Legal Assistance Enhancement Program Grants
🏛 Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for legal aid organizations and community-based nonprofits that provide legal assistance services. It is administered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) under HHS and typically supports organizations serving older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Eligible recipients include 501(c)(3) organizations, legal aid societies, law school clinics, and government entities that deliver civil legal services addressing barriers to independence, community participation, and quality of life. The program supports a broad range of civil legal assistance activities, though specific geographic scope and service priorities may vary by funding year. Applications generally require organizational capacity, experience in legal services, and commitment to serving underserved populations.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Key dates
- Jun 29, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 17, 2026 Award announced
- Aug 25, 2026 Application deadline in 40 days
- Sep 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
To carry out Older Americans Act Section 307(a)(11), and 45 C.F.R. 1321.93 and 1324.303, ACL plans to fund approximately five (5) cooperative agreements to expand or improve the delivery of legal services to older adults through public-private partnerships at the state and local levels. Enhancements made through this funding opportunity will support measurable and sustainable improvements to the delivery of a full range of legal assistance to older adults, from legal advice to full representation.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (describing legal services, target population, outcomes)
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Organizational capacity documentation (staff qualifications, prior legal services experience)
- Letters of support or partnership agreements
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
- Evaluation plan with measurable outcomes
- Organizational documentation (501(c)(3) status, bylaws, board list)
Program contact
- 👤 Kari Benson
- 📧 contactelderjustice@acl.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 401-4634
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.048 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$66,701,512
-
$50,000,000
-
$32,636,000
-
$13,015,977
-
$12,893,893
-
$10,364,463
-
$9,949,997
-
$9,779,231
-
$9,097,121
-
$8,389,500
Top States by Funding
- DC 9 awards $159.0M
- NY 6 awards $53.7M
- MO 4 awards $28.0M
- CA 5 awards $19.9M
- VA 4 awards $15.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.048). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $82,804,000 | |
| 2025 | $82,804,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $82,804,000 |
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply for this grant?
Primarily 501(c)(3) nonprofits, legal aid organizations, law school clinics, and some government entities with demonstrated legal services capacity. Applicants must have experience or organizational infrastructure to deliver civil legal assistance to eligible populations.
What civil legal services are supported?
Common areas include elder law, disability rights, housing, benefits, consumer protection, family law, and other civil matters affecting vulnerable populations. Activities typically include direct legal representation, legal advice, and community legal education.
How competitive is this funding?
These grants are moderately to highly competitive. Strong applications demonstrate clear need, organizational capacity, measurable outcomes, and focus on underserved populations. Prior legal services experience strengthens competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards vary widely by program year and priority area. Check the specific Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for anticipated award amounts, typically ranging from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars per project.
Are there matching or cost-share requirements?
Requirements vary by specific funding opportunity. Review the FOA carefully for any cost-share, in-kind, or matching fund expectations, which are common in ACL grant programs.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start by carefully reviewing the most recent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on Grants.gov, as ACL programs often shift priorities and eligibility criteria annually. Don't assume eligibility based on past years.
- Demonstrate clear organizational capacity and prior success with legal services delivery. Include data on cases handled, client demographics served, outcomes achieved, and staff qualifications in your narrative.
- Clearly articulate the gap or unmet legal need in your target population or geographic area. Use data, community input, and examples to show why your organization is positioned to address this need.
- Build partnerships with other legal service providers, courts, aging agencies, disability organizations, or social service entities. Collaboration strengthens applications and expands impact.
- Focus on measurable outcomes and sustainability. Show how the grant will increase access to legal services and propose clear metrics for tracking success, client outcomes, and long-term program viability.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by overstating organizational capacity or submitting generic legal services proposals without clear alignment to ACL priorities such as older adults or people with disabilities. Many applicants underestimate the importance of demonstrating specific unmet legal needs and lack sufficient data or community evidence to support their project scope. Weak applications also fail to address sustainability beyond the grant period or don't include meaningful partnerships that strengthen service delivery.
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