Goal:
To ensure low-income residents of Marin County have equal opportunities for legal representation and advocacy services.
Overview:
Affordable, quality legal and advocacy assistance can help individuals gain or maintain economic security, preserve safe housing, prevent domestic violence, and maintain other basic needs. Nonprofit legal services providers are vital partners to protect the rights of those without the economic resources, public voice, or skills to defend themselves. MCF is committed to supporting an accessible, seamless legal services system that provides quality services for low-income Marin residents so that they are more likely to receive due process under the law.
Under this goal, MCF will support projects that incorporate the following strategy and approaches:
Strategy: Help low-income residents receive affordable, quality legal and advocacy services to better understand and protect their rights
Approach 1: Provide legal and advocacy services to low-income residents — e.g., eligibility in-takes and referrals, one-on-one legal advice, brief services, negotiations with opposing parties, administrative hearings or trials, and impact/systems change litigation
Approach 2: Provide outreach and education on legal and civil rights for low-income residents — e.g., group presentations, seminars, and workshops; outreach efforts; educational materials
Funded projects may include one or both approaches under the Equity in Legal Protection goal.
A logic model for this strategy has been developed that further explains the approaches, activities, and desired impact of this goal area.
Process:
Application is by invitation only. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued to community organizations that are being invited to apply for support under this goal.
If you are invited to submit an LOI for this goal, please register with the Grant Application Center. This system allows you to complete and submit all application materials online.
Once you have registered, please complete and submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), even if you have received funding from MCF in the past for this kind of work.
If your LOI is approved, you will be notified how to prepare and submit a full proposal, also using the Grant Application Center.
Evaluation:
Nonprofit organizations invited to apply for funding under this goal area must be willing and able to participate in an MCF-sponsored evaluation called "Using Data for Program Improvement" (UDPI). UDPI is an ongoing evaluation designed to provide the following common data:
- Client demographics
- Presenting needs of clients
- Interventions/services provided
- Outcomes for those receiving services and
- Client satisfaction rates
