WSBA Powerful Communities Projects
The WSBA Powerful Communities Grant aims to amplify communities who are denied justice due to systemic oppression, advance the WSBA’s mission and purposes outlined in General Rule 12.2, encourage public service by WSBA members, and implement the State Plan for the Coordinated Delivery of Legal Aid to Low-Income People. With funding from the Washington State Bar Foundation, organizations can apply for small grants to help them jumpstart new community-based projects and/or expand existing programs that benefit and provide services to people who are denied justice due to systemic oppression.
2023 Powerful Communities Grant
Vision for success
Our vision of success for the Powerful Communities Grant is that grantee organizations will be able to work with more people who experience systemic oppression, develop or expand meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations serving communities who are harmed by systemic oppression, and increase pro bono opportunities for WSBA members.
What we're looking for: 2023 Priorities
This year, we hope to fund programs or projects that
- Help communities experiencing poverty and injustice obtain free or affordable legal assistance
- Develop or deepen partnerships with community organizations without access to legal services
- Develop or deepen partnerships with organizations led by and/or serve marginalized communities
- Help smaller organizations without access to reliable funding streams
- Anticipate a sustainable, long-term relationship with communities served
- Include stipends or pay for community members with lived experience of poverty and injustice
- Create pro bono opportunities for legal professionals
Key dates for the 2023 Powerful Communities Project:
- Application open on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022
- Proposals are due by Friday, Jan. 13, 2023
- All applicants will be notified by email by Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023
- All funds must be used or have a planned use by Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023
- Reports must be completed and submitted by Friday, Dec. 15, 2023
For general questions about the Powerful Communities Project, please email publicservice@wsba.org. For donation inquiries, please email Laura Sanford at the Washington State Bar Foundation.
Previous Grantees
2022 Grantees:
Chelan Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services
Living with Conviction (fiscal sponsor CENTER)
Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers
The Way To Justice (with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Outreach Center)
Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
All Previous Grantees
Chelan Douglas Volunteer Attorney Services
Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo Columbia Legal Services
Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid
Eastside Legal Assistance Program
Family Law CASA of King County
Kinship Navigator Program of Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington
Kitsap Legal Services
Latina/o Bar Association of Washington
LAW Advocates
Legal Voice
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC)
Living With Conviction
The Olympia Free Clinic
Pierce County Minority Bar Association
Northwest Justice Project, Native American Unit and Skokomish Tribe
QLaw Foundation of Washington
Seattle Clemency Project
Snohomish County Legal Services
South Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABAW)
Spokane County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program
The STAR Project
Tacoma Healing Awareness Community
Thurston County Volunteer Services
Trans in Prison Justice Project
Unemployment Law Project
World Relief Spokane
Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services
