Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Workshop January 29, 2015

LSAC Basics 11 members appointed by the Supreme Court ◦ 7 attorneys and 4 non-attorneys Makes grants on a two year cycle that matches the legislative funding biennium FY16-17 = July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017

Eligibility for LSAC Grants 501(c)(3) status Equal Opportunity Statement Board of Directors with at least one attorney and at least one client eligible member (200% of poverty at time of appointment) For direct service organizations, LSAC funding used to serve eligible clients (200% of poverty) Eligible programs include legal services, ADR, law related education, or programs to enhance the administration of justice

Available FY16-17 Funding 15% of Legislative Appropriation ◦ $1,708,350 current funding level ◦ Amount for this year unknown at this time Attorney Registration Fees ◦ $1,800,000 per year IOLTA ◦ $450,000 per year ◦ Another decrease because reserve is gone and have to go on projected revenues

Process for Establishing Priorities Two meetings stakeholders in 2014 to get input on priorities ◦ Heard concerns about the importance of funding a full range of services, not just advice and brief service ◦ Also heard concerns about not seeing technology as the fix for everything Follow new Judicial Branch grants policy that requires a scoring process to be used by all reviewers.

Process for Establishing Priorities LSAC members are guided by Minnesota Supreme Court order: ◦ Grant making should ensure statewide access to legal services for low-income Minnesotans ◦ Base level of access statewide ◦ Coordination with judicial branch self-help and law library programs ◦ Support integrated civil legal services infrastructure

Process for Establishing Priorities LSAC has really wrestled with what it means to be a statewide funder working towards ensuring a “base level” of service throughout the state Intensive data review looking at the budgets of all the legal services programs and the current level of service to get a sense of how resources currently flow around the state

Data Review What are the basic legal needs common to people in poverty? What legal needs are more particular to depending on demographics? ◦ Immigration ◦ American Indian

Data Review Initial focus on basic legal needs statewide and the current resources available through both staff and PAI programs. Created a ratio of the number of dollars spent per LSAC eligible client per county. For the purpose of discussion today, we will look at the regions but have all the data by county and can it to you after the meeting.

Regional Grants LSAC is asking programs to identify the region or portions of regions they will be serving if applying for general operating grants. This is to help LSAC understand whether the grants they are making cover the whole state. If areas to be served cover multiple regions, that does not mean multiple proposals. Just note that in Question 1 of the proposal.

Request for Proposals One program can submit proposals in multiple categories. General Operating Grants for Staff Service General Operating Grants for PAI Service Project Grants ◦ Enhance the availability of legal services or alternative dispute resolution for the poor ◦ Support programs of law related education ◦ Enhance the administration of justice

Scoring System All programs will be evaluated on organizational capacity (up to 15 points) ◦ Evaluation and Planning – Give examples ◦ Leverage – Includes both leverage through program partnerships and leverage through funding sources ◦ Financial Strength – Want to feel confident that money will be used well This organizational capacity score will be added to all proposal scores

Staff Services Proposal Scoring Community Impact – Community can be geography or to specific populations; help LSAC put the puzzle pieces together Delivery System Impact – How does your program fit in to the system LSAC wants to fund? Are we making it easy for clients to find the right resource? Collaboration – Ongoing priority for a state with multiple providers.

PAI Services Scoring Community Impact – Every region should include pro bono and judicare, or describe why not feasible Delivery System Impact – How does your program fit in to the system LSAC wants to fund? Are we making it easy for clients to find the right resource? Collaboration – Ongoing priority for a state with multiple providers.

Project Scoring Community Impact – Still looking at broad reach Delivery System Impact – Not just technology; really want to support many ways of creating infrastructure that can be used by multiple programs Collaboration – Don’t want to recreate Project funding does not mean one time funding; LSAC will support ongoing projects if they fit priorities

Interview Pre-Screening It is possible that not every applicant will get an interview. Staff has been directed by LSAC to screen applications and flag potential issues for the committee, including: Inactive status with AG’s Charity Division Indicators of financial problems Late or incomplete application

Interview Process 45 minute interview with LSAC panel All LSAC members can submit questions in advance of the interview Interview should include ED and/or primary staff and Board Chair Can attend by phone Dates: April 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

Important Reminders Appendix 1 Worksheets are closely scrutinized – must use forms provided and separate expenses for staff vs. PAI programs Do not alter the data spreadsheet by deleting columns that don’t apply to your program New questions on data spreadsheet

Timeline Applications due March 13, 2015, including data spreadsheet – no extensions will be granted Interviews on Fridays and Saturdays in April – staff will contact to schedule and will need flexibility Grant allocation meeting will be scheduled in June

Grants Policy Reminders Judicial Branch has an internal auditor who has drafted first formal grants policy Stronger oversight of expenses being reimbursed by grant ◦ Financial reconciliation at least quarterly, which means a report from your financial reporting system or other documentation of expenses reflected on invoice ◦ Site visits for all grants over $250,000 ◦ No alcohol can be purchased with state funds

Other Funding LSAC will be getting money from a national bank settlement at some point in 2015 $450,000 to be used for community economic development and mortgage foreclosure prevention Unsure of details right now so we can’t know if the funds will be used to supplement this grant cycle or whether there will be a separate RFP

Contact Staff Anytime with Questions or Concerns Bridget Gernander Everyone should be signed up to receive updates at