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

LSAC BasicsLSAC Basics11 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 GrantsEligibility for LSAC Grants501(c)(3) statusEqual Opportunity StatementBoard 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 FundingAvailable FY16-17 Funding15% of Legislative Appropriation

◦$1,708,350 current funding level◦Amount for this year unknown at this

timeAttorney Registration Fees

◦$1,800,000 per yearIOLTA

◦$450,000 per year◦Another decrease because reserve is

gone and have to go on projected revenues

Process for Establishing Process for Establishing PrioritiesPrioritiesTwo 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 Process for Establishing PrioritiesPrioritiesLSAC 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 Process for Establishing PrioritiesPrioritiesLSAC 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 ReviewData ReviewWhat are the basic legal needs

common to people in poverty?What legal needs are more

particular to depending on demographics?◦Immigration◦American Indian

Data ReviewData ReviewInitial 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 email it to you after the meeting.

Regional GrantsRegional GrantsLSAC 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 ProposalsRequest for ProposalsOne program can submit proposals in multiple categories.General Operating Grants for Staff ServiceGeneral Operating Grants for PAI ServiceProject 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 SystemScoring SystemAll 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 Staff Services Proposal ScoringScoringCommunity 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 ScoringPAI Services ScoringCommunity 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 ScoringProject ScoringCommunity Impact – Still looking at

broad reachDelivery 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-ScreeningInterview Pre-ScreeningIt 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 problemsLate or incomplete application

Interview ProcessInterview Process45 minute interview with LSAC panelAll LSAC members can submit

questions in advance of the interviewInterview should include ED and/or

primary staff and Board ChairCan attend by phoneDates: April 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

Important RemindersImportant RemindersAppendix 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

TimelineTimelineApplications 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 RemindersGrants Policy RemindersJudicial 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 FundingOther FundingLSAC 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 Contact Staff Anytime with Questions or with Questions or ConcernsConcernsBridget Gernanderbridget.gernander@courts.state.m

n.us651-284-4379

Everyone should be signed up to receive updates at www.mncourts.gov/lsac