only.

1.7 Grantee Costs Neither the Supreme Court nor the Legal Services Advisory Committee will be liable for any expenses incurred by any prospective grantee prior to the issuance of the grant.

1.8 Inquiry Questions should be directed to Bridget Gernander, Legal Services Grant Program Manager, 140 Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 or by calling 651-284-4379. 1.9 Addenda to the Application Any changes made in the grant application will be brought to the attention of the parties that have received or requested this grant application.

1.10 Signature and Copies Fourteen (14) copies of a grantee's application, supporting materials, and summary sheet will be required. These copies should be signed by an official who has authority to bind the organization to the proposed obligations. Applications must state that they are valid for a minimum period of ninety (90) days from the date of submission.

1.11 Prime Grantee Responsibility The selected grantee will be required to assume responsibility for all services offered in his application. The selected grantee will be the sole point of contact with regard to contractual matters, including payment of any and all charges resulting from the grant.

1.12 Rules for Application Submission All applications must be in writing and must be delivered by mail or by hand to the Legal Services Advisory Committee, 140 Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, no later than 4:30 pm on April 6, 2009.

1.13 Applications Are Property of Supreme Court Upon submission, all applications become the property of the Supreme Court, which has the right to use any or all ideas presented in any application submitted, whether or not the application is accepted. All application materials are public data and may be made available to the Lawyer Trust Account Board, the Minnesota State Bar Foundation, or other interested organizations and individuals.

1.14 Charitable Solicitation Law Compliance Each prospective grantee must certify that it has registered with the Office of the Attorney General as required by the Charitable Solicitation Law (Minn. Stat. 309.50- 309.61, 1978), if applicable.

1.15 Nonprofit Corporation Grants will only be made to nonprofit corporations. Each prospective grantee must certify that they are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization on the application cover sheet.

1.16 Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Each prospective grantee shall have applicable equal employment opportunity policies and must certify on the application cover sheet that it conducts its employment practices in accord with the policy.

1.17 Contract Conditions The selected grantee must understand and agree to the following conditions that shall be included as part of the final grant: a. Inspection and Audit The office and representatives of the Supreme Court, and the Minnesota Legislative auditor, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access for purposes of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the grantee.

b. Certification of Non-Profit Status The grantee must certify that it is a non-profit corporation which provides or proposes to provide legal services to eligible clients in civil matters and that it is governed by a board of directors composed of attorneys-at-law and consumers of legal services, including eligible clients.

c. Supplemental Data Requests In accepting a grant from the Legal Services Advisory Committee, grantees will be asked to comply with all reasonable requests for supplemental data to assist with the statewide legal services planning efforts.

1.18 Evaluation and Notification Applications shall be evaluated by July 1, 2009. Successful grantees will be notified.

1.19 Project Start Date Applications must state when the grantee is capable of and will start the project. At any rate, the selected grantee should be able to start work within sixty (60) days of the award.

1.20 Project Completion Date The project must be completed within twenty-four (24) months or, if the request is for ongoing operational support, continue for twenty-four (24) months.

2.0 Criteria for Selection All applications received will be evaluated by the Legal Services Advisory Committee for the purpose of selecting the grantee to whom the grant will be awarded. In considering the applications, LSAC will give priority to programs that provide direct legal representation, using either staff attorneys or pro bono attorneys. LSAC will consider whether the grantee will: (1) increase the number of persons receiving needed legal assistance; (2) leverage resources through innovative programs or approaches; (3) increase the efficiency of services; (4) provide reliable data regarding the clients served, the level of service provided, and the benefit of services provided; (5) promote statewide equity in access to services.

3.0 Organization of Grant Proposal To aid in the comparative evaluation of applications, the Legal Services Advisory Committee requires that all applications be prepared in the format of the attached application.