Pro Bono Innovation Fund

Pro Bono Innovation Fund is sponsored by Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Designed to support LSC grantees with developing new and robust pro bono efforts and partnerships that will effectively serve more low-income people.

Pro Bono Innovation Fund | LSC - Legal Services Corporation: America's Partner for Equal Justice The Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) provides grants to LSC grantees for efforts that support new, robust pro bono partnerships through collaboration, innovation, and replication of effective practices.

The Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) offers grants to creatively engage more lawyers and non-legal professionals in pro bono service to address gaps in legal services and persistent challenges in pro bono delivery systems . Since 2014, PBIF has invested more than $50,000,000 in 180 grants in 38 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

PBIF currently offers three grant categories: Project, Project Incubation and Sustainability.

Read the Report of the Pro Bono Task Force In March 2011, LSC’s Board of Directors formed the Pro Bono Task Force (Task Force) to address the current crisis in legal services, where at least 50 percent of eligible low-income individuals seeking help from our grantees are turned away due to insufficient resources and 80 percent of civil legal needs are unmet.

After a year of research, the Task Force released the Report of the Pro Bono Task Force . This report included recommendations to increase the number of pro bono attorneys and other volunteers who are available to provide legal aid for low-income people. One key recommendation from the report was a request for LSC to create PBIF to encourage new ideas for engaging pro bono assistance and to narrow the justice gap.

On January 17, 2014, the President of the United States signed P. L. 113-76, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 , which included $2.

5 million for LSC to establish PBIF. The fund has received increased funding almost every year since its creation and most recently received $5 million.

Project Grant Description Project Incubation Grant Description Sustainability Grant Description Transformation Grant Description Planning Grant Description Project Grant Description Project Incubation Grant Description Sustainability Grant Description Transformation Grant Description Planning Grant Description Project Grants leverage volunteers to meet a critical, unmet, and well-defined client need.

Project Incubation Grants provide funds for organizations to improve an existing pro bono opportunity using pro bono best practices and PBIF guidance provided through a structured program and other resources. This grant category is new for FY26. Sustainability Grant Description- Sustainability Grants provide an additional 2 years of funding to Project Grants to continue effective pro bono projects.

Former Sustainability Awards Transformation Grants are targeted towards LSC grantees whose leadership is committed to restructuring their pro bono program and incorporating pro bono best practices into core services.

Each Transformation Grant supports a rigorous and extensive assessment of an LSC grantee’s pro bono program, the identification of best practices in pro bono delivery that are best suited to that grantee’s needs and circumstances, and the development and implementation of short and long-term improvements to organizational policies, management, and operations. PBIF is not accepting Transformation Grant applications for FY26.

Former Transformation Awards Planning Grants provide six months of funding to assess an organization’s pro bono program. Pro bono program assessments provide LSC grantees with the opportunity to identify challenges and develop a long-term vision for pro bono. The Planning Grant allows organizations to evaluate their pro bono program, without requiring an immediate plan for implementation.

PBIF is not accepting Planning Grant applications for FY26. View Reporting and Compliance Requirements View guidelines on reporting and compliance requirements. Learn about the recipients awarded PBIF grants.

Check out the links below to learn more about PBIF’s current grant cycle, past awards, and model practices. Current PBIF Funding Cycle Learn more about the PBIF application process for the current fiscal year funding cycle. How to Apply for a PBIF Grant View some of the recent awards of the 180 projects in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands funded by PBIF.

See more details about the PBIF Program and available grant opportunities. Pro Bono cannot replace the enormous contributions of full-time legal aid programs, either in terms of volume or expertise. But it is an essential mechanism for narrowing the justice gap, especially where efforts to engage pro bono lawyers are adequately resourced and supported.

Report of the Pro Bono Task Force Can't find what you are looking for? Should you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to the PBIF team. Leading and Managing an Organization Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF)