Category Archives: Criminal Justice

Barbara McDowell Foundation

The Barbara McDowell Foundation provides grant funding for legal fees related to specific social justice cases in the United States.

Letters of Intent will be accepted June 1-15, 2024 for a grant term of October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. LOIs submitted before June 1st will be rejected.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to pay legal fees for social justice cases filed between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024.

Criminal cases, individual claims, and amicus briefs are not eligible.

Key Issues

The McDowell Foundation is focused on cases related to:

  • Access to benefits
  • Children’s rights
  • Disability rights
  • Discrimination
  • Domestic violence
  • Due process
  • Environmental justice
  • Healthcare
  • Homelessness
  • Housing
  • Native American rights
  • Prisoner’s rights
  • Refugee and immigration rights
  • Veteran’s rights
  • Voting rights

Ideal cases will:

  • Address one of these areas of interest
  • Have a significant impact on the well being and civil liberties of disadvantaged Americans
  • Set a significant legal precedent

Scoring Criteria

All LOIs will be scored based on:

  • Alignment with mission
  • Social justice impact
  • Financial need

Urban Institute Catalyst Grant Program

The Urban Institute has partnered with the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative to present the Catalyst Grant Program. The program supports local level projects using data and technology to reform the adult criminal justice system. Projects should focus on Prevention, Policing, or Prosecution.

Applications for up to $40,000 plus additional benefits are due by November 17, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET. Awards will be announced in April 2024 and the grant period will be May – December 2024.

Eligibility

Lead Applicant

This grant is open to locally based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, except colleges and universities.

Partners

Partners provide personnel or expertise crucial to achieving project goals. Partners may include:

  • Nonprofit organizations with or without a 501(c)3 status
  • For-profit companies
  • Local or state governments
  • Colleges or universities
  • Individuals

Partners must be listed on the application and provide a letter confirming their commitment to the project.

Projects

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Submitted projects do not have to include new programs or activities. However, they must:

  • Focus on adults aged 18 and older
  • Focus on the front end of criminal justice system, not the formerly incarcerated
  • Advance racial equity
  • Incorporate data and technology
  • Be locally focused in a specific neighborhood, city, county, or tribal area

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Staff salaries
  • Intern or fellow stipends
  • Payment of consultants or partners
  • Data and technology training
  • Hardware
  • Software licenses
  • Supplies
  • Overhead expenses (up to 20% of award budget)

Use of Data and Technology

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Applicants are encouraged to use innovative strategies for incorporating data and technology in their projects. Some potential applications include:

  • Data acquisition
  • Data analysis
  • Designing online tools
  • Creating data-based educational materials
  • Creating an app
  • Informing and organizing committees
  • Facilitating reform measures for government officials

Awardees are not required to use Microsoft products, but use of their products will make products eligible for additional in-kind technology access and support.