How to Apply

The Foundation will have two (2) tracks for LOIs.

Track 1: Solicited LOIs

The Foundation will solicit LOIs as grant opportunities are available. The Foundation will define in the solicitation the deadline to submit LOIs and the amount that potential grantees may request.

When an LOI is received, Foundation staff will review it and determine whether to invite the potential grantee to submit a full application to be reviewed by the Foundation’s Program Committee. Foundation staff may reach out to potential grantees to ask additional questions. When invited to submit a full application, Foundation staff will provide the potential grantee with instructions on what must be included and when the application must be received.

LOIs that the Foundation does not invite to submit a full application will receive a communication from the Foundation that the request will not move forward.

Track 2: Unsolicited LOIs

A potential grantee can submit an LOI to the Foundation at any time, but the Foundation may not always have grant opportunities available that match the potential grantee’s request.

When an LOI is received, Foundation staff will review it and determine whether to invite the potential grantee to submit a full application to the Foundation’s Program Committee.  Foundation staff may reach out to potential grantees to ask additional questions. When invited to submit a full application, Foundation staff will provide the potential grantee with instructions on what must be included and when the application must be received.

LOIs that the Foundation does not invite to submit a full application will receive a communication from the Foundation that the request will not move forward, or that the Foundation will hold the request and consider it again in the next quarter. Staff may hold LOIs for up to three (3) months after submission without responding to the potential grantee to determine if the LOI fits within any upcoming grant opportunities.

Nonprofit organizations (with IRS 501(c)(3) status) located in Ohio, that provide civil legal services, or work on access to justice issues related to civil legal services, may apply to the Foundation for awards. Some grant opportunities may be limited to particular subsets of organizations.

LOIs must:

1. Be submitted in a single Word document (LOIs submitted in PDF format will not be accepted);
2. Be submitted by email to grants@ohiojusticefoundation.org;
3. Not be more than two (2) pages in length; and,
4. Include the following:
   1. Name and address of the organization;
   2. Contact person name, email, and phone number;
   3. Amount requested;
   4. A brief description of the project/request (include the population to be served, the services that will be provided, and the geographic location served),
   5. A brief description of what will be funded by this project/request (general operating, staff, equipment, consultants, etc.)
   6. Include the total cost of the project/request and if the organization will seek funding for this project/request from other sources (if yes, name the potential sources and the amounts that will be requested).
   7. If this is a solicited LOI:
      1. Address any specific questions posed in the solicitation.
   8. If this is an unsolicited LOI:
      1. Include the date by which a decision on the request is desired (while the Foundation cannot guarantee a decision will be made by this date, a date helps to guide our response);
      2. Include a brief description of the need and the ways in which this project/request will address the need;
      3. Address any other information that is pertinent to understand the request.

Questions about LOIs can be emailed to Foundation staff at grants@ohiojusticefoundation.org.